ARQ
Release date: 2016-09-16
Votes: 1260
Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller
Two old friends living in a dystopic future become trapped in a mysterious time loop — one that may have something to do with an ongoing battle between an omnipotent corporation and a ragtag band of rebels.
Reviews
CinemaSerf
This is quite possibly the slowest burn of a film I have ever seen. It is reminiscent of a video game that you used to play: initially you don't get past the end of level one; then you progress slowly but surely through the game learning from your mistakes, though frequently having to start again from scratch.... Well this is one of them, with Robbie Amell and Rachael Taylor caught in a time loop that gradually reveals a story of betrayal and duplicity as they try to protect a gizmo that might just be the answer to humanity's energy problems from "Torus", a company that wants it too. Unfortunately, and as usual for Amell, this is a rather dry, uninteresting piece of drama - neither character really has any depth; the dialogue and effects are repetitive and all in all it amounts to little more than a digital "Groundhog Day" with apples and fisticuffs.
RalphRahal
ARQ is a neat sci-fi flick that's enjoyable enough to keep you from hitting the fast-forward button. The directing by Tony Elliott is straightforward and effective, keeping the action tight and focused without getting bogged down in unnecessary distractions. Cinematography-wise, the film does well considering its confined setting, creating just enough claustrophobic tension to maintain interest. The visuals aren't mind-blowing, but they serve the story perfectly, giving it a gritty, futuristic vibe without leaning too heavily on special effects. The acting is pretty solid, especially Robbie Amell and Rachael Taylor, who manage to deliver believable performances that hold your attention despite the repetitive nature of a time-loop plot. Speaking of which, the script offers an intriguing premise built around the concept of an "Arcing Recursive Quine," cleverly referencing self-replicating programs known in coding circles as quines. The time loop itself lasts exactly 3 hours, 14 minutes, and 15 seconds, intentionally mirroring the number π (pi), symbolizing the endless cycle the characters are trapped in. However, while these ideas sound intriguing, the film doesn't quite explore them as deeply as it could, leaving certain questions unanswered. The script includes subtle nods to looping concepts, notably through the codename "Mobius," referencing the Möbius strip, a symbol of infinite loops and endless cycles. The score and sound design don't particularly stand out, but they're effective enough at enhancing tension during key moments. Overall, ARQ is worth a watch if you're into mind-bending sci-fi and don't mind a story that opts for mystery over detailed explanations.
Movie Recommendation
Synchronicity2015-07-22A daring physicist travels into the past to stop a mysterious woman from stealing his invention. But once there, he uncovers a surprising truth about the machine, the woman, and his own fractured reality.More...
Spectral2016-12-09A special-ops team is dispatched to fight supernatural beings that have taken over a European city.More...
In the Shadow of Iris2016-11-16The sudden disappearance of a wealthy banker's wife cracks open a dizzying world of secret fetishes, desperate acts and elaborate deceptions.More...
Freerunner2011-09-14With a ticking bomb locked to his neck, a young freerunner races against the clock and all types of baddies to get from one end of the city to the other to save himself and his girlfriend.More...
Iliza Shlesinger: Confirmed Kills2016-09-23The standup sensation tackle's TV's "Shark Tank," what it means to be a woman and how to deal with the lawless party goblin that lives in us all.More...
City of God: 10 Years Later2013-10-05City of God – 10 Years Later investigates what happened to the actors who took part in the award-winning film directed by Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund. This documentary shows what City of God’s worldwide success meant to their lives. Were the actors prepared for the film’s success? Did the social background of some of them prove stronger than the opportunity that came their way?More...
Only the Dead2015-06-11A searing account of war correspondent Michael Ware's seven years reporting in Iraq--an extraordinary journey that takes him into the darkest recesses of the Iraq War and the human soul.More...
About Alex2014-08-08When a group of old college friends reunite over a long weekend after one of them attempts suicide, old crushes and resentments shine light on their life decisions, and ultimately push friendships and relationships to the brink.More...
