Infinitum: Subject Unknown (2021) User Reviews

Maybe I did not understand it...

[Thanos_Alfie · 3/10 · 9 May 2021]

"Infinitum: Subject Unknown" is a Sci-fi movie in which we watch a woman trapped in a parallel universe trying to understand what is going on while she is also trying to find a way to escape. She has to be fast otherwise she will start over again.

I did not know what to expect from this movie but I was curious enough to watch it. I have to say that I found it different and it did not make any sense in the end or maybe I did not understand it. The direction which was made by Matthew Butler-Hart it was not the best and in my opinion he could present everything he wanted about parallel universes and the changes that can occur with a better way. All in all, I have to say that "Infinitum: Subject Unknown" is a very different movie and I suggest you to skip it if you want to watch it just for Ian McKellen's interpretation.

more fitting as a sci-fi short

[SnoopyStyle · 4/10 · 15 January 2022]

An alternate universe in constant warfare has been found. According to Dr. Charles Marland-White (Ian McKellen) and Professor Ostergaard (Conleth Hill), there have been many agencies attempting to experiment on it. A woman (Tori Butler-Hart) wakes up tied to a chair in a non-descript house. She tries to escape but keeps returning back to the beginning every time while also witnessing flashes from the other world.

It's interesting for a little while and then I stop caring. The woman isn't given any story and there is no particular reason to care about her. The story isn't given much story. This is really only a sci-fi short. This was filmed during the first pandemic lockdown and all the actors are acting on their own. I appreciate this attempt but it doesn't have enough to hold for a full length theatrical release.

Not enough story

[rosanna-83335 · 5/10 · 10 May 2021]

For a film with no budget wasn't bad. Not taking that into account, it was a bit simplistic in a complex way. Let me explain that. Yes the physics concept behind the idea is complex but if you get that then really the whole thing is just literally in some way the same thing over and over again. The story is quite basic in facts. So as much as I like the visual representation of a physics concep, I would have liked more story. I would have liked more background, know who the girl is, how she got enrolled, was it volontary like we finally learn was the casefor the people in the cube or was she forced into it? Also does she know who she is?

As for the presence of Sir Ian, frankly, him or another actor wouldn't make much difference for the time he is actually on screen.

Nice that friends are giving 10/10 but it's absolutely awful

[namstonk · 1/10 · 8 April 2021]

If your expecting Mckellen then he appears for about a minute and a half.

Then the awful hilarity ensues.

You're trapped in an attic with hands bound, but don't open a window to shout for help or break glass to cut your bounds. You do however go to sleep on the floor, even though two mattresses are actually in the room. After waking you discover you weren't trapped, there were just empty boxes blocking the staircase, yes, EMPTY BOXES, shocking. Subsequently, you go downstairs and instead of looking for something to cut your bound hands, our hero decides to see if a piano works, yup that well-known device for cutting ties.

That is as coherent as this terrible drivel gets.

As said, the scores of 10/10 are clearly friends, strange that they haven't reviewed anything else and the ones that have also reviewed the previous films by this couple. C'mon people, loyalty is one thing but 10/10 is for Alien, Lawrence of Arabia, The Godfather Part 2, Blade Runner etc.

Infinitum: Boredom Known...

[paul_haakonsen · 2/10 · 20 April 2021]

I have to admit that I was a bit excited when I sat down to watch the 2021 sci-fi movie "Infinitum: Subject Unknown" from writers Matthew Butler-Hart and Tori Butler-Hart. Now, normally I am not overly keen on sci-fi movies, but this one definitely had an interesting cover/poster and it had none other than Ian McKellen himself on the cast list.

Not even 30 minutes into the movie and I was bored out of my mind. Wow, this movie was an atrocious heap of rubbish. The storyline was just such a cluttered mess that there was absolutely no enjoyment to be found there. And there was nothing that appealed to me. And sitting down to watch a movie and ending up being bored to tears is not my kind of entertainment. So no, "Infinitum: Subject Unknown" was a massive swing and a miss.

The acting performances in "Infinitum: Subject Unknown" weren't exactly stellar. And how or why Ian McKellen opted to be in movie such as this is simply beyond my comprehension.

"Infinitum: Subject Unknown" is not a movie that I would recommend you wasting your time, money or effort on. It simply was just not a good movie.

My rating of this 2021 sci-fi movie from director Matthew Butler-Hart lands on a two out of ten stars.

