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Primer
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Primer

2004
Drama
Sci-fi
1h 17m
While tweaking their current project, two young engineers accidentally discover that it has some highly unexpected capabilities--ones that could enable them to do and to have seemingly anything they want. Taking advantage of this unique opportunity is the first challenge they face. Dealing with the consequences is the next. (ThinkFilm)
Directed by:
Shane Carruth Shane Carruth
Written by:
Shane Carruth Shane Carruth
Starring:
Shane Carruth Shane Carruth David Sullivan Casey Gooden Anand Upadhyaya Carrie Crawford Jay Butler John Carruth Juan Tapia Ashley Warren Samantha Thomson Chip Carruth Delaney Price
More
Genres:
Drama, Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller
Country:
USA
Languages:
English, French
imdb More information at IMDb
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Primer

2004
Drama
Sci-fi
1h 17m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 58.07% from 4798 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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kasperlKasperL
Rated 13 Aug 2010
100
99th
Never have I been so attentive and challenged during a first viewing. Pieces to the puzzle are there in plain sight and only one is missing, the one also unattainable by the protagonists, leaving some wiggleroom for further hypotheses. Given that the field of possibilities in a time travel movie is so immense, Carruth's most impressive accomplishment is actually that the meticulousness of his astonishingly complex narrative allows for a very precise reconstruction of "prior" events. Pure genius.
Rated 13 Aug 2010
doctor7doctor7
Rated 15 Jul 2008
82
76th
Great movie with a merciless script that requires your up most attention to detail or a rewatch. Surprisingly good acting for relative no names and very stylish for an incredibly modest budget of ~$7,000, though it doesn't look like it was cheaply made at all, this film is certainly a must see. Be damn sure to bring your thinking cap if you plan on watching this though. Oh and don't forget your attention socks, you'll need them just as much at the cap.
Rated 15 Jul 2008
zarkonZarkon
Rated 02 Jan 2008
60
10th
Intelligent science fiction shouldn't be synonymous with deliberate obfuscation of the damn plot.
Rated 02 Jan 2008
omgfridgeomgfridge
Rated 07 Aug 2009
7
65th
Interesting throughout, not without a price though. This is definitely a movie that forces you to think and pay attention. Well worth it though and props must go out for it being made on a lonely $7000 budget. Only real criticism would be that at times it was too complex for its own good but when that is all you can say, 'Primer' has certainly done a great job with he concept of time-traveling.
Rated 07 Aug 2009
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 05 Apr 2009
2
21st
For 7K it is a masterpiece but by my standards it blows. This movie has no likable characters, the plot is terrible, and it just keeps going. Boring as hell. All the talk is technical jargon so douche bag engineers can just sit there and have a smug grin on their faces. I hate snobbery in movies. The movie ultimately suffers from terrible writing and just ends up being condescending and just plain dumb. The amount of people who have hopped on Carruth's dick cause of this movie is unbelievable.
Rated 05 Apr 2009
suture_selfSuture Self
Rated 13 Apr 2013
4
34th
I fucking dare you to explain this plot to me.
Rated 13 Apr 2013
malignantMalignant
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
86th
For those who can accept that mutliple viewing, complex charts, and discussions are really the only way to experience this, its a interesting movie.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
somnivoresomnivore
Rated 05 Nov 2008
95
95th
The best time travel film, bar none. That is if you don't require fancy special effects and big name actors to float your boat. If you do manage to muster the courage to watch a film made on a 4 figure budget, make sure you look up analyses on the film afterward before you dismiss it as nonsense. The film does make sense but does not spell everything out for you.
Rated 05 Nov 2008
optimusmikeOptimus_mike
Rated 27 Oct 2008
90
90th
I did not see this coming, a Sci-fi movie that does not even attempt to hold your hand at any moment at all. And Jesus Christ was that refreshing.
Rated 27 Oct 2008
spanksSpanks
Rated 27 Jul 2011
30
19th
This is the definition of a DIY movie. And like most DIY things - it sucks. The dialogue is more ridiculous than a Tarantino flick, the story is awful, and for only 77 minutes it feels like it drags on. Also, nothing happens. To me it seems like nothing more than a movie for pseudo-intellects to sit around and mindlessly argue over for hours. Definitely not the masterpiece everyone says it is.
