ARQ review
(Reviewed by Melody Werner)
ARQ is a 2016 sci-fi thriller released by Netflix. Directed by Tony Elliot (of Orphan Black fame) and starring Robbie Amell (from Code 8 and The Flash) alongside Rachael Taylor (from the Netflix Marvel shows). It's about an ex-couple trapped in a time loop, trying to escape it. A bit Groundhog's Day, though they are pursued by a group of raiders and it is set in the backdrop of a nondescript faction war. I think it's pretty decent, but very flawed.
Visually, the film was quite barebones. Done on a budget of under 2 million (note that that is a very small budget for a film), you can sorta tell this was done on the cheap while watching since it's limited to one location, there's no real CGI, and it overall has an indie movie feel. But it still looks solid overall, it doesn't look horrible by any means, and it has some nice practical effects. The musical score is very forgettable. The acting is preeeeeeetty bad. Robbie Amell comes off as the weakest link, the man just cannot emote very well. And that's not to be mean or anything, or attack him personally--he seems to be a very passionate and genuinely nice guy. But every time I've seen him, he acts exactly the same--po-faced, boring, he can't make the more emotional scenes work because he's always so stoic. He always needs to be carried by the script or his fellow actors. His cousin Stephen Amell had the same problem when he started Arrow, but Stephen seems to have grown into his role much faster than Robbie ever has, and gives much charisma which is absent from Robbie, and that is what makes Arrow work (or did, haven't stayed up on it for a while). But let's not pretend that Rachael Taylor is much better. Haven't followed her nearly as much as Amell, but she always feels like she's acting here. She never feels natural or in place, and is also abysmally lacking in charisma. She just feels like a robot pantomiming to the script.
The greatest strength writing wise is the premise. I love the idea of these characters trying to break the cycle while they deal with some other characters who want to break the cycle too for their own motivations. The story itself is extremely convoluted and confusing, with "WTF?" moments and apparent contradictions aplenty. However, the big strength of the movie itself to me isn't the overarching plot or the film's garbage worldbuilding, but the straight-up cat & mouse game. It's really interesting how the loop changes based on certain actions taken by the characters, even if the how of those actions occur makes fuck all sense to me. The characters are all extremely one-note with no likeability. Comparing this with the Code 8 short film (which I really liked) to illustrate a point, you can tell that C8 has some interesting characters with neat motivations and backstories. This film, despite its 90 minute run-time, fails to do that in any way. The dialogue is also hamstrung and dull.
It may appear that I'm laying into ARQ, but I actually thought it was okay overall. But just okay. It has big problems, but the core experience succeeds in creating a tense viewing experience which I enjoyed despite my previously noted objections. There are a lot worse movies out there. Is this damning with faint praise? Perhaps, but I would recommend it if you are interested in that cat & mouse aspect. It's not good, great, or amazing, but ARQ is alright. I give it a 7/10.
Decent
Summary:
Some nonsensical writing and bland acting burden down an otherwise compelling cat & mouse thriller with a neat concept.
(originally posted: 12/22/2017)
ARQ is a 2016 sci-fi thriller released by Netflix. Directed by Tony Elliot (of Orphan Black fame) and starring Robbie Amell (from Code 8 and The Flash) alongside Rachael Taylor (from the Netflix Marvel shows). It's about an ex-couple trapped in a time loop, trying to escape it. A bit Groundhog's Day, though they are pursued by a group of raiders and it is set in the backdrop of a nondescript faction war. I think it's pretty decent, but very flawed.
Visually, the film was quite barebones. Done on a budget of under 2 million (note that that is a very small budget for a film), you can sorta tell this was done on the cheap while watching since it's limited to one location, there's no real CGI, and it overall has an indie movie feel. But it still looks solid overall, it doesn't look horrible by any means, and it has some nice practical effects. The musical score is very forgettable. The acting is preeeeeeetty bad. Robbie Amell comes off as the weakest link, the man just cannot emote very well. And that's not to be mean or anything, or attack him personally--he seems to be a very passionate and genuinely nice guy. But every time I've seen him, he acts exactly the same--po-faced, boring, he can't make the more emotional scenes work because he's always so stoic. He always needs to be carried by the script or his fellow actors. His cousin Stephen Amell had the same problem when he started Arrow, but Stephen seems to have grown into his role much faster than Robbie ever has, and gives much charisma which is absent from Robbie, and that is what makes Arrow work (or did, haven't stayed up on it for a while). But let's not pretend that Rachael Taylor is much better. Haven't followed her nearly as much as Amell, but she always feels like she's acting here. She never feels natural or in place, and is also abysmally lacking in charisma. She just feels like a robot pantomiming to the script.
The greatest strength writing wise is the premise. I love the idea of these characters trying to break the cycle while they deal with some other characters who want to break the cycle too for their own motivations. The story itself is extremely convoluted and confusing, with "WTF?" moments and apparent contradictions aplenty. However, the big strength of the movie itself to me isn't the overarching plot or the film's garbage worldbuilding, but the straight-up cat & mouse game. It's really interesting how the loop changes based on certain actions taken by the characters, even if the how of those actions occur makes fuck all sense to me. The characters are all extremely one-note with no likeability. Comparing this with the Code 8 short film (which I really liked) to illustrate a point, you can tell that C8 has some interesting characters with neat motivations and backstories. This film, despite its 90 minute run-time, fails to do that in any way. The dialogue is also hamstrung and dull.
It may appear that I'm laying into ARQ, but I actually thought it was okay overall. But just okay. It has big problems, but the core experience succeeds in creating a tense viewing experience which I enjoyed despite my previously noted objections. There are a lot worse movies out there. Is this damning with faint praise? Perhaps, but I would recommend it if you are interested in that cat & mouse aspect. It's not good, great, or amazing, but ARQ is alright. I give it a 7/10.
Decent
Summary:
Some nonsensical writing and bland acting burden down an otherwise compelling cat & mouse thriller with a neat concept.
(originally posted: 12/22/2017)
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