90 minutes
Directed by: Nacho Vigalondo
New England Premiere

Spanish w/ English subtitles

What would you do if you accidentally traveled two hours into your own past? Could you stand by idly as a mere observer of your life, never able to interact with your loved ones-or yourself-out of fear of causing a rift in time? This is the question Hector confronts on a lazy Saturday afternoon. He and his wife are moving into a new home that boasts fairly modern amenities, a beautiful forest view, and a neighbor who has unauthorized access to a time machine. When Hector spots a troubled, nude woman with a pair of binoculars on his property, a simple naked-lady-reconnaissance mission quickly escalates to a dizzying race to stop himself from . . . well, from stopping himself. TIME CRIMES is a thriller reminiscent of classic, Twilight Zone science fiction.

Director Nacho Vigalondo has created a mature answer to every cartoonish time-travel movie that ever left you scratching your head. In this film, there are always consequences to the protagonist's actions. The ripple effects in TIME CRIMES are not as simple as a person fading from a photograph; these are issues of life and death. Hector finds himself in quite the horrific predicament, and the change he undergoes, evolving from mild-mannered husband to murderous doppelganger, is one of the most shocking elements of the story.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the film, given its genre, is its tremendous cohesion. Nothing is left unexplained: every piece of action takes place by necessity. Other movies have explored one situation from multiple points of view, but these contrasting perspectives are seldom (if ever) those of the same character! Ultimately, Vigalondo's is a refreshing and genuinely thrilling film that blends elements of science fiction and horror to deliver a cinematic experience that feels brand new. This is the sort of daring, path-breaking storytelling we've been missing!

-Mark Anastasio