Rewind

Rewind

Year: 2013

Runtime: 76 mins

Language: English

Director: Jack Bender

A team of military operatives and scientists utilize experimental time travel technology to journey into the past. Their mission is to prevent a catastrophic terrorist attack and reshape the future. Originally produced as a feature-length pilot for a television series, it was released as a made-for-TV movie.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Rewind (2013) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Rewind (2013), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

In Midtown, New York, a tense countdown unfolds around a white van concealing a nuclear threat that could trigger catastrophic fallout for millions. At the heart of the crisis is Shaun Knox [Shane McRae], a determined figure whose every move seems shadowed by the possibility that a Nobel Prize–winning scientist might be somehow involved. A roomful of questions, redacted information, and a stubborn silence puts Shaun face-to-face with a man who refuses to reveal the needed code, leaving the authorities to wonder what leverage can break the stalemate.

As the investigation threads through the city, the narrative pivots around a series of intimate, high-stakes interactions. A key moment occurs when a man who has carried a hidden weight for decades reveals a mysterious connection to Shaun Knox [Shane McRae], prompting a deeper inquiry into memory, time, and responsibility. The thread of personal history is never far from the surface; a marriage ring seen in a faded photograph hints at decades of unspoken loss, and the question of whether there is a Mrs. Knox somewhere hangs in the air, adding a human layer to the procedural tension.

Within the scene is the President of the United States [Kenneth Welsh], who is acutely aware of the gravity of the situation. A local news anchor [Kristi Angus] reports that information is tightly controlled, underscoring the atmosphere of uncertainty that grips the public. Meanwhile, Danny Gates [Robbie Jones] answers a call from Shaun’s partner, urging Jess to evacuate the city. Danny’s practical concern contrasts with the paralysis of hundreds of people who continue with their daily routines, unaware of how close they might be to disaster.

A critical refrain in the story is the idea that creation and destruction are two sides of the same coin. The scientist involved—Dr. Benjamin Rourke [David Cronenberg]—appears in and out of focus, his presence driving the tension even as others scramble to interpret the clues. In a tense interrogation, the scientist’s fate becomes a volatile hinge of the plot, and a moment of self-destruction in the line of duty deepens the mystery surrounding the bomb and its intent.

From there, the plot broadens to a high-stakes clockwork of attempts to reach Rourke and unlock the necessary knowledge. Ellis [Jeff Fahey], a security-minded figure, pushes to keep Shaun on track, presenting a clear sense of urgency as a top-secret furlough allows a chance for action. The team assembles in a secure setting (Sector 2) to piece together an improbable plan: a time-and-space mechanism that could open a window into another era, with a thread that travels back to England in 1934. Dr. Lyndsay Bryce [Jennifer Ferrin] contributes as a scientific adviser, emphasizing the delicate balance of risk and possibility in handling a device that could alter history.

The operation expands to include a broader coalition: John Malcolm [Matthew Bennett], a seasoned military specialist, and General Randell Webb [Paulino Nunes], who recognizes that civilian involvement is essential to addressing the threat. A robo-insect named Miles is introduced as part of a rough, experimental interface with the window’s changing physics, and the team discovers that the timeline may be fragile enough to create dangerous ripple effects if mishandled.

Priya [Keisha Castle-Hughes], a planner who maps historical eras, helps orient the team to the fragile nature of their mission—each participant bears the burden of potential self-sacrifice as they move through different periods. As the window shifts, the stakes rise: the weight of their presence in past moments could reshape the future, and the clock’s countdown accelerates toward a decisive choice.

The plan hinges on a controversial proposition: to save New York, they may have to alter events surrounding the scientist’s family and his legacy. Charlie [Keon Alexander] develops a program to model the consequences of altering Rourke’s past, and the team realizes that a small change in one era could cascade into wide-ranging consequences for the present. The military leadership grinds toward a grim, but potentially necessary, decision: save the city by targeting the danger at its source, even if that means sacrificing a path that could preserve broader stability.