Rated 27 Jul 2011
garlonussGarlonuss
Rated 01 Dec 2009
92
94th
This is a rather intriguing movie. You truly have to watch it at least twice to really begin to pick up on much of what is happening. The second time you watch it, you see several things in a completely new light. The technical discussions are very realistic (within a sci-fi framework) and the movie feels quite familiar (up until it starts to get quite confusing). Loved it.
Rated 01 Dec 2009
overratedoverrated
Rated 01 Aug 2011
35
27th
Couldn't bring myself to care about anything that happens. Sure the technobabble sounds authentic but the stakes are so low, and the characters so boring, that Primer ends up at almost the same place as those big budget CGI laden sci-fi monstrosities. There's no personal investment whatsoever.
Rated 01 Aug 2011
carsonwidCarsonWid
Rated 26 Mar 2010
84
93rd
Its really quite simple, but I think it would be fun to dissect this movie with complex charts and keeping track of all the different timelines.
Rated 26 Mar 2010
aarona1caarona1c
Rated 27 Dec 2007
100
97th
I'd rate this lower, because I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as 100 would represent...but this is one of the very few movies I've seen that it truly a few marks smarter than I am. I'm still trying to figure it out.
Rated 27 Dec 2007
shlebedeshlebede
Rated 22 Jun 2010
60
17th
It works better as a Wikipedia page.
Rated 22 Jun 2010
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 14 Aug 2007
68
32nd
It was interesting to watch these guys struggle with the implications of science that was beyond their comprehension... unfortunately the plot was beyond MY comprehension. I read someone's long explanation and I still don't get it. The kind of movie that needs to be watched at least twice, I guess, but I'm not inclined to do so.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
judge_holdenJudge Holden
Rated 09 Mar 2011
3
32nd
Maybe I would have been willing to do the mental work required to decipher the plot if, ya know, it actually had one worth deciphering. It's simultaneously smarter but emptier than your average sci-fi film but overall the effect is nil and you're left with something really, really shitty.
Rated 09 Mar 2011
magbMagb
Rated 27 Feb 2011
75
50th
Primer is an attempt to do time travel as "hard science", with no logical flaws. Does it succeed? I'm... not sure. I understand the main idea behind the Primer time machine, but the details are so complicated that if there were any plot holes, they may have flown right past me. I dare you not to find this film even remotely intriguing, but I won't exactly blame you if you don't buy it, or don't care. I do care, but not enough to do the amount of thinking about the film that it requires.
Rated 27 Feb 2011
lockstocklockstock
Rated 18 Jan 2012
66
65th
score is PSI, rede: IK BEGRIJP ER GENE KAK VAN, ma ik denk da em wel goe is als k em snap, de score zal dus da een volgende kijk beurt worden aangepast :)
Rated 18 Jan 2012
nearphotisonNearphotison
Rated 14 Jan 2009
89
89th
Definitely an intelligent film worthy of (and needing) multiple viewings. The unkown cast is surprsingly good and the script is deep and confusing. If you have the time and patience to unravel this film then by all means I suggest you do.
Rated 14 Jan 2009
anomalyAnomaly
Rated 27 Nov 2012
62
32nd
Because of its reputation I expected a film that was confusing because of how tightly wound it was, and instead I got a film that's confusing because it omits too much. Once you know how the machine works the plot is quite simple, and the betrayals and twists are almost rote. The amateur style is awful and the sound mix so bad I was forced to turn on subtitles at a few points for a movie in my native tongue! If the characters were compelling this might have been worth it, but it's just hollow.
Rated 27 Nov 2012
mohkoMohko
Rated 03 Jul 2008
90
97th
Well done in every aspect. Requires multiple viewings to really understand whats going on.
Rated 03 Jul 2008
cmonsterCMonster
Rated 23 Mar 2013
84
77th
A fascinating little time travel flick that manages to some how explain everything and not explain anything at the same time. I can see how it would be difficult for some people to get into but I've always found paradoxes to be an intellectual treat. Having a movie that takes on such concepts without having to make something up (like Inception) is just fun for me. If I were more talented and ambitious this would be the type of amateur film I would hope to make.
Rated 23 Mar 2013
kavuKavu
Rated 03 Jul 2008
90
94th
Amazing use of the ultra-low budget. Well directed with decent acting and a beautiful puzzle of a script.
Rated 03 Jul 2008
funkyastroFunkyAstro
Rated 09 Feb 2013
80
80th
Two guys make a time machine and go insane when they try to decipher the aftermath of their effects at different time intervals and begin to degrade after using the machine too much. The paradoxes of backward time travel aren't going to be "figured out" no matter how many times you watch Primer. Anyone trying to bring continuity and reason to this film seem to be butt of Carruth's intention ... At least neither of them had sex with their own grandmother and became their own grandfather.
