Timestalker <img src="https://img.icons8.com/ios-glyphs/20/000000/star--v1.png"/><img src="https://img.icons8.com/ios-glyphs/20/000000/star--v1.png"/><img src="https://img.icons8.com/ios-glyphs/20/000000/star--v1.png"/>

Timestalker

Here's an odd little number about reincarnation and love across the ages, or more to the point, dawning self-determination. Alice Lowe writes, directs and stars as Agnes, a woman besotted with Aneurin Barnard's Alex. Always. In many different time periods. We kick off in 1688, where Alex is about to be executed before Agnes steps (trips) in, and saves him. We zip forward to 1793, Alice this time bored of her pampered lifestyle in a manor house with pets, wigs and servants. Oh, and a disgustingly oafish Nick Frost for a hubby, George.

But who's the stalker in time? Is it Agnes? She's the clear favourite. Or the object of her desires, Alex, who for the most part, isn't too keen on reciprocating? Is it the boorish George, who does physically stalk in one of the episodes. It may even refer to the peripheral figures of servant, friend & potential lover, Meg (Tanya Reynolds) or wily Scipio (Jacob Anderson - Grey Worm from Game of Thrones). To be fair, it's hinting at the inter-connectedness of everyone, through time, so let's say they're all guilty.

This is only Lowe's second feature, after 2016's Prevenge, but she's done a bit of writing and a load of acting, memorably in the classic comedy Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. She certainly has a knack for the absurd, a bit like an English Quentin Dupieux. The humour blends well with the sci-fi elements but I thought it lacked a little bite, even with all the unfortunate deaths. Maybe with the talent on offer, I was being greedy, hoping for more Marenghi, and less ambition. The idea seemed a bit too grand, almost deserving of an epic Gondry romance, or at least a more ludicrous delivery.

In saying that, I enjoyed Timestalker. It's clever and witty, with nice performances (Reynolds a standout) and an ambiguous ending that has you thinking about the title again. I just wanted a few more chuckles.

Timestalker is screening as part of the Russell Hobbs British Film Festival, in Perth at the Luna and Palace cinemas.

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It's reminiscent of Nick Gillespie's Paul Dood's Deadly Lunch Break (2021), with Lowe playing a bit part. And if you haven't seen Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (2004), written by Matthew Holness and Richard Ayoade, directed by Ayoade, and also starring the great Matt Berry, then do yourself a massive favour and seek it out.

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