ARQ

A much better movie than given credit for. Robbie Amell is a surprisingly good actor and the story is good. It’s not the most creative, original or cool time travel movie but it’s better than most.

First it was original TV shows, then documentaries, and now Netflix is making it's own feature films. ARQ is the companies first foray into science fiction and it hasn't gotten great reviews, due to the fact that it takes place in a time loop. I love science fiction and my favorite type of sci-fi is anything that features the manipulation of time, time travel, alternate history, time displacement, and yes, even time loops. In an apocalyptic futuristic world, Renton (Robbie Amell) has created a new form of energy, one that can possibly turn the tide and save the world. Renton wants to give this gift to all of humanity, but his former employer has other ideas and decides to steal the technology in a violent home invasion, where Renton is killed. After being killed, Renton reawakens starting his day all over again, with a complete memory of what happened. He soon discovers, the longer he lives, the more he learns, but will it be enough to figure out how to escape his current predicament, as well as the unusual time loop he seems to be caught in? Science Fiction fans love this type of film, because it gives us a chance to figure out things at the same time as the main character. It also gives us the chance to think about what we'd do in that situation and see if the character agrees or has some other wildly innovative idea that we didn't even think of. These films also tend to have a lot of noir type twists and turns and can be really thought provoking. The flip side of that, is that you can see some of the same scenes as many as ten times, and if you've never seen anything like this before and aren't a fan of the genre, it can be extremely confusing. That being said, I thought ARQ was exceptionally well written and done to near perfection, some of the twists just blew my mind. On a side note, as a fan of the film Saint Ralph, I was shocked to see Adam Butcher all grown up, playing a hired gun, I really got a kick out of that. ARQ isn't for general audiences, it is genre specific for fans of science fiction. If sci-fi isn't you thing, obviously you're not going to get it and you're not going to like it. If you are a fan, this was really well done, in particular the writing was fantastic, this film will keep guessing right up until the very end, which in and of itself was shocking.

Very entertaining time-loop movie. It's not exactly as good as Edge of Tomorrow, but it's also not as far below it as some would have you believe. It's maybe a 7.6 where EoT is an 8.4, and that means in whole numbers I have to rate both at 8/10. Most of its thrilling moments worked, most of its plot twists worked, I can only complain about there being maybe 1-2 time jumps too many, 1 surprise attack too many, and a certain lack of closure (at least in terms of understanding exactly what had been going on all along), other than how everything worked.

ARQ is a neat sci-fi flick that's enjoyable enough to keep you from hitting the fast-forward button. The directing by Tony Elliott is straightforward and effective, keeping the action tight and focused without getting bogged down in unnecessary distractions. Cinematography-wise, the film does well considering its confined setting, creating just enough claustrophobic tension to maintain interest. The visuals aren't mind-blowing, but they serve the story perfectly, giving it a gritty, futuristic vibe without leaning too heavily on special effects. The acting is pretty solid, especially Robbie Amell and Rachael Taylor, who manage to deliver believable performances that hold your attention despite the repetitive nature of a time-loop plot. Speaking of which, the script offers an intriguing premise built around the concept of an "Arcing Recursive Quine," cleverly referencing self-replicating programs known in coding circles as quines. The time loop itself lasts exactly 3 hours, 14 minutes, and 15 seconds, intentionally mirroring the number π (pi), symbolizing the endless cycle the characters are trapped in. However, while these ideas sound intriguing, the film doesn't quite explore them as deeply as it could, leaving certain questions unanswered. The script includes subtle nods to looping concepts, notably through the codename "Mobius," referencing the Möbius strip, a symbol of infinite loops and endless cycles. The score and sound design don't particularly stand out, but they're effective enough at enhancing tension during key moments. Overall, ARQ is worth a watch if you're into mind-bending sci-fi and don't mind a story that opts for mystery over detailed explanations.

Film au temps récursif réplié sur lui-même qui tourne en boucle, variations sur un thème récurrent, celui de la boucle temporelle : ARQ ne réinvente pas la roue dans le genre qui a vu et verra nombre d'oeuvres exploiter le filon ! Bonne nouvelle, ARQ n'est pas le pire d'entre eux... mauvaise nouvelle, il n'est pas le meilleur pour autant en raison d'un scénario qui se prend les pieds dans le tapis dans son dernier tiers, voire bien avant. L'incrédulité point alors le bout de son groin tandis qu'on comptabilise les incohérences et les questions sans réponses. Cela étant, pour un huis-clos dans un deux pièces-cuisine, le rythme ne faiblit pas et l'intérêt est maintenu -ou à tout le moins une curiosité certaine. Le jeu d'acteurs est assez présentable, même la mise en scène se révèle étonnamment soignée. La musique très électro n'est pas pour déplaire non plus. Un essai non confirmé donc mais pas désagréable.

Semi-interesting SciFi/time travel film with semi-original story and semi-good acting.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]