ARQ (2016)

Trapped in a lab and stuck in a time loop, a disoriented couple fends off masked raiders while harboring a new energy source that could save humanity.

Director:

Tony Elliott

Writer:

Tony Elliott

Stars:

Robbie Amell, Rachael Taylor, Shaun Benson

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robbie Amell	...	Renton
Rachael Taylor	...	Hannah
Shaun Benson	...	Sonny
Gray Powell	...	Father
Jacob Neayem	...	Brother
Adam Butcher	...	Cuz
Tantoo Cardinal	...	The Pope
Nicolas Van Burek	...	News Anchor (voice)
Jamie Spilchuk	...	Mobius Common (voice)

Storyline

Trapped in a lab and stuck in a time loop, a disoriented couple fends off masked raiders while harboring a new energy source that could save humanity.

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Plot Keywords:

time loop | face spattered with blood | electrocuted | faked death | cyanide gas | 

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 September 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Арка

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lost City, XYZ Films, MXN Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Sonny is speaking to Mobius Command around the 39:00 minute mark, he mentions "Operation Riverrun." This is a reference to James Joyce's "Finnegan's Wake," (1939). The last sentence of the novel is a fragment, and completes the first line of the novel, forming a closed loop.

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Goofs

Sonny saves Cuz from being electrocuted in the loop no. X, but this should not be possible, since the loop begins from the short circuit Cuz makes by electrocuting himself. Therefor the loop should always start from Cuz being already electrocuted.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Renton: You okay?
[flex-cuffs zipping]
Father: That guy you fried with your clever little trap? That was our cousin.
Brother: Cuz.
Father: That's Brother. Sonny. You can call me Father. And you two? You two are the kids.

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Connections

Referenced in The Chronic Rift: Time Loop-de-Loops (2018)

User Reviews

An excellent new take on the ground hog day premise

I wasn't expecting much but was surprised at how much I enjoyed this film. Its based in the future but that doesn't impact too much on the film. The earth is dying, the air toxic. Mega corporations rule and of course you have the obligatory resistance. But this is more back ground information you pick up as the film progresses and just supplies character motivation.

The basic premise is a couple keep reliving the same home invasion over and over, and try to use memories of the previous attempts to their advantage. Only there develops an excellent twist. Too say more on this point would ruin the film.

Each day starts with them waking up in bed then being taken captive. Each scenario ends when they are killed. For the most part the whole film takes place in one cramped house. The invaders aren't what they seem, but then neither is the couple.

The acting is quite good, no massive moving heart wrenching scenes but you have sufficient character building and then the action and revelations keep the film rolling at a steady pace.