Time Lapse

This impressive micro-budget time-manipulation thriller revolves around an appliance-sized camera that makes Polaroid snapshots of what will come to pass exactly 24 hours hence. Discovered in the apartment of a recently deceased tenant, the time machine is pointed into the living room of three neighboring roommates who realize that they can use it for fun and financial gain. Potential scenarios soon turn much darker as the trio become obsessed with all of the things portended in the daily future photos. Moving briskly from mirth and smalltime personality conflicts to much more sinister themes, director Bradley King explores all kinds of intriguing threads, and even though the production is sparse, every authentic tingle is writ large—including a freaky Twilight Zone twist late in the story. Recommended. (T. Fry)