At first Parallel comes across as being a bit goofy and silly - and some of the early scenes showing the main characters exploring the guilt free possibilities of jumping between worlds that they'll never return to certainly play on the comedic side - but eventually the film settles down into a taut character-driven thriller that manages to pull off some unexpected twists that impressed a jaded seen-every-sci-fi-that's-ever-been-made person like me. The origin of the device that allows trans dimensional travel is never explained, but this film isn't interested in that, instead it's an exploration of what the unexpected gift of an almost god-like power might do to a group of young people who've never taken their lives too seriously up until now. The film it most reminded me of is Danny Boyle's debut picture Shallow Grave, but instead of a bag of money found under the bed it's a portal to another world hiding in the secret attic. Stick with it.
