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Film Inquiry Recommends: Time Travel Films

Film Inquiry Recommends: Time Travel Films

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Over at our official Facebook page, we are currently posting daily film recommendations, with each week being a different theme. This is a collection of those recommendations! This week’s theme is focused on Time Travel films.

Time Travel is one of the most used science fiction tropes in many different genres of cinema. Like any recurring narrative device seen in films, it can produce some great films if used correctly. The most famous time travel films include Back To The Future, The Terminator, Donnie Darko and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Today’s list consists of some of the more underrated or obscure titles that use the idea of time travel in an assortment of interesting ways.

1. TimeCrimes (2007, Nacho Vigalondo)

source: Karbo Vantas Entertainment
TimeCrimes (2007) – source: Karbo Vantas Entertainment

Spanish filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo’s impressive debut feature TimeCrimes is a tight, well-written time travel film which shows that great sci-fi can be achieved with a low budget. Hector (Karra Elejalde) is currently renovating his house in the Spanish countryside with his loving wife (Candela Fernandez), when, surveying his surrounding land, he spots an unusual event through his binoculars.

Spotting a large bandaged man forcing a woman to strip naked and her apparent death, Hector is concerned and on a whim, decides to investigate the incident. He is chased by the bandaged man upon entering the forest, finding shelter in an abandoned science lab, where young scientist Joven (Nacho) forces Hector into a time machine for his own safety. Hector is transported one hour back in time and must make sure the previous timeline is not messed up or he may be removed from history forever.

The film starts off as a typical time travel film, with some conclusions and plot movements being seemingly predictable, but Vigalondo’s script ensures that the film keeps shocking us with surprises, always trying to keep one foot in front of the audience. It isn’t afraid to take some dark twists, carried by one of the more unusual protagonists for a film that I’ve seen.

Hector is introduced as quite a shlubby mild-mannered family man, which makes his actions later on in the story an interesting shift to witness. His descent into darker territory as he tries to correct the mistakes he keeps making is an unique narrative choice, as Hector is a character who isn’t afraid to do harmful things for the right outcome.

For a low budget film, Vigalondo creates quite a complex narrative, built with several layers of different non-linear stories all happening at once without it ever becoming too complex for the audience.

2. Hot Tub Time Machine (2010, Steve Pink)

source: MGM/UA Entertainment Co.
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) – source: MGM/UA Entertainment Co.

Hot Tub Time Machine is an American comedy which manages to combine 80’s comedic goofiness with some genuine heart as well. It’s a film that is aware of its crazy premise and really capitalizes on it in a way that is fun, featuring an eclectic cast of characters who share genuine chemistry and really seem like an actual group of friends.

It’s highly rewatchable, a film which creates a nice juxtaposition between the 2000’s comedic style of pop culture heavy, sexually suggestive dialogue mixed with the 80’s broad slapstick style of comedy, and creating something entertaining between the clash. Four friends with their own problems, Adam (John Cusack), Lou (Rob Corddry) , Craig (Craig Robinson) and Jacob (Clark Duke) in an attempt to relive their happy memories of their teenage years, go back to an old cabin to party.

They get drunk in the hot tub which somehow transports them back to the 1980’s, during an important night for each of them. Whilst not deciding to change time due to the repercussions, situations start to rise which forces the men to change their destinies in hilarious ways. Underneath the constant banter between its leads, John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and Clarke Duke, there’s a constant undercurrent of subplots and running jokes which all feature some form of payoff. And these all work, really helping to give the film a sense of ongoing energy which makes sure it never slows down whilst never sacrificing its themes or heart for the sake of cheap comedy.

The themes of nostalgia, friendship and the challenges of adulthood are juggled well and are actually taken seriously by the film and the filmmakers, which makes them actually feel genuine, rather than tacked on and seeming disingenuous. Oh and any film which features David Bowie’s “Modern Love” is bound to put a smile on my face.

3. Plus One (2013, Dennis Iliadis)

source: IFC Films
Plus One (2013) – source: IFC Films

+1 is a nice little sci-fi twist on the typical American frathouse party genre, from the director of The Last House on the Left remake. After her big win at a national fencing tournament, Jill (Ashley Hinshaw) goes to meet her boyfriend David (Rhys Wakefield), but catches him accidentally kissing a random girl, mistaking her for Jill. Heartbroken, Jill breaks up with David.

When David hears that Jill will be a attending a huge college party, he decides to go with his two friends, Teddy (Logan Miller) and Allison (played by twins Suzanne and Alison Dengel) to win her back. That night, a meteorite passes Earth which creates a one hour time loop, which creates duplicates of each member of the party. When the partygoers suspect that the duplicates may be evil, David tries to prevent the two groups from meeting to save everyone.

The film is still quite good despite some of its technical problems, which stem from its low-budget trappings. It doesn’t talk down to its audience with a story that is slightly more complex than the usual films targeted for teens. In a sea of found footage films and jump-scare heavy horror movies, Plus One is a refreshing approach to the teen horror genre, despite the film’s sometimes excessive nudity and violence. The plot takes interesting turns and ends on an unpredictable note, making this one film that has somewhat slipped under the radar worth checking out.

4. Triangle (2009, Christopher Smith)

source: Icon Film Distribution
Triangle (2009) – source: Icon Film Distribution

To call this film a time travel film is a slight spoiler, but doesn’t detract from the film’s initial enjoyment as it has enough unpredictable twists and turns that makes it one of the better time-bending films of recent memory. British director Christopher Smith, known for his gory horror films Severance and Creep, directs this psychological horror film starring Australian actress Melissa George.

