*SPOILER ALERT— Ever thought of having a Nikola Tesla time machine like in The Prestige (2006)? If the machine can only go back in time at the risk of your life, would you still want to use it? The movie Primer (2004) will give you an idea of how to make – until the side effects of a time machine that makes its inventor drown in an ocean of regret. The movie received a 6.7/10 rating on IMDb from 118,000 viewers. Primer (2004) is one of the most daring indie films in terms of exploring the scenario of a time traveler story. Shane Carruth not only wrote, directed and produced the movie, but also played the lead. The story is very complicated, full of technical details that make you have to watch with maximum focus. With its low budget and realistic approach to science, Primer has become a cult movie that is often discussed in the science fiction genre.
Intricate Storyline
Primer follows two engineers, Abe and Aaron, who accidentally discover a way to time travel, but the further they go with the time machine, the more complicated things get. There are paradoxes, strange side effects, and a jumpy plot that makes you have to think hard to understand the story. Even if you watch it multiple times, it’s still hard to understand. In one timeline, there are two versions of Abe and three versions of Aaron, which makes things even more confusing. The first Abe (let’s call him “Abe Ori”) doesn’t realize he’s being manipulated by another version of Aaron. The greedy Aaron carries out the plan for his own benefit, while Abe gets more confused and loses his way. Hence, Abe is the character that the audience can relate to the most. When he finally realizes that Aaron has been carrying out many plans behind his back, it becomes the most emotional moment in the midst of all the complexities of Aaron and Abe’s many duplications.
Low Budget Movie with High Concept
Even though Primer was made on a super low budget, it still manages to give off an authentic vibe. Don’t expect smooth lighting, clear sound, or Hollywood-style cinematography – but that’s exactly what makes this movie feel more realistic and at one with the story. Instead of focusing on cool visuals, this movie is more about the concept and crazy ideas. Many people compare Primer to Following (1998), Christopher Nolan’s debut film that was also made on a shoestring budget but still had a super complicated story. Primer proves that indie films don’t need expensive effects to be ambitious and give people migraines.
To be honest, Primer is not the type of movie that is easy to digest. The plot is dense, the narrative is complicated, and the storyline is unusual. It’s more suitable for viewers who like challenges and don’t mind having to re-watch it multiple times to really understand the story. I personally couldn’t really enjoy this movie, but I still salute the vision, ambition, and efforts of the production team who managed to make such a messy and cool work.