Rated 09 Feb 2013
leshiileshii
Rated 14 Aug 2007
63
41st
The only people who seem to love this movie are ones who watch it fifteen times and pause it to consult timelines and charts constructed by other people who have watched it fifteen times. A good idea but run into the ground quickly.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
mwgerbmwgerb
Rated 07 Jul 2010
61
69th
One of the best, realistic-feeling, scientific, and subtle versions of time travel I've ever seen on film. However, it doesn't really make the viewer care about the characters or provide them much besides a nice mental workout. On the other hand, I enjoy the deep complexity, and respect it for doing so much on a small budget.
Rated 07 Jul 2010
deathcrowDeathcrow
Rated 12 Jul 2010
50
28th
Interesting concept with very little narrative/plot. Get's increasingly confusing towards the end - so much so that it becomes a pain keeping track of everything.
Rated 12 Jul 2010
thesleepwalkthesleepwalk
Rated 29 Dec 2008
95
97th
Mega-brainy sci-fi time-travel movie made on a tiny budget. Really well done with interesting layers that are almost impossible to unravel, but had me thinking for days. Slow, delicate pace, but really worth the attention.
Rated 29 Dec 2008
davidblastDavidBlast
Rated 03 Jun 2010
80
80th
Making a no-budget sci-fi movie gives street credit in itself. But conjuring up something so interesting, convincing and fascinating is worthy of all the respect in the world. Kudos Carruth! The greatest achievement is that 'Primer' never reaches beyond its budget, and never seems cheap. It feels like a genuine movie. The puzzle plot's complexity eventually outweighs it's relevance, but all that is forgiven when considering the 7000 dollar budget. See it. Support it.
Rated 03 Jun 2010
skenkereSkenkere
Rated 26 Feb 2007
78
81st
The most realistic time travel movie I've ever seen (if that makes sense.) Very engrossing and fun to unravel. Be warned though, this is not an easy movie. There is no exposition that makes you go "ah it all makes sense now!" You really have to think it through to unravel the timeline(s).
Rated 26 Feb 2007
andreasthauAndreasThau
Rated 05 Nov 2011
70
59th
This score will most definitely be reconsidered after being rewatched. As in: I didn't understand, like, anything. Except maybe ... it had something to do with time travelling? I sense a great film, in the middle of something maybe even more important: the concept of making movies that doesn't make sense the first three times (do you follow!?). So, basically, it's like watching Inception where the mind-bugging is taken to an extreme (at maybe 1,5x speed to make it harder to follow). Shit.
Rated 05 Nov 2011
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 05 Jan 2010
85
92nd
It's so mind-blowing and original, that I'm gonna have to watch it again to fully understand it.
Rated 05 Jan 2010
mxh178mxh178
Rated 22 Aug 2009
95
98th
perfect
Rated 22 Aug 2009
freqflyerfreqflyer
Rated 14 Dec 2009
90
95th
Very very cool! Totally original, and totally mind-blowing. I've watched it 4 times now, and it is only just beginning to make sense.
Rated 14 Dec 2009
brandt64brandt64
Rated 14 Jun 2009
70
44th
I've seen complicated, elaborate charts that try to fully explain Primer's plot. It's definitely not something for everyone, but those with patience will enjoy this mental puzzle of a movie.
Rated 14 Jun 2009
gordonbombayGordonBombay
Rated 25 Sep 2010
85
74th
A low budget sci-fi could have been a disaster of Titanic 2 proportions, but Carruth does himself a big favour in focusing on the main idea of time travel instead of spending money on lights and explosions. Primer is a smart movie that challenges the viewer to watch the movie once again just to catch the entire plot of the complicated story. Great movie, but lacks something undefinable.
Rated 25 Sep 2010
joseywalesjoseywales
Rated 27 Nov 2008
77
79th
whaaaaaaaaaaaat? Heady and suspenseful sci-fi with a great story that requires a few viewings to fully "get". Primer is also a great example of budget film making for aspiring auteurs!
