As a child of the ‘90s, fantasy tales of romance have always felt like the coziest of blankets. Could it be that true love always won in the end? Or, having existed in a world filled with divorce, addiction, and other trauma, did these films become a source of security (especially for a neurodivergent mind) during life’s biggest childhood struggles? Regardless of the answer (though it is likely all of these elements and a bag of chips), I still find myself drawn to stories of this nature, and even more so, media that deconstructs said whimsy.
Alice Lowe as Agnes in TIMESTALKER. Photo courtesy of Level 33 Entertainment.
This is where Timestalker comes into frame. Written by, directed by, and starring Alice Lowe (Prevenge), the dark comedy examines the magnificent delusion at the center of many of these kinds of stories. In it, Lowe plays Agnes, a woman who finds herself constantly chasing after the same man across time (Alex, played by Aneurin Barnard), whom she is convinced is her soulmate. But regardless of the era she finds herself in, Agnes always meets her demise by way of saving Alex from her timeless antagonist/husband, George (Nick Frost). Along the way, she finds herself linked to Scipio (Interview with the Vampire (2022-present)’s Jacob Anderson), a chaotic chess piece in Agnes’ reincarnation destiny, and Meg (Tanya Reynolds), a friend whose love for our leading lady goes above and beyond. The story then follows Agnes as she tries to break this destructive cycle and the impossible task she has to accomplish to find her unique happy ending.
As soon as we enter the offbeat world of Timestalker, it’s clear that Lowe isn’t holding back any cinematic punches. Through the use of a macaron color palette and an ‘80s music video glossy finish, she has an aesthetic eye that pairs wonderfully with Jacques Demy’s filmography alongside Anna Biller’s The Love Witch (2016). She clearly understands the modern use of the female gaze and isn’t afraid to throw girly shades (including Barbie pink blood) in any and all frames. Simultaneously, Lowe is a master of replicating the hyper-romantic notions of the eras her Agnes resides in, especially the equally frilly Rococo and ‘80s segments she seems to thrive in the most.
L-R: Alice Lowe as Agnes and Nick Frost as George in TIMESTALKER. Photo courtesy of Level 33 Entertainment.
Lowe compliments this filmmaking “icing” on her sophomore cake with performances that exude similarly colorful notions. Easily the biggest stand-out among them is Anderson, who brings a Cheshire Cat like appeal to his Scipio. From this first appearance to his last dance-fueled sequence, he leaves an impact that is both deliciously catastrophic and equally neutering, feeling as if he studied Paul Williams in Phantom of the Paradise but added his own Disney animated flare. Similarly, Reynolds (Emma.; Sex Education) plays Meg with the right balance of feminine support and deadpan bluntness that makes you wish Agnes would understand how lucky she is to have her as a (clearly more than) friend. And Frost (Get Away; Paul), of course, is a joy to watch, as always (even if he’s playing a character that is the textbook definition of disturbing.)
But most importantly, there’s Lowe as Agnes herself. In the grand pantheon of female protagonists, Agnes exists in a space that is equal parts unlikable and sympathetic. You wish for her to see the light, but the further she progresses, the more inclined you are to want to reach through the screen and give her an intervention. And when portrayed by a performer as laser-sharp as Lowe, all of those emotions on the page are amplified to an 11. Thankfully, Lowe isn’t afraid to reflect on the absurdity of Agnes’s delusion, which results in some of her greatest and weirdest moments on screen.
L-R: Alice Lowe as Agnes and Tanya Reynolds as Meg in TIMESTALKER. Photo courtesy of Level 33 Entertainment.
But at the core of Lowe’s story is the relationship (or lack thereof) between Agnes and Alex. Right from the get-go, it’s clear that these two are a match made in disaster, as Barnard (Dunkirk) perfectly embodies the quirky first crush all Hot Topic girls have that’s totally unobtainable. Not only does he have that universally dreamy, raccoon-eyeliner appeal in every version of his persona, but Barnard’s portrayal wonderfully juxtaposes that awkward perfection by making Alex as unlikable as possible. Pair that with the absolute (intentional) lack of romantic chemistry the two have in their moments together, and you have a recipe for darkly comedic perfection.
Yet, even with all of these wonderful ingredients coming together within Lowe’s 90-minute adventure, Timestalker contains one bitter element that makes it a hard narrative pill to swallow — pessimism. In many other fantastical tales that deconstruct the notions of fairy tales and true love (such as Revolutionary Girl Utena or the multitude of films by Guillermo del Toro), amid the images of despair, there’s always a source of hope at the end of the story, a ray of light that a horrific pattern can be broken and perhaps a soul can find a semblance of peace. But, by the end of Timestalker, Lowe doesn’t offer the audience any reward for the lesson Agnes and the viewer might have learned. Instead, she takes an approach that feels so devoid of redemption, you feel as if you were tricked, just as Agnes was by Alex time and time again.
Tanya Reynolds as Meg in TIMESTALKER. Photo courtesy of Level 33 Entertainment.
Now, this isn’t to say that Timestalker is a failure. In fact, it’s far from it. But there’s no sugarcoating the disappointment when seeing a movie that feels so full of life and magic end on such a hollow note, especially when said filmmaker not only introduces a multitude of metaphorical images that never seem to pay off, along with character arcs that feel ultimately forgotten, and it all ends on a resolution that comes across more like a punishment towards its flawed protagonist. While some of this reviewer’s reaction might be fueled by wanting Lowe’s movie to be something it wasn’t, the legitimate letdown is something that’s hard to cinematically shake.
Overall, Timestalker is an anti-romance that isn’t for the casual viewer, but if you’re willing to put down your sword and shield and allow for Lowe’s unique interpretation of history to take over your senses, you’ll likely have an experience worthy of your time. But if you’re on the hunt for a genuinely emotional journey through the deconstruction of love, this heart-shaped cookie might best be left in the pink-colored tin.
In select theaters and on VOD February 14th, 2025.
For more information, head to the Vertigo Releasing Timestalker webpage.
Final Score: 3 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews, streaming
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