Tim Travers & the Time Traveler's Paradox Film Review

Directed by: Stimson Snead

Written by: Stimson Snead

Starring: Samuel Dunning, Danny Trejo, Felicia Day

Film Review by: William Curzon

★★★

Tim Travers & the Time Traveler’s Paradox follows the titular character as he builds a time machine and kills his younger self to see the consequences. This self-obsessed genius scientist, Tim Travers (Samuel Dunning), seeks to find the answer and attempts to unravel the time traveller’s paradox. The piece is a sci-fi screwball comedy that wears its influences on its sleeve, drawing from titles such as Primer (2004) and Rick and Morty (2013-).

The writer/director Stimson Snead originally conceived the piece as a short, which is evident in how stretched out and thin the material feels. While conceptually this takes big swings and pays off to a certain extent, the film suffers from convoluted plotting and a prolonged runtime that inevitably overstays its welcome. However, its micro-budget production value is impressive, and many of the performances significantly elevate the material. The central performance from Samuel Dunning is enjoyable as he perfectly inhabits the self-indulgence and insufferable personality of Tim Travers, in an attempt for the viewer to root for his absurd attempts to unravel the time traveller’s paradox. That being said, the supporting players steal the show, including Joel McHale in his portrayal of James Bunratty, a ruthless talk show host who steals every scene he appears in. The brief appearance of Keith David is also the biggest standout of the piece, making the sluggish pacing rewarding.

The formal elements of the piece are mostly impressive, including the enticing opening credits that immediately draw the viewer into the world of Tim Travers, accompanied by a synth-wave musical score that matches the frenetic energy. Vincent DeFelice’s production design is also commendable despite its budget constraints, as the minimal sets feel lived in. While the VFX can struggle at times, it rarely takes you out of the experience thanks to the sheer passion behind the camera that shines through its flaws. It's incredibly awe-inspiring what is accomplished in camera and evident how much fun the cast and crew must’ve had on set. Stimson Snead clearly has a passion and knowledgeable grasp of time travel, as this translates eloquently in the screenplay.

Tim Travers’ characterisation is well-rounded and delved into, allowing the audience to understand his decision to make clones of himself through the lens of his isolation and loneliness. The filmmakers also convey a lovely message of self-acceptance, which the titular character's arc culminates in. While much of the material comes across as self-indulgent, it's difficult not to feel empathy for Tim and his struggles. The piece never takes itself too seriously, which is refreshing; however, this is a detriment to the dramatic beats, which sadly don’t land thanks to its goofy concept. Unfortunately, there is a plethora of unnecessary subplots which feel shoehorned in to elongate the material, and the experience feels lethargic due to these pacing issues. The narrative ultimately becomes too aimless during the third act, making the film feel like a chore to sit through, despite the guest star appearances and gags landing consistently.

Tim Travers & the Time Traveler’s Paradox is a frustrating experience exhibiting an absurd concept that, unfortunately, never reaches its full potential. The experience sadly becomes grating towards the conclusion; however, it’s a fun exploration of time and self-discovery anchored by a solid lead performance from Samuel Dunning and an excellent supporting cast that deserves to be experienced with an atmospheric audience.

Tim Travers & the Time Traveler's Paradox is on UK digital 26 January from GrimmVision.