[SXSW 2024] TIMESTALKER -- Indie Sci-Fi Romance Is Occasionally Derivative, but Usually Fun

Review by Sean Boelman

Credit: Ludo Roberts

Alice Lowe’s directorial debut, Prevenge, was a microbudget horror-comedy that found a cult following thanks to its wacky concept and wicked sense of humor. Her sophomore feature, Timestalker, is much more ambitious, and while it’s not exactly original, it does reaffirm Lowe as an exciting new filmmaker on the genre scene.

The film follows a woman through several eras as she is reincarnated time and time again after falling in love with the wrong man and coming to an untimely end. It’s a mix of sci-fi, horror-comedy, star-crossed lovers romance, and paranoia thriller, and while it’s a lot for one movie, the experience is pretty consistently entertaining.

Both narratively and stylistically, Timestalker lives in the shadow of other, more effective movies that have been released recently. Unfortunately, Everything Everywhere All at Once becomes an immediate comparison because of some of the editing and cinematography choices, and the screenplay shares a shade similar to Bertrand Bonello’s The Beast. (Although Timestalker was being ideated before the release of the aforementioned films, it is the unfortunate victim of timing.) 

Lowe also struggles with the character dynamics. Throughout the movie, the characters’ motivations become more complex as the truth of their realities is revealed. Lowe certainly deserves points for the ambition of her script, even if not all of the film’s big swings pay off satisfyingly.

The movie’s themes are intriguing, exploring the spectrum between love and obsession. The commentary doesn’t run particularly deep, and any subtext becomes text in a third-act exposition dump meant to pull the rug out from under the audience and ends up spelling out what the audience should feel about the past hour and a half of conflict.

Still, Timestalker is very successful in its production values, especially considering that this is an independent production with a modest budget. The production design and costuming work are impressive, which is quite a feat since the story is set in multiple time periods. And while there’s not a ton of gore, the special effects, when present, are quite good.

The strongest aspect of Timestalker, though, is its cast. Lowe plays the lead role and perfectly captures the balance between charm and nuisance. The supporting cast also shines, though, with a funny performance by Nick Frost, an enigmatic turn by Jacob Anderson, and incredibly lovable appearances by Aneurin Barnard and Tanya Reynolds.

Timestalker isn’t nearly as innovative or fresh as it seems to think it is, but it is a ton of fun. Strong direction, good gags, and a committed cast elevate this movie — and while it’s unfortunate that it will be overshadowed by similar films that have come out recently, it will likely find a good deal of stalkers fans among a cult audience.

Timestalker screened at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, which ran March 8-16 in Austin, TX.

​Rating: 3.5/5