Infinitum: Subject Unknown Parent Guide

Waking up in an attic, tied to a chair, and gagged is no way to start the day, but Jane (Tori Butler-Hart) doesn’t have much choice in the matter – or any recollection of how she got there. As she begins to panic, a bright light flashes, and she wakes up again…in an attic, tied to a chair, and gagged. Once she frees herself from the chair, she begins exploring her surroundings, and everything she finds makes her question what’s really going on. She has memories of the house and some of its contents, but she isn’t sure how she got them. Voices and lights appear from nowhere, phasing in and out of reality. And perhaps most strangely, she appears to be the only person around. Between being “reset” (waking up back in the chair with only vague memories of any previous attempts), Jane’s investigations turn up some clues that lead her to a mysterious laboratory known only as Wytness. But getting there is another matter…

Do you like small-budget independent movies? Mysterious science fiction? Déjà vu? Liminal spaces? If you answered yes to any or all of the above, you’ll probably have a good time with this movie. The film is soaked in a quiet, creepy atmosphere that asks far more questions than it would ever answer.

If, on the other hand, you like concrete explanations, clear stories, or large casts, you’re out of luck. Jane is essentially the only character you’re going to see for the entire 86 minute runtime, apart from brief appearances from the mysterious Drs, Ostergaard (Conleth Hill) and Marland-White (Ian McKellen). While I for one would always appreciate more of Sir Ian, I think for a film this size we’re lucky to get him at all.

Parents have remarkably little to be concerned about apart from some brief profanity. While the content is suitable for teenage audiences, I don’t know too many teenagers who are interested in this type of slow, confusing movie, so Infinitum may be a better choice for adult viewers.

Infinitum was shot entirely on iPhones during the initial COVID lockdowns, which is a far better use of the time than anything I did, so I’m not about to start nitpicking. Just be aware that, as with all indie movies, a smaller budget means a different kind of storytelling, and if you’re a big blockbuster fan, this isn’t going to do much for you. But for my fellow film nerds who hang out at local film festivals, there’s fun to be had here.