Space/Time follows a group of scientists developing a new system of interstellar travel: time-bending. Using a powerful particle accelerator, the scientists hypothesize they can transport an object across the world in seconds by simply “bending” time and space. Things go awry almost immediately though, and our story really begins with one of the scientists three years later, blacklisted and looking for just about any gig that will take her.
This movie is ambitious, and I was surprised at how well it nails the sci-fi setting. The machines are huge set pieces that look real, and most of the action is done with practical effects. While not as gritty as something like Alien or The Thing, Space/Time’s world feels real and lived-in. The particle accelerator looms in the background of nearly every shot, demonstrating potential progress and a potential threat.
At times, I forgot I was watching an independent film. The style is very slick and polished, and none of the performances really stick out as awkward or stiff. Everyone showed up, and it feels incredibly cohesive. While I enjoyed Hugh Parker as the visionary scientist Holt, Ashlee Lollback’s performance as his assistant really carries the film. She brings so much heart to her performance that she makes up for any of the rougher patches in the script.
The real strength of this film is in its story, specifically the relationship between its two leads. Holt and Liv are diametrically opposed, but it takes them most of the story just to realize how different they are. Liv sees herself as a follower, someone in need of direction and guidance. Holt is willing to give that, and spends most of the film twisting her around his finger. Their final confrontation feels earned because of their relationship, not the big action set pieces. While the spectacle is a lot of fun, it’s the story that gives it weight and makes it something to remember.
There’s a lot to like here, but I did take some issue with the movie’s core concept: the bending. While a lot of sci-fi typically falls into the two categories of explain-the-science (Andy Weir, Interstellar, etc.) or this-is-how-it-works-just-accept it (Star Trek, Star Wars, literally everything else), Space/Time aims for a middle ground. Unfortunately, I’m not sure it totally works. The audience is left doing some mental gymnastics trying to figure out how this tech actually works, right up until it’s revealed that the machine does something completely different. I won’t spoil it here, but the fact that this change occurs in the third act feels sudden and shifts the movie’s overall tone to something more akin to an action sci-fi.
Overall, this movie is a lot of fun. It’s a sci-fi action thriller with a drama at its core, and the character relationships give the film the framework to withstand some of the weaker moments. It’s rare we see a sci-fi film really trying something new, and this one is definitely worth watching for fans of the genre.
