blake johnson

The movie Primer was the Grand Jury selection at Sundance in 2004. It is a science-fiction film about a couple guys that invent a time machine. Unlike most current sci-fi, though, this movie is not about special effects. Instead, it focuses on the breakdown in the relationship between two friends as the power which the machine grants them requires increasing trust in each other. The movie is quite sucessful at entertaining the viewer, although I find it hard to imagine getting through the film the first time without being confused. The film is unlike most time travel stories because the characters are not traveling to the distant past or future, but to earlier the same day. Consequently, as we watch the story unfold from the perspective of one of the characters we also see events which occur simultaneously, or later, depending on your point of view. The puzzle almost requires two viewings to piece together, and I still haven’t decided on the precise sequence of events shown in the film.

What is particularly impressive about this movie, from my point of view, was that it was made on a budget of $7000 (that’s less than Alan and I spent on Gutter Falls!). That it was Mr. Carruth’s first film is evident in some places, such as spotty audio in various sections of dialogue. But, the camera work was as successful as anything I have achieved. I definitely recommend this one.