The chaotic energy of New York City is bottled up, shaken, and set to explode in writer-director Daniel Antebi’s offbeat comedy, God’s Time. The first-time filmmaker tells the tale of two addicts on a misguided mission to stop the murder of their mutual crush’s ex-boyfriend. It’s messy, but so is life sometimes! God’s Time is not for the sensitive viewer. Its lighthearted look at sobriety mixed with tongue-in-cheek humor about addiction woes make for an at-times uncomfortable watch but it’s obvious that Antebi doesn’t try to play this dark comedy safe.
Addiction comes in many forms, and for best friends Dev (Ben Groh) and Luca (Dion Costelloe), it’s the embodiment of Regina (Liz Caribel Sierra). Regina is a fellow recovering addict and the source of their shared infatuation. A topic that comes up a lot during their recovery meetings is Regina’s passionate hatred of her ex-boyfriend (rightfully so–he stole her dog, after all).
Her flippant comment of saying she wants to kill him is usually followed by “In God’s time,” a semi-morbid sentiment that implies he has death coming to him soon enough. But when Regina leaves out that three-word foreshadowing during one outburst, Dev and Luca are convinced that this was her premature confession. And so, they take it upon themselves to stop a crime that hasn’t yet been committed.
For fans of Jobe’z World, Zola, or any Safdie Brothers-adjacent film, God’s Time has similar tonal energy. Dev continuously breaks the 4th wall and addresses the audience, keeping us up to speed on their thought processes (no matter how bizarre). It’s fast-paced and hip, fitting squarely into the growing category of films for the Euphoria crowd.
Daniel Antebi’s unique perspective on recovery is a welcomed one, as he allows audiences to find humor in the darkest of places. He offers us the opportunity to laugh with the characters as they poke fun at the antiquated notion of trusting a higher power to fix your problems. Produced by Topic Studios, God’s Time is an intoxicating serotonin hit that you’ll want to chase.
Distributed by IFC Films. Opening at Laemmle Glendale and on VOD this Friday.
This review originally ran on June 22, 2022, during the Tribeca Film Festival.