As the mission unfolds, Shaun contemplates a deeper, more personal redemption arc involving the scientist’s wife and the possibility of a different outcome for the people who populate New York. Priya and Alex push to keep Bryc on board as the scientific adviser, while the others prepare to enter the timeline together. The team faces a brutal test: time, space, and human limits collide, and a race against the clock culminates in a tense, high-stakes entry into the past.

The three travelers—Shaun Knox [Shane McRae], Jessica Knox [Melanie Scrofano], and Danny Gates [Robbie Jones]—step into the machine, taking pills that grant temporary passage through time. They emerge in a past era, navigating unfamiliar landscapes and perilous situations with the goal of altering the sequence of events enough to spare millions of lives. A car chase, a tense ambush, and a dangerous encounter with a bootleg driver test their adaptability and resolve as they attempt to work within a drastically altered history to recalibrate the present.

Back in the present, the clock continues to tick down. Marsden [Chris Ratz] keeps a wary watch, while the sisters and younger relatives of those involved—Jenny Marsden [Skyler Wexler] in particular—become a poignant reminder of the human stakes at play. The plan hinges on a difficult choice: to sacrifice parts of the past in order to protect the future, all while managing the fear and uncertainty that comes with changing time itself.

As the countdown nears its final moments, the trio confronts the possibility that their mission may not only avert catastrophe but also fracture the continuum in irreversible ways. The group returns to the present, with the hope that their actions have secured a safer New York. Yet the final act hints at residual tension: the future feels unstable, and the team questions whether their interventions have truly secured lasting safety or merely postponed a deeper reckoning.

In the end, the ensemble faces a moment of relief: New York is saved, and the immediate crisis recedes. Yet the undertone remains: the machine’s potential for future use raises questions about how far humanity should dare to go in reshaping time. As Shaun and Jess reconnect, the supporting cast contemplates what lies ahead in a world that still carries the echo of the near-disaster. The final scenes balance relief with a cautious optimism, acknowledging both the bravery of those who acted and the enduring uncertainty about what their choices may mean for tomorrow.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:23

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Time travel thrillers with urgent missions like Rewind

Races against time to rewrite history and prevent global catastrophe.If you liked the high-stakes time travel mission in Rewind, you'll enjoy these movies where teams or individuals race against the clock to prevent disaster. They share a tense, fast-paced atmosphere and explore the heavy responsibility of changing history.

urgentsuspensefulhigh-stakestenseanxiousrace against timeprocedural

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a clear, linear mission: identify a past catastrophic event, travel back to stop it, and navigate unforeseen consequences. The journey is a procedural race against time, often with technological limitations and moral dilemmas complicating the straightforward goal.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared core premise of a time-critical intervention, a tense and fast-paced tone driven by a clear threat, and the exploration of scientific and ethical implications of altering history.

Sci-fi thrillers with bittersweet endings like Rewind

Stories where stopping a disaster comes with a heavy, uncertain price.For viewers who appreciated the complex, uncertain victory in Rewind, this list features movies where saving the day leaves deep scars. These stories explore the heavy cost of heroism in high-concept scenarios, blending relief with reflection.

bittersweettensereflectivehigh-stakesmoral dilemmacost of victoryunsettling

Narrative Summary

The narrative arc follows a successful mission against a major threat, but the resolution deliberately undermines a purely happy ending. Instead, it highlights the sacrifices made, the ethical lines crossed, or the instability of the new status quo, leaving the characters and the audience with a mix of accomplishment and unease.

Why These Movies?

This thread connects films that share a specific emotional conclusion: a successful outcome that feels incomplete or costly. The unifying element is the blend of narrative resolution with emotional or thematic ambiguity, creating a reflective and thought-provoking end to a tense story.

Unlock the Full Story of Rewind

Don't stop at just watching — explore Rewind in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Rewind is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Rewind Timeline

Track the full timeline of Rewind with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Rewind Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Rewind

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Rewind. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Rewind

Rewind Spoiler-Free Summary

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Rewind Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Rewind

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