post_page_cover

The Universal Theory Featured, Reviews Film Threat

Oct 31, 2023

AFI FEST 2023 REVIEW! Co-writer-director Timm Kröger’s wild feature The Universal Theory is quite literally everything all at once. It is a mystery noir, a science fiction thriller, a romance, a psychedelic trip, and a spy flick. There are quantum mechanics and parallel worlds, grisly murders and a femme fatale, even allusions to Nazism. All of this takes place in the Swiss Alps, rendered particularly otherworldly via the stark cinematography by Roland Stupich and an eerily spare sound design. While the filmmaker drops some of the balls he juggles, it’s still an impressive effort that deserves your attention.
After a brief early-1970s talk-show-style intro, the distorted, pixelated images jarringly switch to a crisp, monochrome black-and-white visual style. It’s 1962. Under the tutelage of the austere Dr. Strathen (Hanns Zischler), young scientist Johannes (Jan Bülow) embarks to the Alps on an academic retreat. It takes place in a remote hotel, both classy and on the edge of decrepit, where strange shenanigans tend to occur. Unnatural cloud formations drape the skies. Cancerous skin rashes appear from possible radioactive rocks in the area. Frequent avalanches threaten to immerse unexpected folks in bone-crushing snow. There is an underground tunnel that leads to… what, exactly?
“…in a remote hotel, both classy and on the edge of decrepit…strange shenanigans tend to occur.”
Johannes reacts to it all with a modicum of wonder. He’s more interested in pursuing local pianist Karin (Olivia Ross), a mysterious, beautiful vixen who both taunts him and seems to warn him. But when the murders start to happen – gory ones, with the victims’ skulls smashed, and their brains leaked out and frozen – Johannes has no choice but to, quite literally, descend into the dark depths of a rabbit hole.
Kröger and co-writer Roderick Warich’s ambitions can’t be faulted. The Universal Theory tackles heavy subjects like obsession, alienation, post-war paranoia, seeking a compatible partner, existential angst, and pseudo-science. The stylistic elements, however, don’t quite gel. Diego Ramos Rodriguez and David Schweighart’s insistent Bernard Herrmann-esque score quickly starts to grate, especially when contrasted with the effectively quiet silence of the Alps. Twenty minutes could’ve easily been trimmed off. The gradual pacing begs for some sort of a catalyst to get things going, and most crucially, the more mysteries the plot throws at us, the more frustrating it becomes. There are only a few cinematic auteurs who can make confusion compelling – and even Lynch has taken major stumbles (see: Lost Highway).
Towards the poignant finale, Kröger’s goal becomes more evident. His ideas crystallize – it’s like the filmmaker tightens the screws. If only he had tightened them a bit earlier, he could have had a truly original masterpiece. He, despite exuding utter assurance, at times seems as lost as his similarly “assured” characters. The Universal Theory works in fits and starts but is bound to leave the audience not entirely convinced by its logic.
The Universal Theory screened at the 2023 AFI Fest.

Disclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by filmibee.
Publisher: Source link

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
’80s Movies Behind-The-Scenes Facts

'80s Movies Behind-The-Scenes Facts The '80s were before my time, but some of my all-time favorite movies — like Heathers and Beetlejuice — come from this era. Here are 40 interesting behind-the-scenes facts about iconic '80s movies: 1. The famous…

May 14, 2025

The Best Jean Shorts For Curvy Girls With Thick Thighs

There are also so many styles to choose from, like classic cutoffs with frayed edges or those with an on-tend baggy fit. Either way, you'll want to consider how long you'd like your shorts to be. For a true cropped…

May 14, 2025

Liev Schreiber Supports His Trans Daughter, Kai

Liev Schreiber Supports His Trans Daughter, Kai Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts — who were together for 11 years — share a 16-year-old daughter named Kai, who is transgender. Now, speaking about his daughter’s transition for the first time, Liev…

May 13, 2025

Kristen Doute Reveals Surprising Update on Lala Kent Feud

While Kristen and Lala seems to be on the right path back to friendship, the same can't be said for her Valley costar Janet Caperna, with whom she remains at odds throughout the show's second season. "As you'll see over…

May 13, 2025