A Perfect Ending2012-06-01This intimate drama follows Rebecca, a woman who has kept her sexuality a secret from her friends but chooses to reveal it to a stranger. While Rebecca's revelations may not yield the results she expects, a perfect ending is still in reach.More...
Once Upon a Time, There Lived a Dog1982-11-10Based on the Ukrainian folktale, the old dog of a village family is not as keen as he once was, and is sent away after he fails to guard their house during a robbery. In the woods, he meets the wolf he protected his masters against long ago, who decides to pay a favor to get his old enemy's rightful place back in the doghouse.More...
Extraterrestrial2011-09-11Everyone knows what to do if one morning the sky would be absolutely full of UFOs: run as fast as you can. However, what would happen if the invasion started while you are in the flat of the girl of your dreams, the one you have just met?More...
Michael Jackson's Halloween2017-10-27The one-hour animated special, packed with the vocal talents of some of your favorite CBS stars and the King of Pop's most memorable hits, follows Vincent and Victoria, as they embark on a magical journey of self-discovery.More...
Starve2014-10-03While researching an urban legend on feral children, three friends find themselves trapped in an abandoned high school, where they are confronted with an evil more sinister than the legend itself.More...
The Reconstruction of William Zero2015-04-11A geneticist wakes up from an accident with only fragments of his memory intact and is forced to relearn who he is via his twin brother. But as he digs deeper, he discovers he might not be who he thought at all.More...
Altered Hours2016-11-12Recovering addict Will Parker experiments with 'Z', a black-market sleeping serum, in order to cure his insomnia. Instead, the drug sends Will's consciousness one day into the future, where he's the prime suspect in the disappearance of a young girl he hasn't even met - yet.More...
WWE Clash of Champions 20162016-09-25Clash of Champions (2016) is an upcoming professional wrestling pay-per-view event and WWE Network event produced by WWE. It will take place on September 25, 2016 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. It will be the first WWE event under the Clash of Champions chronology, replacing Night of Champions. It will also be the first Raw branded event following the second WWE brand extension in July 2016.More...
Packard: The Last Shift2014-03-20The Packard Motor Car Company and its 5-million square foot plant became a symbol of the American Dream in the heart of the Motor City. Packard left town in 1954, but the plant still stands as a symbol of decay. The half-mile stretch of rubble and ruin tells a story of failed politics and criminal activity, of scrappers and arsonists who went too far, and of the perseverance of one business to stick it out. The lawless plant has become a haven for street artists and curiosity seekers from around the world, including a developer from Peru.More...
Rosebud Baker: The Mother Lode2025-02-18Rosebud Baker delivers a raw and hilarious look at motherhood in all its chaotic beauty — filmed both before and after giving birth.More...
Journey to Space2015-02-13A sweeping overview of humanity’s accomplishments in space, as well as our ongoing activities and future plans.More...
The Guardian Brothers2015-06-25There's a crisis in the Chinese Spirit World -- humans don't believe in gods anymore! A Door God, facing unemployment, ventures into the human world to prove his worth, leading to unexpected encounters and transformations for humans and spirits alike.More...
Similar Movies
Twelve Monkeys
1995-12-29In the year 2035, convict James Cole reluctantly volunteers to be sent back in time to discover the origin of a deadly virus that wiped out nearly all of the earth's population and forced the survivors into underground communities. But when Cole is mistakenly sent to 1990 instead of 1996, he's arrested and locked up in a mental hospital. There he meets psychiatrist Dr. Kathryn Railly and the son of a famous virus expert who may hold the key to the Army of the 12 Monkeys; thought to be responsible for unleashing the killer disease.Memento
2000-10-11Leonard Shelby is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty of locating his wife's killer, however, is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of short-term memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he's going, or why.Back to the Future
1985-07-03Eighties teenager Marty McFly is accidentally sent back in time to 1955, inadvertently disrupting his parents' first meeting and attracting his mother's romantic interest. Marty must repair the damage to history by rekindling his parents' romance and - with the help of his eccentric inventor friend Doc Brown - return to 1985.Terminator 2: Judgmen...
