FEATURE FILM

Primer

6.7/10
TMDB2,595 votes
Original: 77 min

A group of fledgling inventors discover a complex method to manipulate reality. At first, they successfully game the stock market with it, but the consequences of the invention start to catch up with them.

Genres: , ,
Cast: , , , ,

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THE STORY & THE PEOPLE

About Primer

What happens if it actually works?

Primer (2004) is a film in the science fiction, drama, thriller genres. Directed by . The cast includes Shane Carruth, David Sullivan, Casey Gooden, Anand Upadhyaya.

Released
Original language
Runtime
77 minutes
Status
Released
Production countries
United States of America
Production companies
erbp
Directors
Writers
Shane Carruth

Primer cast & characters

Audience reviews

6.7/10 from 2,595 TMDB votes. Ratings and reviews are supplied by TMDB. Reviews are attributed to their original authors.

CinemaSerf

TMDB member review

This has quite a clever concept - a group of four engineering friends are building a prototype piece of equipment. "Abe" (David Sullivan) discovers - accidentally - when testing it, that is has positively game-changing potential and confides his secret in his colleague "Aaron" (Shane Carruth). Rather than share this invention between the group, the two decide to relocate their gadget and use it to exploit the stock…

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This has quite a clever concept - a group of four engineering friends are building a prototype piece of equipment. "Abe" (David Sullivan) discovers - accidentally - when testing it, that is has positively game-changing potential and confides his secret in his colleague "Aaron" (Shane Carruth). Rather than share this invention between the group, the two decide to relocate their gadget and use it to exploit the stock markets and make themselves rich. It demonstrates quite well, the conflicting values and morals that this sort of limitless opportunity might present if given to any one of us - but the characterisations are way too one-dimensional. The dialogue is relentless, and after a while you just want them to stop talking and get on with it. It's short - and does require a bit of concentration to get anything out of it - but more, I found, as a source of an ethical conversation about "what if?" than about anything to do with this piece of drama, itself.

James

TMDB member review

Brilliant concept, yet so-so execution which would have been helped by a higher budget. However, this is a brilliant attempt at creating a time travel film with next to no money. While the film has its faults, the performances and dialogue are great and I love that it doesn’t expect its audience to be dumb; by the way, when I say that… I mean it. This is maybe the most confusing film of all time.

Questions about Primer

What is Primer about?

A group of fledgling inventors discover a complex method to manipulate reality. At first, they successfully game the stock market with it, but the consequences of the invention start to catch up with them.

Who stars in Primer?

Shane Carruth, David Sullivan, Casey Gooden, Anand Upadhyaya, Carrie Crawford, Jay Butler. See the cast cards above for character names.

How can I watch Primer online?

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Does Primer have subtitles or dubbed audio?

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Is Primer free to watch?

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