Simon Cable (Phillippe) wakes up in hospital after a car crash. He? lost his memory; he think he? been unconscious overnight but his last memory is of the year 2000 and he? shocked when Dr Newman (Rea) tells him it? now 2002.
But is it 2002? Or is it 2000? Something? not right in Simon? reality as he suddenly finds that he? become an unwilling time traveller, slipping back and forth between the two years, never quite sure which reality is real, never quite sure who can remember him and who can?. He soon realises that he may be able to alter the course of his own history?hatever the consequences.
THE I INSIDE is an odd one. Its straight-to-video status is inevitable as it? a slow, moody, restrained piece. There are no real action set pieces and only one or two locales – much of the action takes place in the gloomy environs of the hospital in which Simon awakes. The film clearly takes its cues from other off-kilter thrillers in the same vein – a line which includes THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT, MEMENTO and even JACOB? LADDER. Sadly THE I INSIDE isn? as good as any of its predecessors because it? just a little bit too wilfully obscure, its narrative just that bit too baffling. It? a disorientating film, the viewer never quite sure which reality we?e in and where the story? taking us. The low budget becomes a bit too obvious after the first forty-odd minutes are set entirely in the hospital and when we finally – if briefly- move outside, the film opens up and breathes a bit more. But it? too little, too late and the film never really manages to make itself any more than mildly diverting, a puzzle of a movie which isn? really worth trying to solve.
Director Richter tackles the film with gusto and is clearly a name to watch out for. The camera swoops and rushes and helps build up whatever tension the film manages to muster. Phillipe looks suitably baffled throughout and Sarah Polley is as watchable as ever as Clair. A film to rent if the blockbusters are out for the evening but you?e not missing much with this one if you just don? bother.
THE DISC: Lacklustre extras for a lacklustre film. The transfer is solid and punchy with some good use of the rear speakers. Otherwise there are just a few dull interview snippets amounting to not much more than ten minutes for the to and a trailer. Half-hearted.
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