Rated 27 Nov 2008
baggerBagger
Rated 16 Mar 2013
80
84th
Hello Bagger. You won't remember writing this review because technically --- you haven't written it yet. And if all goes well you never will: Let me warn you, this movie will fry your brain and send you on a binge of Blip pages and YouTube searches. I like to think that you (and by extension I) have better things to do with our lives. Also you apparently discover time travel and use it to write movie reviews to yourself, which makes me/us sad. Gotta go now - Paradox.
Rated 16 Mar 2013
whatismynamewhatismyname
Rated 30 Aug 2008
75
88th
A great low budget sci-fi movie that doesn't suffer from the lack of money. Took a while before I got into it, but once the starts, it's truly beautiful. Most likely will rewatch because I want another try at 'figuring it out'.
Rated 30 Aug 2008
pursusPursus
Rated 15 Jan 2013
40
5th
Here's an idea, let's make a movie that's intentionally almost impossible to follow. That way people can feel smart when they tell people that it's a great movie. Nominated for the golden monocle award for pretentiousness.
Rated 15 Jan 2013
vorpalkittenVorpalKitten
Rated 10 Dec 2014
100
98th
If it was possible to rate a movie higher, I would - my absolute favorite time-travel movie.
Rated 10 Dec 2014
timmotimmo
Rated 02 May 2007
90
66th
You're gonna need to see it a few times before you have any clue of what just happened.
Rated 02 May 2007
monkeyflipmonkeyflip
Rated 17 May 2013
37
15th
I have absolutely no problem admitting that I watch movies to be entertained. I really wanted to like this and maybe I will give it another go some other day but I couldn't make it to the end... I even appreciate the set up banter and can usually get lost in the kinds of conversations they have but this really didn't spark my imagination or inspire me to have thoughts about time travel or anything else in the subject matter that I had not already pondered over and over previously.
Rated 17 May 2013
psych0nautpsych0naut
Rated 22 Jan 2017
60
29th
I have a Ph.D. in science and even I couldn't figure out what was going on in this film. Multiple viewings, possibly with the aid of a written plot synopsis, might help, but the film's just not interesting enough to sit through twice.
Rated 22 Jan 2017
joojooJooJoo
Rated 30 May 2013
4
55th
There are admirable and worthwhile points, both in concept and execution, but good lord what a horrendous final act.
Rated 30 May 2013
lynxLynx
Rated 29 Dec 2009
88
94th
Gets better every time I watch it.
Rated 29 Dec 2009
princeharryprinceharry
Rated 29 Jun 2012
8
55th
A brilliantly constructed film that demands multiple repeat viewings - viewings that only the brave and the avant-garde-minded few will actually attempt.
Rated 29 Jun 2012
kito1kito1
Rated 02 Jul 2018
60
47th
Pretty difficult to understand, but quick and interesting. -- What I have gathered so far (read after watching): the machine extends the A and B ends as far as the timer (~6 hours) and sends a copy back to the A end; the hotel is a safe place during the machine runtime; the failsafe causes a hard reset to the first day; the copies created by main machine and failsafe somehow dispose of their predecessors; the recording was made by a failsafe copy for "future" main copies.
Rated 02 Jul 2018
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 19 Sep 2009
55
9th
Tries to be a 'thinking man's sci-fi film' and does ok in some regards, but misses the most important aspect of such films, which is to not focus on the science. It spends so much time drenched in jargon, especially at the beginning, that it can never escape the ridiculousness enough to have the moral quandaries it tries to pose carry any weight.
Rated 19 Sep 2009
burnmp3sburnmp3s
Rated 11 May 2009
94
97th
The best depiction of time travel in a film. Although some people are put off by the difficult to comprehend plot and the technical jargon, underneath it all is an excellent cautionary tale about exploiting technology without really thinking through the consequences.
Rated 11 May 2009
shamemShamem
Rated 31 Oct 2007
100
98th
An awesome "classic" Sci-Fi short story, in the form of a very well done independent film. Primer focuses on the reactions and interactions of two friends, when they accidentally discover the secret to time travel. My favorite film of all time.
Rated 31 Oct 2007
rubbersocksrubbersocks
Rated 12 Feb 2012
100
37th
Though I always enjoy a good time-travel flick, I enjoyed this movie more for the revolutionary writing that I hope inspires future filmmakers. This film made me feel like I was watching the result of a sudoku puzzle being ran through a movie projector. It makes the viewer itch for complete understanding and capitalizes on "rewatchability."
Rated 12 Feb 2012
johnnyzombieJohnnyZombie
Rated 22 Sep 2008
86
63rd
A very interesting, original, and confusing movie. I will definitely be re watching this one.
Rated 22 Sep 2008
tuerdatuerda
Rated 01 Nov 2017
90
89th
Possibly the most complex, mind-bending movie I have ever seen. I finished watching it and then immediately rewatched it to see if it made more sense the second time through. A couple more things clicked, but I ended up feeling like I needed to watch it a third time and maybe draw a diagram. Anyway, this movie was awesome!
Rated 01 Nov 2017
edkrakedkrak
Rated 15 Aug 2010
60
44th
It was refreshing to see SF film where scientists talk like scientists and not like high school kids. It's also good that Carruth doesn't show common "you're an idiot so I'll explain everything to you" attitude towards viewers. But the problem is that he lacks in filmmaking skills. It needed some kind of suspense or drama, because in the end I didn't bother about anything happening in the film. I guess didn't understand it completely after one viewing, but I just don't care anymore.
Rated 15 Aug 2010
sneeandysneeandy
Rated 07 Jul 2014
99
95th
A genius realization of the potential effects that time travel would have on the mind capable of implementing it. The film must be rewatched to be understood completely. It's well worth the effort.
Rated 07 Jul 2014
mynameismaxmynameismax
Rated 14 Aug 2007
87
79th
A good film but most notable for the budget etc that it was made on. Recommended if you want something a little different and that might pass under most peoples' radar.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
rnevesrrnevesr
Rated 26 Mar 2011
92
90th
This was pretty fucking good, thanks.
Rated 26 Mar 2011
zealot185Zealot185
Rated 16 May 2009
82
76th
I think this movie is at its best on your initial viewing, preferably if you don't even know what the machine they're building really does. The fast-paced, incomplete scientific jargon in the first 20-30 minutes really leave the viewer in the dark, yet somehow make the film that much more suspenseful. Even after the reveal, no answers are really spoon-fed to you, but the ideas presented really make you think about it afterward.
Rated 16 May 2009
driesdries
Rated 14 Aug 2007
88
90th
Quite confusing the first time around, but worth watching again, makes the movie much more rewarding
Rated 14 Aug 2007
halfjapaneseHalfJapanese
Rated 12 Jan 2010
80
61st
A very good, low-key time travel film that's smarter than the vast majority of its brethren, but a little frustrating in execution as to fully understand it will require multiple viewings, a notepad, and more than likely some help from internet obsessives.
Rated 12 Jan 2010
bownBown
Rated 24 Jun 2021
82
62nd
I was surprised by how….not necessarily easy to understand, but how not-impossible to understand this film was. Really excellent and intriguing sci-fi concepts that drew me in well, with a solid if uninspired character base underneath. Shame Carruth is such a piece of shit!
Rated 24 Jun 2021
qthealmightyQtheAlmighty
Rated 19 Dec 2013
89
93rd
Time travel would ordinarily be a tried and tired premise, but the plight and point of view of the two "garage scientists" and the explanations and revelations of the workings of and ethical and causal problems with time travel make it into something fresh and what I consider remarkable.
Rated 19 Dec 2013
judo_koalaJudo Koala
Rated 12 Nov 2013
75
53rd
A wonderful example of art and science combining to inform one another instead of being treated as mutually exclusive. 'Primer' essentially dismantles any form of simple narrative coherence through an extremely technical account of the act, and after-effects, of time travel, showcasing the legitimacy and dangers of both. Science 'non-fiction' may be more apt, here, and it is 100x more refreshing than the pseudoscience which Hollywood tends to offer.
Rated 12 Nov 2013
sw0sw0
Rated 06 Mar 2008
90
86th
This is one of the best time travel movies I have seen.
Rated 06 Mar 2008
chittychitty
Rated 22 Jun 2011
100
96th
It's perfect. (Once you've watched it about five times just to confirm that it is indeed perfect.)
Rated 22 Jun 2011
lazynicklazynick
Rated 24 Sep 2010
100
94th
Amazing accomplishment. Mind-bogglingly complex but incredibly rewarding. The viewer experiences the mind-fuck that is time-travel.
Rated 24 Sep 2010
djrossdjross
Rated 30 Jan 2013
50
43rd
The filmmakers deserve credit for operating under extreme budgetary constraint, and for their portrayal of the quotidian character of scientific progress and the unglamorous and accidental character of scientific discovery. On the other hand, the poor quality of the audio, combined with the lack of available subtitles on the DVD I was viewing, meant that there was very little hope of this viewer being able to keep pace with the convolutions of the narrative.
