The film is presented as a found footage project by David Raskin (played by Jonny Weston), a high school student. Along with his sister Christina (played by Ginny Gardner), his friends Adam (played by Allen Evangelista) and Quinn (played by Sam Lerner), and a girl named Jessie (played by Sofia Black-D’Elia), David discovers blueprints for a time machine that his late father was working on.
The group successfully builds the time machine, and they use it to relive past events and correct mistakes. However, as they tamper with the past, they inadvertently create a series of complications known as “butterfly effects,” where each change has unintended consequences.
As the characters try to fix the problems they’ve caused, the timeline becomes increasingly unstable, leading to a dangerous and chaotic situation. The group faces challenges, including the potential erasure of their own existence.
In the climax, David realizes the severity of the situation and the potential dangers of manipulating time. The characters make a decision that involves sacrificing some of their experiences to restore the timeline and prevent catastrophic events.
“Project Almanac” explores themes of time travel, consequences, and the ethical dilemmas associated with altering the past. The found footage format adds a sense of immediacy to the storytelling. The film received mixed reviews, with praise for its concept and criticism for its execution and adherence to found footage tropes.