Timecrimes (2008)
By Shane Rivers
Science fiction films are always a mixed bag. While some prove to be instant classics, others are destined to do little more than clog up the bargain bins at your local video store. Timecrimes , a Spanish sci-fi flick, falls short of the “classic” label, but it still manages to be a thought-provoking good time.
The film begins with Hector (Karra Elejalde) and his wife, Clara (Candela Fernandez), getting settled into a new home in the country. At first glance, things seem downright boring: she tends to the plants, while he goes shopping for fertilizer and small pieces of furniture. The banality doesn’t last long, however.
Fond of sitting in the backyard and gazing into the woods through his binoculars, Hector starts seeing unusual sights such as an attractive young woman (Barbara Goenaga) taking off her top. When he investigates closer, he finds the woman entirely naked and seemingly lifeless. As he moves to help her, he’s savagely attacked by a man wrapped in bandages and brandishing a pair of scissors.
Fleeing into the woods, Hector finds shelter at an isolated research facility. After communicating with the center’s sole occupant (director Nacho Vigalondo also showing his acting skills), Hector is led via walkie-talkie down darkened corridors and winding paths. Finally reaching his ally–and with the madman close behind–Hector hides inside a high-tech hatch which closes behind him. That’s when the strangeness knob gets turned up to 11. I don’t want to spoil what happens next, but I’ll just say two words: time travel.
It’s tough to adequately discuss Timecrimes without giving away some of the movie’s big surprises. For that reason, this review might be a bit shorter than usual. Forgive me for that, but I don’t want to ruin the fun of discovering all the twists this film has in store.
Some movies of this type are vague or hard to follow; Timecrimes isn’t one of them. The action is set up in an easy-to-understand fashion, but that doesn’t make the events which follow any less suspenseful or engaging. It also helps that the plot doesn’t involve trips thousands of years into the past or future. This is time travel on a more personal level, something which allows the audience to be more effectively drawn into the struggle of the protagonist.
There’s no fat on the story: everything serves a purpose, and everything advances the plot. And just when you think you’ve figured things out, Timecrimes throws a curveball which entirely shatters your previous expectations.
At numerous points in the movie, we get the sense of having seen this before, but that’s only because we have. Remember, this is a time travel movie, so a certain amount of repetition is to be expected. While Timecrimes mostly manages to keep these occurrences fresh and engaging, things do begin to sag a little by the final act. After watching the lead character get repeatedly put through the ringer, I was almost as exhausted as he was by film’s end.
I enjoyed Karra Elejalde’s performance as Hector, but I did feel his acting was a bit too understated in places. Most people in his situation would be climbing up the walls, but Hector seems to take things in stride and internalize any major emotional outbursts. If an American remake is ever done, you can bet that aspect will change.
The ending is typically European: satisfying while remaining vague enough to promote conversation and reflection. If time machines did exist, you might be able to travel to the future and find a better example of this particular sub-genre. For now, however, Timecrimes will do just fine.
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This Timecrimes movie review is copyright 2009 Small World Marketing and Shane Rivers. This Timecrimes review should not be reprinted without the permission of the copyright holders.
This movie review of Timecrimes expresses the opinion of the author only. Other Timecrimes movie reviews are available online, and some of those might or might not express different opinions on the movie. Like those other Timecrimes movie reivews, this Timecrimes review is intended for the entertainment and education of the reader. This Timecrimes movie review is provided as is with no warranty or guarantee implied.
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