Rated 30 Jan 2013
rthornhillrthornhill
Rated 26 Mar 2009
10
0th
One of the most overrated movies. Incredibly slow, boring and incomprehensible.
Rated 26 Mar 2009
steakbunsSteakbuns
Rated 26 Aug 2012
60
25th
Its conception of time travel is simultaneously grounded and intriguing, but it forgets to include the humanity that makes sci-fi stories great, and ends up being less of a story than a mental exercise.
Rated 26 Aug 2012
mervtaylorMerv_Taylor
Rated 17 Jun 2012
96
91st
A great movie. Very original. Not dumbed down
Rated 17 Jun 2012
hunterkingHunterKing
Rated 20 Mar 2008
74
35th
The difference between plot and story: this had a complex plot that kept me thinking throughout the film. Unfortunately, it had no story (interesting characters, situations, etc.) to actually make me care enough to figure it out afterward. By the way, if you think you understand it, check out the wikipedia. You probably don't.
Rated 20 Mar 2008
monstergearMonsterGear
Rated 27 Apr 2007
89
88th
Every time I thought I'd caught up to this movie and understood what was going on, they throw a curve-ball and I'm in the dark again. This might sound like a bad thing but I loved it.
Rated 27 Apr 2007
kalmah7Kalmah7
Rated 19 Mar 2009
87
89th
Wonderfully imaginative, mind bending, exciting and endlessly interesting sci-fi. Demands multiple watches.
Rated 19 Mar 2009
racerx124racer_x124
Rated 17 Apr 2009
95
99th
The only movie I've ever watched on TV, bought the DVD right after, and watched it twice again.
Rated 17 Apr 2009
stripyStripy
Rated 28 Sep 2009
85
76th
This movie keeps your brain busy long after you've seen it. It presents us the time travel problem in a different form than we are used to see in movies and popular culture. Truly an overlooked jewel in its genre.
Rated 28 Sep 2009
martrynmartryn
Rated 31 Jul 2009
73
60th
You'll have to watch this one multiple times. When you finally get it, then... wow! Not a movie you watch casually on a Saturday afternoon. It might be a movie you watch four times on a Saturday, with friends, with a half hour discussion between each viewing, note taking, etc.
Rated 31 Jul 2009
uksubsUKSubs
Rated 31 Dec 2013
99
99th
A tremendous accomplishment in film making, which uses time travel as a vehicle for explaining the inner workings of human beings. Fascinating on all levels and a true classic.
Rated 31 Dec 2013
uhrmacherUhrmacher
Rated 31 Mar 2013
84
41st
Interesting idea to deliberately make a movie that captures the confusion of a real garage time machine but not as enjoyable as I had hoped. I found the shaky cam cinematography distracting and the acting sometimes lacking. The plot is bewildering, as promised, and doesn't seem worth dissecting.
Rated 31 Mar 2013
calhardingcalharding
Rated 10 May 2009
84
75th
If ever a film existed that requires multiple viewings, this is it. The plot is complex enough to induce brain-fatigue, but never becomes unnecessarily convoluted, mainly due to the fact that it's all based on 100% accurate science. When accurate, real-world scientific principles can be this intriguing, it makes the blatant science gaffs made by Hollywood all the more unforgivable.
Rated 10 May 2009
babamotsbabamots
Rated 17 Nov 2009
95
94th
Not too complicated to follow, just presented in a disjointed style. With an extra half an hour, it could have been clear enough to get the first time. "I'm so hungry! I haven't eaten since later today."
Rated 17 Nov 2009
sirstuckeySirStuckey
Rated 01 Aug 2010
85
87th
If there was a movie that should be re-named "Mind Fuck" this would be it. It's extremely interesting and really cool, but I'll be damned if I knew what was going on completely. Definitely needs to be seen more than once and it's probably not too far fetched to think I'd give it a higher score after my next viewing.
Rated 01 Aug 2010
staypuftStay_Puft
Rated 14 Aug 2007
86
91st
Fantastic debut. Knocked my socks off.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
easydiffeasydiff
Rated 11 Jan 2010
80
88th
I didn't understand a bit of the third act, but I loved every minute of it.
Rated 11 Jan 2010
ytadelYtadel
Rated 04 Jul 2013
6
70th
In my 22-23 years as a movie watcher, this may be the only example I can ever think of where my appreciation level for a movie actually went up after having its plot didactically and thoroughly explained to me after having watched it. There's some things I got my first watch; there's other things that flew miles over my head.
