Today’s quick review: ARQ. In a desolate future short on food and energy, Renton (Robbie Amell) and Hannah (Rachael Taylor) fall into a time loop when raiders from a rebel group invade Renton’s home and tamper with the ARQ, an experimental device capable of generating unlimited power. To survive the encounter, Renton and Hannah must relive the same day over and over again until they can get control of the situation and disable the device.
ARQ is a minimalistic science fiction thriller about a home invasion and an unstable time machine. ARQ does a good job of using the tools at its disposal, crafting a fairly interesting plot out of a handful of rooms and just a few characters. In the process, the movie manages to bluff a sci-fi setting it does not have the budget to show in full. The result is a competent but somewhat limited time travel story.
To its credit, ARQ makes something of its premise. What begins as a simple robbery turns into an elaborate cat-and-mouse game revolving around the ARQ’s time loops. Each loop brings new revelations about Renton, Hannah, and the raiders, while subtle changes in the ARQ’s behavior threaten to erase what little edge Renton and Hannah have. ARQ also uses a few well-judged plot twists to keep the tension high.
ARQ does have the usual limitations of a budget film. Renton and Hannah make for decent main characters, but they are not particularly memorable. The time travel rules are largely consistent, but a few holes and unanswered questions do sneak in. ARQ also has to explain its backstory rather than showing it directly, muting its emotional impact and putting weight on dialogue and acting that are merely adequate.
Give ARQ a shot if you are a sci-fi fan looking for a short, interesting sci-fi story. ARQ lacks the originality or quality of execution to be an impressive movie, but it gets enough right to satisfy fans of the genre. For a more cerebral low-budget time travel movie, check out Primer. For a higher-budget action movie about a time loop, check out Edge of Tomorrow.
6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a good plot and reasonable execution.