Director Nacho Vigalondo's Timecrimes, a sci-fi thriller filmed with Hitchcockian economy (and no special effects)—like the similarly-themed micro-budget 2004 indie-hit Primer—is a time-travel mindbender that turns low-budget necessity into the mother of invention. While his wife Clara (Candela Fernandez) is out grocery shopping, Hector (Karra Elejalde) relaxes in the backyard of their idyllic rural getaway, scouting the nearby woods with a pair of binoculars, when he suddenly spies a young woman disrobing and decides to investigate. Finding the girl (Barbara Goenaga) naked and unconscious, Hector is attacked by a figure in an overcoat who is wearing a mummy-like bandage on his head. Fleeing, Hector happens upon a laboratory where an anxious scientist (played by Vigalondo) urges him to hide in a large, water-filled tank. After what seems like only a moment or two, Hector emerges from the tank and discovers he's traveled an hour backwards in time, after which he must attempt to undo the tragic consequences of his unexpected time-leap. A winning little film (David Cronenberg has signed on to direct an English-language remake), this is recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a 45-minute “making-of” featurette, five featurettes on the Timecrimes Internet game created to help market the film (33 min. total), 10 minutes of cast and crew interviews, the short film “7:35 de la mañana” from writer-director Nacho Vigalondo (8 min.), a six-minute featurette on makeup, a photo gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for an effective mindbender.] (J. Shannon)
Timecrimes
Magnolia, 89 min., in Spanish w/English subtitles, R, DVD: $26.99, Mar. 31 Volume 24, Issue 2
Timecrimes
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