I was lost and now I am still lost

[nogodnomasters · 2/10 · 5 May 2021]

Gandalf comes out and says "paraverse" as if it means something. Jane (Tori Butler-Hart ) discovers she is in a "Groundhog Day" where she wakes up tied to a chair everyday. Everyday she escapes farther away. This is explained later in the film (Spoiler?) using the words "quantum science" and "infinite possibilities." Anything other than that is not explained. Rather boring.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.

Doesn't understand the concept, and boring.

[jmillenbach-09526 · 1/10 · 25 March 2021]

They tried to create a linear story to explain how simultaneous actions can somehow offer a best solution at the end. But ended up with mostly inane actions in a world that suddenly changes for no obvious reason. And interruptions by glimpses of other times it seems. With yes, ear splitting sound and a bit of a bait and switch with the poster. With my final nail in the coffin being no big conclusion, just one more thread in the web. Some may be fine with that, but...

Complete rubbish.

[peter-wright-nz · 1/10 · 3 April 2021]

Avoid at all cost. Total garbage. Waste of time.

Rubbish.

Terrible effects.

Boring repetitive stupid garbage.

Boring drivel with sleepy music

[metahumanity_01 · 27 March 2021]

Surely every movie fan has been thinking about how to use the empty streets during the pandemic lockdowns for a film.

They make for a great background, if your story and character are engaging. Unfortunately the latter is not the case.

can I get a Wytness

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 4 August 2021]

Greetings again from the darkness. In 2015, director Sean Baker's use of an iPhone to film TANGERINE was viewed as experimental or rogue. Since then, other filmmakers have utilized this method, though it's only been during the pandemic when filmmakers, desperate to create, have used the iPhone out of necessity. Such is the case with Matthew Butler-Hart, who not only utilized the mobile device for the majority of scenes, but also directed a couple of cameos remotely via Zoom. Co-written with his wife Tori Butler-Hart, who also stars, the film takes full advantage of empty streets and the absence of other people during the lockdown.

Ms. Butler-Hart stars as Jane, whom we first see as she awakens alone in the attic of a house. She's gagged and bound to a chair, with no recollection of how she got there. She also experiences visions in flashes - some type of memories - as she looks for an escape route. She notices that she's under surveillance, but after her initial stage of fright, she becomes quite determined to free herself. And that's where things get really interesting. In the mode of GROUNDHOG DAY (1993) or HAPPY DEATH DAY (2017), only without Sonny and Cher music or a homicide, Jane is constantly re-awakening to find herself back in the same attic, in the same chair, with the same constraints.

Sir Ian McKellan plays the founder of Wytness Research Centre and Conleth Hill ("Game of Thrones") plays a scientist. These two talking heads (filmed via Zoom) serve up the Quantum science overview that provides the structure of Jane's situation, and also offer a couple of short breaks for Jane, who appears in nearly every other scene. The Wytness Centre holds the key to her situation, and we are informed that the work there is "propelling human evolution to a staggering new dimension." Jane stays focused on solving the puzzle that will allow her to escape the house (mysterious staircase and all) and track down what is causing her to experience these events time and time again. There is a video game feel to this as Jane frantically tries to reach the next level of escape, only to be zapped back to the starting point with each failure. Although time is relative and a parallel universe is in play here, we can't help but notice Jane seems to lack the food, water, and basic hygiene one would require. That point has little impact on the creativity of the story and situation. Rorschach tests appear in certain places, as does a mint condition VW van. What we don't see are people, though Quantum science does hold infinite possibilities.

Ms. Butler-Hart delivers a strong performance and keeps us interested in her character as she carries the film. Mr. Butler-Hart delivers excellent "camera" work, and the ultra-low budget film shows what can be accomplished. The lockdown has caused isolation and uncertainty for many, and mind games can certainly affect one's perspective. The Butler-Harts have plans to convert this little film to a graphic novel and TV series, and it appears the "time" is right for both.

Coming to Theaters and VOD on August 6, 2021.

Goes nowhere

[brmtowers · 2/10 · 7 May 2021]

A drab and annoying film with a badly rendered idea based on one concept. Which wasn't even explored. Kind of like groundhog day but without any of the humour, charm, direction or other characters Groundhog day had. I love Sci fi and can even tolerate mediocre sci-fi but this wasn't even that. Ian McKellen had one line! Filmed in midst of a pandemic on a phone? It shows!

