Los Cronocrímenes
Encyclopedia
Timecrimes is a 2007
science fiction film
written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo
.
An English language remake of the film is planned for 2012
.
) in a nearby laboratory, who guides him to a first aid kit and to safety. Upon reaching the scientist, Héctor is convinced to hide in a large mechanical device from the assailant; upon exiting the machine however, he discovers that he has traveled several hours back in time.
After discussing the machine, the scientist, after being told of what later happens, dubs Héctor "Héctor 2", and explains that they need to stay where they are and let the events unfold as normal. Despite the scientist's objections, Héctor 2 eventually flees in a stolen car, only to crash and cut his head; after wrapping his head in his dirty bandages, Héctor realizes he has to assault and manipulate his past self into traveling in time. After being rescued by the young girl he previously pursued, he proceeds to replicate the events he previously witnessed, only to lose the girl. After hearing a scream, Héctor 2 chases the young girl through his own house and onto the roof; when he attempts to grab her, she slips and falls to her death. Upon examining the body, Héctor then realizes that it was his wife that he accidentally killed.
Héctor then contacts the scientist over a walkie-talkie and, remembering Héctor 1, convinces the scientist to lure his past self to the lab with warnings that he is being pursued. After driving to the lab, Héctor 2 insists that he must travel one more time, much to the objections of the scientist, who reveals that Héctor 3 not only dictated the events of the film, but has stated that he must stop Héctor 2.
After removing his bandages, Héctor convinces the scientist to send him back several seconds before Héctor 2 appears and, upon arriving, follows Héctor 2. After causing Héctor 2 to crash, Héctor 3 is knocked unconscious after crashing his own vehicle; waking several hours later, and after telling the scientist to stop Héctor 2 over a walkie-talkie, Héctor 3 accidentally scares the young girl, causing her to scream. Since Héctor 2 is following the noise, Héctor 3 and the young girl take refuge in Héctor's house. Upon finding his wife, who is startled by Héctor 2 approaching the house, Héctor 3 hides his wife in his shed, before manipulating the events leading to the roof accident; most notably, he finds the young girl, cuts her ponytail off and gives her his wife's coat, before telling her to run upstairs.
Whilst the events on the roof unfold, Héctor 3 sits on his lawn with his wife; while Héctor 2 accidentally kills the young girl, Héctor 3 prevents his wife from interfering, thus closing all loose ends.
, based on 68 reviews, as of June 2011.
Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times
noted the role of female frontal nudity and fast-paced action in disguising the film's most conspicuous flaws. She praised writer/director Nacho Vigalondo's "audacity" in being able to create "urgency and disorientation from the thinnest of air" despite the film's low budget and lack of special effects.
Wesley Morris of The Boston Globe
doubted whether Los Cronocrimenes actually makes sense, but credited Vigalondo with making clever use of the time machine in order to allay the viewer's skepticism. Referring to the planned remake by director David Cronenberg
, and alluding to Héctor's "human sequels," Morris concluded that Los Cronocrimenes "deserves a doppelganger."
2007 in film
This is a list of major films released in 2007.-Top grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2007...
science fiction film
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo
Nacho Vigalondo
Ignacio "Nacho" Vigalondo is a Spanish filmmaker.-Movie career:In addition to receiving an Academy Award nomination and a Best Short Film Award nomination at the European Film Awards, Vigalondo's 2003 short film 7:35 de la Mañana received the Bronze Moon of Valencia at the Cinema Jove – Valencia...
.
An English language remake of the film is planned for 2012
2012 in film
The following tables list films that are in production or have completed production and will be released in the United States and Canada at some point in 2012...
.
Plot
In the spanish countryside, a middle aged man named Héctor (Karra Elejalde) upon noticing his wife's (Candela Fernández) departure from their home, begins examining the forest that his home backs onto. Upon noticing a young girl undressing, he investigates, only to be stabbed and chased by a mysterious man wearing pink bandages on his face. After fleeing and climbing a fence, Héctor is contacted by a scientist (Nacho VigalondoNacho Vigalondo
Ignacio "Nacho" Vigalondo is a Spanish filmmaker.-Movie career:In addition to receiving an Academy Award nomination and a Best Short Film Award nomination at the European Film Awards, Vigalondo's 2003 short film 7:35 de la Mañana received the Bronze Moon of Valencia at the Cinema Jove – Valencia...
