In
the dystopian near-future, a reclusive scientist has no future, just the crummy
present, over and over again. Like a more intimate Edge of Tomorrow, Renton keeps living through the same inconvenient
home invasion that always depressingly ends with his death. Each time around,
he learns applicable lessons, but the constants start to change when one of his
guests also becomes aware of the time loop in screenwriter-director Tony
Elliott’s Netflix original movie, ARQ (trailer here), which premieres
today on the online service.
When
Renton walked away from his job at the sinister Torus Company, he took the ARQ
with him. He thought he had invented a perpetual energy generator, but it
apparently also creates time loops under the right circumstances. The three
rebel commandos who break in think they are just after money, but one of them
might have a secret agenda, most likely involving the ARQ. Actually, that is
four insurgents from “The Block” if you include the one who immediately gets
fried by the ARQ’s security grid or five if you count Hannah, the former lover
Renton finally reconnected with the night before, who quickly reveals herself
to be the mission commander. That doesn’t necessarily mean she and Renton
cannot work together when things really get dicey, but there will be trust
issues.
There
have been a number of time-looping films before, including two adaptations of
Richard A. Lupoff’s short story 12:01 PM,
but Elliott automatically raises the stakes with the dystopian setting and
manages to dramatically up the ante with each iteration. This is another nifty
time travel (or what-have-you) thriller that bends the mind and keeps viewers on
their toes, without employing any special effects beyond Renton’s many, many
deaths. (Technically, there is a late third act attempt at visual
shock-and-awe, but it is an unnecessary mistake.)
As
Renton and Hannah, Robbie Amell and Rachael Taylor are highly engaging
co-leads. Although not exactly what you would call emotive, they are pretty convincing
getting beat-up, murdered, and driven to distraction by the cosmic absurdity of
their situation. The film’s only real weakness comes in the bad guy department.
Shaun Benson starts to chew more scenery as the film progresses, but he really
should have been much more over-the-top.
