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A curiously dry, unassuming sci-fi indie, Time Lapse is new to Blu-ray and DVD from Xlrator Media. Director Bradley D. King has made his feature-length debut with this Twilight Zone-inspired thriller. While not difficult to sit through, it is unusually flat in tone. The basic concept is intriguing enough, with three friends discovering a modified Polaroid camera contraption that takes pictures 24 hours into the future. They discover it in the apartment of a missing tenant. A good idea, albeit somewhat borrowed from the Twilight Zone episode “A Most Unusual Camera.” It’s just not developed into a strong enough story.
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As the friends—romantic couple Callie (Danielle Panabaker) and Finn (Matt O’Leary) plus their mutual friend Jasper (George Finn)—become obsessed with trying to use the future-glimpsing camera to predict sports events, their relationship becomes increasingly corrupted. A future photo shows Jasper and Callie kissing, which leads to a love triangle of sorts as they try to sort out what will happen with each passing day. A low-level organized crime aspect is quickly ushered in as Jasper’s hot-tempered bookie Ivan (Jason Spisak) catches wind of the unique camera and wants in on the action.
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Part of the problem with Time Lapse is its pedestrian style and overriding lack of urgency. A camera that photographs the future would be among the most Earth-shattering of developments imaginable, but these three friends take it in such stride. For some reason it just doesn’t really faze them. Yes, they’re kind of immature, youngish individuals, but the story that evolves out of their exploits with the camera was arguable not one worth telling.
The Blu-ray presentation is fine, though nothing to get excited about. Basically, cinematographer Jonathan Wenstrup’s work is offered up as a solid, 1080p transfer. The mix is DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround and, given Time Lapse’s modest ambitions and limited budget, it delivers a sufficient mix of clear dialogue, effects, and Andrew Kaiser’s score.
Xlrator’s Blu-ray is surprisingly well supplemented, starting with two commentary tracks. Writer-director Bradley D. King is joined by his writing partner BP Cooper for not one, but two audio commentaries. The “making of” featurette runs about 23 minutes. There are also a couple of deleted scenes and the film’s trailer.
As the friends—romantic couple Callie (Danielle Panabaker) and Finn (Matt O’Leary) plus their mutual friend Jasper (George Finn)—become obsessed with trying to use the future-glimpsing camera to predict sports events, their relationship becomes increasingly corrupted. A future photo shows Jasper and Callie kissing, which leads to a love triangle of sorts as they try to sort out what will happen with each passing day. A low-level organized crime aspect is quickly ushered in as Jasper’s hot-tempered bookie Ivan (Jason Spisak) catches wind of the unique camera and wants in on the action.
Part of the problem with Time Lapse is its pedestrian style and overriding lack of urgency. A camera that photographs the future would be among the most Earth-shattering of developments imaginable, but these three friends take it in such stride. For some reason it just doesn’t really faze them. Yes, they’re kind of immature, youngish individuals, but the story that evolves out of their exploits with the camera was arguable not one worth telling.The Blu-ray presentation is fine, though nothing to get excited about. Basically, cinematographer Jonathan Wenstrup’s work is offered up as a solid, 1080p transfer. The mix is DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround and, given Time Lapse’s modest ambitions and limited budget, it delivers a sufficient mix of clear dialogue, effects, and Andrew Kaiser’s score.
Xlrator’s Blu-ray is surprisingly well supplemented, starting with two commentary tracks. Writer-director Bradley D. King is joined by his writing partner BP Cooper for not one, but two audio commentaries. The “making of” featurette runs about 23 minutes. There are also a couple of deleted scenes and the film’s trailer.
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