Timecrimes (2007) (Los Cronocrímenes)

Timecrimes is a Spanish science fiction thriller that follows the story of a man named Héctor (played by Karra Elejalde) who accidentally becomes entangled in a series of time loops. Héctor, a middle-aged man who lives with his wife Clara (Candela Fernández) in a secluded house in the countryside, spies through his binoculars one afternoon and notices a strange sight in the woods: a woman undressing. Intrigued and unsettled, he decides to investigate, which sets off a chain of bizarre and horrifying events.

Héctor stumbles upon a mysterious lab run by a scientist (Nacho Vigalondo), and unknowingly gets sent back in time by about an hour. Now, existing in the same timeline with another version of himself, Héctor must grapple with the consequences of his actions and figure out how to avoid a catastrophe that spirals out of his control. The story takes unexpected twists as Héctor’s attempts to fix his situation only make things worse, resulting in a dark and suspenseful narrative that involves mistaken identity, deception, and violence.

Plot:

Héctor’s ordeal begins when he spots a woman in the woods while using his binoculars. His curiosity leads him to investigate, but what he finds is more unsettling than he could have imagined. He encounters a mysterious masked man who attacks him, forcing Héctor to flee to a nearby lab. Inside the lab, a scientist offers him refuge and, through a series of misunderstandings, accidentally sends Héctor back in time by one hour.

Now existing simultaneously with a past version of himself, Héctor finds himself caught in a deadly loop. To prevent his past self from making the same mistakes, Héctor takes on the role of the mysterious masked figure he encountered earlier. However, his attempts to control the situation lead to more confusion, deception, and violence. He quickly realizes that he is trapped in a self-fulfilling loop where his every action has been predetermined by what he saw happen in the first iteration of events.

As the layers of the time loop become more complex, Héctor finds himself driven to darker and more extreme measures in an attempt to restore normalcy. The film culminates in a tense and tragic resolution where Héctor must confront the lengths he is willing to go to in order to escape the consequences of his actions.

Review:

Timecrimes is often hailed as a masterclass in low-budget, high-concept science fiction. With a limited cast and minimal special effects, the film demonstrates how compelling storytelling can triumph over budgetary constraints. Director Nacho Vigalondo makes efficient use of time paradoxes and looping structures to deliver a tightly wound narrative that keeps the audience guessing.

Karra Elejalde‘s performance as Héctor is one of the highlights of the film, as he convincingly portrays a man unraveling in the face of extraordinary circumstances. His transformation from a curious bystander into a desperate, morally compromised individual is gradual yet believable. The film also skillfully maintains suspense and tension throughout its runtime, with the sense of inevitability amplifying the dread as each loop plays out.

The film’s handling of time travel is intricate but avoids overcomplicating the plot. Instead, it focuses on the psychological and moral implications of encountering oneself and the chaos that ensues from trying to manipulate time.

Though Timecrimes is a cerebral thriller, it also explores the darker side of human nature, particularly how desperation can lead someone down a dangerous path. The film’s unexpected twists and cyclical narrative structure leave a lasting impact, making it one of the most innovative time travel movies of the 2000s.

Awards: