Timecrimes, Groundhog Day, Triangle, the tv show Day Break, +1 and Edge of Tomorrow, they are just a few examples of movies in which the main character gets stuck in a time loop. A piece of time in which the same events keep taking place and where the main character uses his knowledge of them to outwit everyone and hopefully escape. It’s “High concept” which is fun to watch. Netflix has stepped into this genre with ARQ, a relatively low budget film (according to director Tony Elliott shy of two million dollar). Is this a must-see for Netflix subscribers?
The ARQ is a mysterious device which can generate infinite energy and thefore is wanted by two different factions who are at war. Renton (Robbie Amell) has the device and in each loop is attacked by three masked and armed men who want to rob him. When Renton finds out time is looping he tries to use that knowledge to be one step ahead of his attackers.
Something ARQ manages to do well is to keep changing the repeating situation. And it’s not only in the actions the characters execute, but also the people who can remember the previous loop(s). It starts out with one, but expands. Because of that the story becomes much more unpredictable. It is a small movie which does everything it can with its limited budget. Definitely not the best movie in the genre, but for fans worth a watch.
ARQ is available through Netflix
