Timestalker Review – A Journey Through Insight and Emotion
Directed by Alice Lowe and starring Lowe herself alongside Nick Frost and Tanya Reynolds, Timestalker captivates audiences eager for a fresh cinematic experience after a long seven-year wait since Prevenge. This film is notable for its boldness and inventiveness, delivering a narrative that’s both insightful and hilariously entertaining. A second viewing reveals even deeper layers, as it exudes a rich and melancholic atmosphere.
Lowe’s impressive second feature is a testament to her creative imagination and profound narrative ambition. With Timestalker, she expands on the thematic and emotional complexities introduced in her debut. This latest offering is a bittersweet romantic tale that traverses centuries, echoing the styles of both Alain Resnais and the humor found in Blackadder.
The film transports us to the Middle Ages, where we meet Agnes, portrayed by Lowe as a downtrodden spinster who’s stuck in a monotonous existence, mindlessly spinning yarn. The plot thickens dramatically when a little dog absconds with her ball of yarn, leading to an unexpected twist of fate: Agnes pricks her finger and embarks on a fantastical journey marked by unfulfilled love and absurdity. Her infatuation with a rebellious priest (played by Aneurin Barnard) results in darkly comic twists as he faces an impending, gruesome fate.
Lowe’s narrative invites viewers to engage without preconceptions, providing a whimsical exploration of love’s potential and pitfalls. The film unfolds in various eccentric scenes, some grand in scale, while others poignantly reflect Agnes’s struggles. Nick Frost takes on a vivid role, reminiscent of Michael Gambon in The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, effectively enhancing the film’s eccentricity. Jacob Anderson also shines as a smirking Cheshire Cat figure, providing cryptic guidance to Agnes that goes unheeded.
Lowe and her creative team skillfully craft an immersive experience despite budget constraints, employing expressive production design and dreamy visuals reminiscent of New Romantic flair, resulting in moments that feel ethereal and enchanting, akin to the artful work of Kate Bush.
The title Timestalker may initially mislead one to expect a fast-paced time-travel adventure, yet it reveals itself as a complex exploration of psychological depth and unresolved themes. Lowe’s writerly talent shines as she effortlessly elicits humor from a single, deadpan line, while simultaneously provoking a thoughtful, self-reflective resonance that lingers long after viewing. The film captures a profound sense of confusion and disappointment, steering clear of simplistic explanations for its heroine’s generational struggles.
In its most effective moments, Timestalker juxtaposes humor and pathos, drawing comparisons to Sally Potter’s ethereal film, Orlando, while also retaining a clever comedic edge.
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Published 7 Oct 2024