1991-07-03Ten years after the events of the original, a reprogrammed T-800 is sent back in time to protect young John Connor from the shape-shifting T-1000. Together with his mother Sarah, he fights to stop Skynet from triggering a nuclear apocalypse.Terminator 3: Rise of...
2003-07-02It's been 10 years since John Connor saved Earth from Judgment Day, and he's now living under the radar, steering clear of using anything Skynet can trace. That is, until he encounters T-X, a robotic assassin ordered to finish what T-1000 started. Good thing Connor's former nemesis, the Terminator, is back to aid the now-adult Connor … just like he promised.Vertigo
1958-05-09A retired San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.Caché
2005-10-05George, host of a television show focusing on literature, receives videos shot on the sly that feature his family, along with disturbing drawings that are difficult to interpret. He has no idea who has made and sent him the videos. Progressively, the contents of the videos become more personal, indicating that the sender has known George for a long time.Terminator Salvation
2009-05-20All grown up in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor must lead the resistance of humans against the increasingly dominating militaristic robots. But when Marcus Wright appears, his existence confuses the mission as Connor tries to determine whether Wright has come from the future or the past -- and whether he's friend or foe.28 Days Later
2002-10-31Twenty-eight days after a killer virus was accidentally unleashed from a British research facility, a small group of London survivors are caught in a desperate struggle to protect themselves from the infected. Carried by animals and humans, the virus turns those it infects into homicidal maniacs -- and it's absolutely impossible to contain.Minority Report
2002-06-20John Anderton is a top 'Precrime' cop in the late-21st century, when technology can predict crimes before they're committed. But Anderton becomes the quarry when another investigator targets him for a murder charge.Back to the Future Pa...
1990-05-25The final installment finds Marty digging the trusty DeLorean out of a mineshaft and looking for Doc in the Wild West of 1885. But when their time machine breaks down, the travelers are stranded in a land of spurs. More problems arise when Doc falls for pretty schoolteacher Clara Clayton, and Marty tangles with Buford Tannen.Star Trek: First Cont...
1996-11-22The Borg, a relentless race of cyborgs, are on a direct course for Earth. Violating orders to stay away from the battle, Captain Picard and the crew of the newly-commissioned USS Enterprise E pursue the Borg back in time to prevent the invaders from changing Federation history and assimilating the galaxy.North by Northwest
1959-08-06Advertising man Roger Thornhill is mistaken for a spy, triggering a deadly cross-country chase.The Terminator
1984-10-26In the post-apocalyptic future, reigning tyrannical supercomputers teleport a cyborg assassin known as the "Terminator" back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son is destined to lead insurgents against 21st century mechanical hegemony. Meanwhile, the human-resistance movement dispatches a lone warrior to safeguard Sarah. Can he stop the virtually indestructible killing machine?The Last Survivors
2014-06-12In the near future, society collapses and water becomes scarce. When a greedy water baron starts violently clearing out survivors, Kendal, a 17-year-old teenager, fights the baron's henchman to keep a well open.Blood Lake: Attack of...
2014-05-25After chomping through the fish population, thousands of starved lampreys begin attacking the citizens of a sleepy lake town, and the community scrambles to stay alive.Summa Lacerta
2023-08-01A teenager investigates the disappearance of his cousin.World Gone Wild
1987-10-01In the nuclear ravaged wasteland of Earth 2087 water is as precious as life itself. The isolated Lost Wells outpost survived the holocaust and the inhabitants guard the source of their existence. Now an evil cult of renegades want control of their valuable water supply. And the villagers are no match for such brute military force. Only one man can help the stricken community - a mercenary living in a distance cannibal city. But even he, and his strange henchmen, may not be able to survive in the world gone wild.28 Years Later
2025-06-18Twenty-eight years after the Rage virus outbreak, Britain remains sealed off from the world. A fortified island community survives in isolation—until a young boy’s journey to the mainland reveals how both the infected and the survivors have evolved.Forever's End
2013-06-07Six years after an apocalyptic event killed her family and seemingly everyone else on earth, a lone girl on the verge of insanity is forced to question everything she has ever known when a strange man suddenly appears at her door. The last girl on earth... is not alone.