ARQ

Canada, 2016, 88 minutes, Colour.
Robbie Amell, Rachael Taylor, Shaun Benson, Gray Powell, Adam Butcher, Tantoo Cardinal.
Directed by Tony Elliott.

A brief Canadian futuristic science-fiction drama. It also relies on the plot device of a time loop (which, of course, reminds audiences of Groundhog Day – but it has also been used in such other thrillers as Happy Deathday and its sequel).

All the action takes place in the confined laboratories where the Time Machine, ARQ, is situated. A scientist, Renton (Robbie Amell) wakes up with his partner, Hannah (Rachael Taylor). They are set upon by masked men, tied up, get loose, a confrontation. Then they wake up again. But, each time within the timeframe of the loop, they are able to build on what they know, Renton remembering everything, Hannah beginning to remember.

This leads to all kinds of dramas, confrontations, the background of a Civil War, espionage, betrayals, tension between Renton and Hannah, reconciliations, the unmasking of the masked intruders, dissension between the intruders, the killing of different members of the group – and the time loop finishing, starting again.

Ultimately, the couple have to make a decision about the destruction of the machine or allowing for it to continue with loops. They make a decision…

1. Science fiction? Science fantasy? Time loops? In the context of war?

2. Canadian production, the setting within the laboratory, the various rooms, the machine, fight locations? The musical score?

3. The world situation, the civil war? On the outside? Espionage?

4. Renton and Hannah? The initial situation, the time of waking, the attack from the masked group, tied to the chair, cutting loose, getting out, confrontations?

5. Renton, the Time Machine, his role, stealing, preserving? Hannah, the relationship, taking sides in the war, her disappearing? Her collaboration with the group, the family codenames, her being mother? A year away, her resentment towards Renton?

6. The background to the situation, Hannah and her role, with Renton? Betrayal?

7. The recurring days? The action being extended, Renton remembering everything, utilising what he remembered? Hannah gradually remembering?

8. The development of the plot within the loops, confrontations, betrayals, fights, torture, shooting? And Renton and Hannah waking up again?

9. Taking sides, Sonny and his stances, killing the other members of the group? But the repetitions? The outsider coming in, his being killed, reviving?

10. Renton and Hannah, dealing with the machine, trying to disable it, Sonny’s violent death on the machine?

11. News of the war? Decisions about the machine? To disable it? To reset it?

12. The end, and Hannah waking up this time?