Rated 04 Jul 2013
gillsoloGillSolo
Rated 29 Jan 2012
74
51st
Few films have made me crave to understand what is really going on, and this is one of them. The value of this film is in the heady problems developed in an utterly minimalist piece of production.
Rated 29 Jan 2012
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 25 Mar 2013
2
15th
Trust me when I say: as somebody who ranks Satantango as a top three film ever, this film is boring as shit.
Rated 25 Mar 2013
caprimodecaprimode
Rated 06 May 2013
95
95th
A time travel film with an extremely intricate, and introspective, plot. What really helps the film drive forward and feel fresh is that the characters are engineer nerds and act appropriately. Their invention is out of curiosity, and there are no overly dramatic story arcs to drive the film from Point B to Point A (heh) - everything is handled within what feels like appropriate discourse for two nerds that invent time travel. It's great.
Rated 06 May 2013
cclxndrcclxndr
Rated 02 Aug 2010
85
79th
It would be easy to weave a cheesy time travel plot, but Primer exceeds any expectation. Original, intelligent, intriguing and the tone was realistic. The jargon was a bit difficult to follow, but it made it even more compelling. Definitely not a film to watch for a short-attention spanned numskull.
Rated 02 Aug 2010
in_lieu_ofIn Lieu Of
Rated 30 Apr 2010
95
89th
I love this movie. As much as it hurts my brain to try and understand the plot... I love this movie. It is truly unbelievable that a film this good was made for $7,000. Ridiculous. Great performances and only one of two time travel movies that hold up to logical scrutiny. The other is Timecrimes, which is also good but much simpler in plot. I really hope Shane Carruth makes another movie soon. I love this movie.
Rated 30 Apr 2010
paxtonPaxton
Rated 20 Oct 2012
76
82nd
I thought it was solid throughout and was impressed to learn of its miniscule budget. I would give anything to sleep in that thing for a couple of days. Not to go back in time, just for the sleep.
Rated 20 Oct 2012
bjnbjn
Rated 11 Oct 2014
80
75th
Can't pretend I understand what happened but I sure liked it
Rated 11 Oct 2014
rocketluccoRocketlucco
Rated 30 Jun 2009
90
92nd
Overall Enjoyment: 40/40, Plot/Themes: 20/20, Cinematography/Direction: 15/20, Acting/Writing: 15/20 On first-watch it is impossible to really understand or appreciate it, but I guarantee it will spark at least an hour's worth of discussion among the viewers. The film is cut in a way that makes it incredibly hard to figure out on your own, but if you watch is slowly or read up on it you will gain an understanding that makes you appreciate the movie much much more.
Rated 30 Jun 2009
dsaosdsaos
Rated 28 Oct 2011
78
43rd
You can definitely tell its creators thought things through, but you get the notion that they're trying to hold it over your head demanding you get on the blogs to divine its intricacies. It's like they had lengthy sessions trying to figure out how to add more layers of complexity to the plot, which despite all that felt too small-scale and mundane for it to matter for me.
Rated 28 Oct 2011
anselmi86Anselmi86
Rated 14 Aug 2009
86
81st
So fantastic and original for such an amazingly low budget.
Rated 14 Aug 2009
cselstoncselston
Rated 01 May 2008
35
37th
For a movie made with a $7k budget, this is pretty good. By any other standards, it stinks.
Rated 01 May 2008
parcalihamparcaliham
Rated 02 Feb 2009
60
27th
01 Subat 09, gece yarisi. & 7bin dolara en iyi bu kadar olur. keske daha anlasilir olsaymis. diyologa dayali bir bilim-kurgu oldugu icin cesur bir yonetmen-yapimciya sahip...
Rated 02 Feb 2009
bunkenBunken
Rated 11 Jul 2012
80
88th
The idea is good as well as the script, but at first viewing it seems like it has way to many loose ends. Update: After watching it again, I must say that it doesnt have any loose ends. Great film, if you can follow the science dialog without falling behind. Demands to be watched two times, minimum... Update: 3rd viewing: I still don't quite get it.
Rated 11 Jul 2012
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 20 Oct 2011
15
21st
"Primer is perfect Sundance material, its bland, anonymous actors and competent, Sprint-commercial mise-en-scène masked in the guise of independence." - Keith Uhlich
Rated 20 Oct 2011

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