Primer | Monday Movie Review

Primer (2004)
Directed by Shane Carruth

This film was watched by the request of @Kembree

Primer has been on our ToDo list sitting on the NetFlix shelf for a while now and last night Megan and I finally got around to watching it. It’s been a busy couple of weeks and we’ll tell you all about it in some later posts.

Right from the start Primer dives in with a lot of dialogue between four or five characters. Some fast talking back and forth quickly lets me know I have no idea what this group of tie wearing guys is talking about. Whatever it is it’s intriguing though! I’m able to pick up a few words here and there and place an actual meaning to their technical discussions. I actually wondered how much homework the writer did in order to use so many scientific words and references throughout the entire film.

I didn’t take long to discover they were inventing something, but who knows what it is?! Regardless of what IT is, this devise definitely doesn’t do what they expected. Leaving them with strains on their friendship, Aaron (Shane Carruth) and Abe (@davidsullivan9) must figure out how to handle the knowledge and power their new machine has created for them.

Megan and I talked more than normal throughout this film. There were so many questions that came up about what we would do if we found ourselves in the same situation while watching. Would we play the stock market? Maybe, no, we’d get caught, maybe not, what about the lottery?… Primer brought something extra to the table that you don’t normally get to see in other films in this area. Personal decision making without all the futuristic special effects and only a short amount of “time” can pass. I can’t imagine how confusing it would be to be Abe and Aaron trying to keep everything in their lives straight in their heads. I also think writing a story like like this would not be an easy task at all!

The grainy picture and mood association color effects gave Primer an obvious independent feel. The production of this film was done well though. It proves once again that a limited budget does not limit creativity or the ability to produce a multi award winning film. You don’t need to be dazzled with special effects to have a good plot!

I look forward to future films by this team of filmmakers. I wouldn’t even mind a sequel!
-Nathan