A Must Watch For Indie Sci Fi Lovers

[ukproject · 8/10 · 8 January 2022]

I was going to give this Movie an 8 even before I came on IMDB and found out that this was filmed using an iphone. Another gem of an Indie Sci Fi flick that simply would never be made by big budget studios.

If you're a fan of Christopher Smiths 'Triangle' (2009) which I am, you'll definitely get similar sort of vibes with 'Infinitum: Subject Unknown'. There's a similar intensely creepy feeling of sheer isolation that comes across that is pretty terrifying.

In fact, on rewatching I've noticed alot of similarities. The sense that the main character alone knows that something strange is going on. Yet the further she explores, the more confused she gets. There's an old record playing in one of the scenes similar to 'Anchor Aweigh' in Triangle. Skipped scenes and the memory of events yet to happen. The melancholic piano keys playing in the backgound.

In fact there are so many similarities that I doubt that these are coincidences so if these are nods to Triangle then hats off to the makers of I:SU as Triangle is a cult classic and one of my all time favourite movies.

And as with Triangle though, one thing this movie certainly is, is a 'love or hate' movie. You'll either be pulled in and creeped out by it, or frustrated and angered by it.

I get where the haters are coming from. This movie most definitely isn't for everyone but if this is your type of movie you will love it.

Micro-budget head scratcher that end with questions

[scottyholroyd · 7/10 · 25 March 2021]

Very impressed with what they've done here (I'm ignoring the fact that it has, I'm guessing, no budget whatsoever), and not just because it was shot during the pandemic with zero crew (I've done nothing all year so a star awarded just for that!). But this is a very clever, possibly too clever for me, idea that has been brilliantly put together. Reading the critics reviews, this is part of a bigger world, which is good because the ending is ambiguous to say the least. You come out of it feeling like you've really been through everything that actress Tori Butler-Hart has. I can't remember a film recently that has left me feeling so like I've been through a real experience like that. It might be a bit much for some, and as it's so much like the feelings of isolation and fear that we're al living through at the moment I can see why this absolutely won't be for some. I think if you're interested in filmmaking then this is one to watch, if you're wanting a big budget sci-fi extravaganza go and watch Tenet (although the sound is much better in this, I can actually hear the few lines spoken in Infinitum). Sir Ian McKellen and Conleth Hill provide some much needed exposition, which is really all they are there for, not that I'm complaining, but this is Tori Butler-Hart's film who is in almost every frame of the film. Not an easy task for anyone let alone someone so young.

I will keep this short

[stewart-01051 · 1/10 · 10 April 2021]

That's 1h 25m 52s of my life I will never get back.

"Arty". Pointless and incomprehensible.

[Bullboy01 · 1/10 · 8 August 2021]

If you're looking for a good sci-fi flick, look elsewhere. This is a time-loop movie that makes absolutely no sense, goes nowhere, and DOES NOT 'star' Ian McKellen. Mr. McKellen spent maybe one hour filming one two-sentence cameo that is replayed more than once. The same sentences, that is. That's the extent of his involvement. This movie sucks and is a complete waste of your time.

90 minutes of my life I will never get back

[whitek-78291 · 2/10 · 29 March 2021]

Boring, unoriginal and really not worth the watch.

Garbage film, don't waste your time

[alexbucg · 1/10 · 14 August 2021]

I came to write a review after wasting my time with this total trash film but found a review that captured my sentiments perfectly Literally this movie is the same 3 minute scene repeated 40 times. Its one actress in one room, and there is no surprise ending or point to all this. Nothing interesting or mysterious. Just nothing. It is a crime to call this a movie and the fact that some people are leaving good reviews makes me sad for our species

" Arty". Pointless and incomprehensible.

If you're looking for a good sci-fi flick, look elsewhere. This is a time-loop movie that makes absolutely no sense, goes nowhere, and DOES NOT 'star' Ian McKellen. Mr. McKellen spent maybe one hour filming one two-sentence cameo that is replayed more than once. The same sentences, that is. That's the extent of his involvement. This movie sucks and is a complete waste of your time."

It's not boring, it will literally anger you

[FlorinAndrei1990 · 1/10 · 28 August 2021]

This movie is a total waste of time, it's bad from any point of view. The plot is bad, the acting is bad, the character is bad, so bad that the entire movie she will only take the most illogic decissions a person can make in her situation.

This is possibly the most cheap movie ever made, not being necessary a bad thing, but this one is so empty that the only special effects are some bad video cuts.