) in a nearby laboratory, who guides him to a first aid kit and to safety. Upon reaching the scientist, Héctor is convinced to hide in a large mechanical device from the assailant; upon exiting the machine however, he discovers that he has traveled several hours back in time.
After discussing the machine, the scientist, after being told of what later happens, dubs Héctor "Héctor 2", and explains that they need to stay where they are and let the events unfold as normal. Despite the scientist's objections, Héctor 2 eventually flees in a stolen car, only to crash and cut his head; after wrapping his head in his dirty bandages, Héctor realizes he has to assault and manipulate his past self into traveling in time. After being rescued by the young girl he previously pursued, he proceeds to replicate the events he previously witnessed, only to lose the girl. After hearing a scream, Héctor 2 chases the young girl through his own house and onto the roof; when he attempts to grab her, she slips and falls to her death. Upon examining the body, Héctor then realizes that it was his wife that he accidentally killed.
Héctor then contacts the scientist over a walkie-talkie and, remembering Héctor 1, convinces the scientist to lure his past self to the lab with warnings that he is being pursued. After driving to the lab, Héctor 2 insists that he must travel one more time, much to the objections of the scientist, who reveals that Héctor 3 not only dictated the events of the film, but has stated that he must stop Héctor 2.
After removing his bandages, Héctor convinces the scientist to send him back several seconds before Héctor 2 appears and, upon arriving, follows Héctor 2. After causing Héctor 2 to crash, Héctor 3 is knocked unconscious after crashing his own vehicle; waking several hours later, and after telling the scientist to stop Héctor 2 over a walkie-talkie, Héctor 3 accidentally scares the young girl, causing her to scream. Since Héctor 2 is following the noise, Héctor 3 and the young girl take refuge in Héctor's house. Upon finding his wife, who is startled by Héctor 2 approaching the house, Héctor 3 hides his wife in his shed, before manipulating the events leading to the roof accident; most notably, he finds the young girl, cuts her ponytail off and gives her his wife's coat, before telling her to run upstairs.
Whilst the events on the roof unfold, Héctor 3 sits on his lawn with his wife; while Héctor 2 accidentally kills the young girl, Héctor 3 prevents his wife from interfering, thus closing all loose ends.
Cast
- Karra Elejalde as Héctor
- Candela Fernandez as Clara
- Barbara GoenagaBarbara GoenagaBarbara Goenaga Bilbao is a Spanish actress born in San Sebastián, Guipuzcoa, Spain. She is niece of the actress, writer and film director Aitzpea Goenaga and daughter of the famous painter Juan Luis Goenaga.-Biography:...
as The girl in the forest - Nacho VigalondoNacho VigalondoIgnacio "Nacho" Vigalondo is a Spanish filmmaker.-Movie career:In addition to receiving an Academy Award nomination and a Best Short Film Award nomination at the European Film Awards, Vigalondo's 2003 short film 7:35 de la Mañana received the Bronze Moon of Valencia at the Cinema Jove – Valencia...
as The scientist - Juan Inciarte as Occasional Héctor
Critical response
Los Cronocrímenes holds a rating of 88% (Certified "Fresh") on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, based on 68 reviews, as of June 2011.
Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
noted the role of female frontal nudity and fast-paced action in disguising the film's most conspicuous flaws. She praised writer/director Nacho Vigalondo's "audacity" in being able to create "urgency and disorientation from the thinnest of air" despite the film's low budget and lack of special effects.
Wesley Morris of The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
doubted whether Los Cronocrimenes actually makes sense, but credited Vigalondo with making clever use of the time machine in order to allay the viewer's skepticism. Referring to the planned remake by director David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg
David Paul Cronenberg, OC, FRSC is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter and actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre. This style of filmmaking explores people's fears of bodily transformation and infection. In his films, the...
, and alluding to Héctor's "human sequels," Morris concluded that Los Cronocrimenes "deserves a doppelganger."
Accolades
- Best Picture at 2007 Fantastic FestFantastic FestFantastic Fest is an annual film festival in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 2005 by Tim League of Alamo Drafthouse, Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News, Paul Alvarado-Dykstra, and Tim McCanlies, writer of The Iron Giant and Secondhand Lions. The festival focuses on genre films such as horror,...
(USA) - Gold Medal of Jury Award Competition in 2007 Fantastic Fest (USA)
- Silver Medal of Audience Award Competition in 2007 Fantastic Fest (USA)