Jess, a woman with an unknown past joins her groups of friends on a normal yachting trip. Midway through, the yacht hits a nasty storm and they are nearly capsized, being saved by a passing ocean liner. When the group boards the boat, they find it completely deserted and that a bandaged serial killer is slowly stalking the gang. With her group of friends dwindling, it is up to Jess to solve what is happening and save her friends from more danger.

The film shares some similarities with Vigalondo’s TimeCrimes in its plot and genre elements, but focuses on the horror and psychological elements much more than the time travel aspect. Much like any good time travel film, it is rewarding on multiple rewatches and much of the logic works out, a sign of great directing and script-writing.

Melissa George does a terrific job as the damaged protagonist, who is not just simply another typical ‘final girl’ character. Some viewers may find the ending frustrating, but it works to the film’s advantage, finishing on a similar note to cult classic Donnie Darko. A taut little thriller that is definitely worth checking out, but be sure to not watch the trailers – they are filled with huge spoilers.

5. La Jetée (1962, Chris Marker)

source: Argos Films
La Jetee (1962) – source: Argos Films

La Jetée (The Jetty) is an experimental French film (clocking in at only 28 minutes), mainly comprised of still photos, that is a majorly influential movie on the time-travel genre. The 1995 Terry Gilliam film 12 Monkeys is an unofficial remake of this film, heavily borrowing different plot elements and some cinematography choices, but expanding on the plot and characters.

Set in Paris in the aftermath of World War 3 in an undetermined time, Le Jetee is about an unnamed man (Jean Négroni), who lives in the new underground society, as humans must live underground now due to the heavily radiated Earth surface which has made getting any food or supplies incredibly hard.

The man is plagued by two different visions: one of a man being shot at an airport and one of a mysterious woman. The troubled man is forced to go back in time to the pre-war era, where his mission is to find some food, supplies and possibly an answer to all their problems. As his visions start to make sense, he realises the paradoxes of time travel and the effects of using it.

Chris Marker’s direction is quite effective, using the black and white photographs with an ambiguous narrator, mixed in with some atmospheric music, which gives a documentary feel to the piece, adding a realistic feeling to it all. Due to the lack of movement, Marker uses the photography to great effect, hinting at a lot of different events and set pieces whilst leaving food for thought for the audiences. Essential viewing for any filmmakers due to its unique filmmaking structure and influential effect on all time travel narratives.

6. It Happened Tomorrow (1944, Rene Clair)

source: United Artists
It Happened Tomorrow (1944) – source: United Artists

From french director Rene Clair, famous for his sociopolitical satires, such as Freedom For Us, Le Million and I Married A Witch comes It Happened Tomorrow, a fantasy American comedy starring prolific actor/director Dick Powell and comedian Jack Oakie. The film’s time travelling aspects inspired the indie 2014 time travel thriller, Time Lapse, which is another great time travel film worth tracking down.

It Happened Tomorrow is about a young eager newspaper reporter, Larry (Dick Powell), who in a desperate plea to become successful, wishes that he could see the future to get the best scoops. His wish is fulfilled by an older gentleman, who gives him the ability to see the newspaper from the next day. It brings Larry great success, for him and for his girlfriend, who runs a dodgy clairvoyance business. Larry’s luck runs out when he sees his death in the next day’s newspaper, thus forcing him into trying to change the future for once.

Whilst the film has some interesting ideas, it lacks the complexity of the other time travel films on this list. The time travel is merely a narrative device that causes trouble in the lives of the main characters, rather than being the full focus of the film. Dick Powell and his on-screen girlfriend, Linda Darwell share some genuine chemistry, making their presence on-screen enjoyable to watch.

The story never drags, even though the film is fairly predictable. For what it sets out to do, especially in the time it was made, it’s quite effective and definitely worth watching if you’re after an old school screwball sci-fi comedy.

 7. Time After Time (1979, Nicholas Meyer)

source: Warner Bros. Pictures
Time After Time (1979) – source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Often overlooked, Time After Time is one of the more elated time travel pictures, a film which lives up to its wacky premise. Author HG Wells (played by a young Malcolm McDowell, in his post-Clockwork Orange fame) has just invented a working time machine but hasn’t touched it yet.

When Wells finds out that one of his close friends is Jack the Ripper (David Warner), Jack (or known to Wells as Stevenson) escapes to the 1970’s in Wells’ machine. Wells follows him there, expecting a sci-fi heavy utopian society, but instead encountering the progressive modern era. Whilst Jack enjoys the more violent 70’s time and languishes in his crimes, Wells meets a humble bankteller Amy (Mary Steenburgen), who team up to track down Jack and finally put a stop to his crimes.

The film has quite an exaggerated, comic book feel to it, avoiding the bleaker, more tragic sides of time travel that are usually explored in other similar types of films, feeling like an obscure cousin to the Back To The Future series. The movie is a fun riff on HG Wells’ original Time Machine novel, twisting history and fiction in a way that Hollywood doesn’t do that often anymore (Remember the film I.Q.? Such an odd premise for a mainstream rom-com).

Whilst the action sequences and story movements are quite predictable, the film overall maintains its enjoyable fantasy narrative, making it one obscure time travel film that doesn’t leave your head scratching like the other ones.

What are some other time travel films that you can recommend?

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