Watch Primer

Primer is a 2004 independent science fiction movie written and directed by Shane Carruth, who also starred in it along with David Sullivan and Casey Gooden. The film follows the story of two young engineers, Aaron and Abe, who accidentally invent a time machine in their garage while working on a pet project. The time machine allows them to travel back and forth in time, leading to unexpected consequences and mind-bending paradoxes that challenge their friendship and morality.

The movie begins with Aaron and Abe working on their invention, a device that reduces the weight of objects. They soon discover that the device also alters the flow of time, allowing them to travel backward in time. After some more experimentation, they build a larger time machine that can transport a person as well. They decide to keep the invention a secret and use it for their own financial gain, betting on stocks and becoming rich overnight.

As they interact with their past selves and try to make their lives better, they start to encounter unforeseen complications and ethical dilemmas. The multiple timelines and paradoxes created by their time travel become increasingly complicated, making it harder and harder for them to keep track of what has happened and what is happening.

Primer is a movie that demands your attention from the start as it is full of intricate details and complex time travel concepts. The film doesn't spoon-feed you its plot, and its characters a restrained detachment that is rare in movies. To truly understand everything that's happening, you have to pay close attention to the dialogue and decipher the clues that the characters give you. It's a movie that makes you think but doesn't hold your hand.

One of the most impressive features of Primer is how it manages to create riveting drama without relying on elaborate special effects or high-budget spectacle. The film looks almost like a homemade movie, with rough, grainy visuals that contribute to the gritty, low-budget feel of the movie.

Carruth's directorial style is minimalist, and he chooses to focus on his characters' faces and the dialogue, rather than flashy visuals or set pieces. The film's tone is dark and ominous, and the pacing is slow and deliberate, creating a sense of unease that slowly builds up throughout the movie.

Primer's complex time-travel plotting has often been compared to Christopher Nolan's Inception. However, whereas Inception is trying to exist with its own world-building mechanics, Primer's focus is more on its characters and the emotional toll that time travel can take on individuals. The film raises intriguing questions about the nature of time, morality, and causality and gives no easy answers, leaving the audience to ponder long after the credits roll.

In conclusion, Primer is a fascinating, mind-bending sci-fi film that requires multiple viewings to fully grasp its intricacies. It's a masterclass in low budget filmmaking that manages to tell a compelling story without relying on flashy visuals or special effects. If you're into thought-provoking, existential thrillers or sci-fi that challenges your view of the world, then Primer is a must-watch movie.

Primer is a 2003 science fiction movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 68.