Primer: Believable Time Travel, Unbelievable Confusion

OK - this isn't recent, but media coverage of Shane Carruth's long awaited return with Upstream Color brought his older cult classic to my attention.

Primer is independent film at it's best, and time travel film at its most confusing, but to dislike this film because you don't get it all (which I still don't entirely) would be a massive injustice. 

It is "real and present day" Sci-Fi. Nothing about it is special effects or mind-blowing visuals - it's simply good independent film making. (Less than $10k?! That's seriously independent.) 

The time travel box looks like something you could make yourself, yet manages to be believable. The lead characters are true guys next door (though very brainy ones), adding to the real life feel. The dialogue is written as real conversations, not orchestrated story exposition, there to help the viewer follow along. In fact, it's hard work following the story at all at times. But it's refreshingly un-Hollywood.  

If the equation [Success = I Want To Watch That Again] is true Primer is a huge success. I watched it again almost immediately, and again not long after, then again...(luckily it's only 70 minutes long)...but it must be noted that this was largely to ease that feeling of complete confusion following the first viewing. 

My Rating 83/100