I don't know what others are talking about, maybe they didn't see any good sci-fi paralel universe movies, you just can't appreciate this amateurish movie, It doesn't even worth a star, I can't give ZERO unfortunately !

Good idea but not a good watch.

[zephyre79 · 4/10 · 27 April 2021]

A film about infinite possibilities. Would it be possible to explain why the movie started with the main character tied to a chair with her hands bound?

I understood what was going on. A woman finds herself (at the very end) in a parallel world where her life is just one possibility of what could have happened to her or someone... That possibility was being lost in a parallel world and she was just playing through the motions, making choices but if she made the wrong choice her day was reset back to the beginning. The movie followed a natural progression and thankfully skipped the repeats faster and faster so that we could eventually get to the end where she learned what was happening. Unfortunately upon learning this, she reset back to the beginning of that particular day and the movie ended. There were also some strange soldiers that we heard but never saw hunting for her and voices talking about her and about resetting her.

From what I could understand it sounded like she was part of some experiment, but ultimately, that apparently was not the case.

I have to say that even understanding what was going on, so much did not make sense. If you are wide awake one night and unable to sleep... have a watch... this will probably knock you out cold in under 20 minutes.

A solid Brit indie movie

[michaellynton · 7/10 · 25 March 2021]

Really enjoyed this. Not sure I totally got it and it definitely deserves a second viewing to untangle some of the first part of the story. But this is totally intentional by the director, to have you feeling exactly what the character is feeling and I get why it might be a little intense for some people, especially at the moment as we're all still feeling very much as the main character is. But I think this will be a film that, in the years to come, people will look back to see the kind of art that the pandemic inspired. It's a glimpse of the frustration, the feeling of helplessness that we're all living. It's beautifully shot, beautifully acted and put together and I think will be around for a long while. It's a no budget job, and that seems to offend people on this site these days, but if you can see past that you're going to enjoy it. I read that this is a companion film to other pieces in the world, and it's absolutely an intriguing beginning that leaves it massively open to a next chapter - very little is answered in this film, in fact you'll come away with more questions than anything. But I love that and can't wait to see what happens next in the story. Oh, and Ian McKellen and Conleth Hill are just cameos in this - it seems that some people think they should have been bigger parts (how in a pandemic when they weren't allowed to film anything?!) - but they've worked with the filmmakers a dozen times so this was clearly a favour to two exciting movie makers.

I should have read the IMDB reviews

[reallytorkedoff-87464 · 1/10 · 27 November 2021]

They forgot the most important part of the time loop trope. You have to solve the loop and escape. This was just loop after loop after loop, with the subject slowly approaching a solution, but never really getting there in the end.

I'm not sure why they bothered bringing in Sir Ian McKellan. He could have done his exteremely minimal work on a Saturday before lunch. Any actor would have sufficed for the few things he contributed. I guess he was window dressing, just like everything else.

The movie held my attention only because I was waiting for the payoff. In case you haven't figured it out already, it never comes!

I've seen video shorts that have the same poor lack of payoff, but only take ten minutes of your life. What a waste.

Just avoid this. Watch Looper or some other time loop movie with an actual ending.

Does repetition well.

[midohacus · 8/10 · 29 October 2022]

Thoroughly enjoyable sci-fi which had me constantly thinking and trying to figure out the interactions, reality etc. I feel there are some elements which you could really argue over e.g. If an element is stimuli/manipulation, glimpse of realities or something else.

There is a blurb at the end about how this was done during a pandemic lockdown, I think I had known about this back when it was first released but had forgotten that fact by the time I watched it. The well paced repetition meant that while watching it I was too focused to notice it was almost solely the main character.

My one grievance/irritation is that early on the character is at an openable window and seems to be oblivious that windows can be opened. Shouting through a closed window instead of shouting out an open window?!

Liked that the main character looked like a normal person e.g. Minor wrinkles etc.

Cracking low budget indie movie

[jamesgouldsnr · 7/10 · 21 March 2021]

I can see that some people have come into this movie thinking it's some big budget affair rather than the no budget indie shot on an iPhone it is!

I guess because Ian McKellen is involved? But reading interviews by the filmmakers you find out that Sir Ian is a friend and they all made this during the Covid lockdown with no crew.

So if you're expecting some Chris Nolan mind-bender you're going to be disappointed. But know that this was shot with just two crew during the pandemic and you will be richly rewarded!

I'd like to know what the people giving this 1 star did during the pandemic!

I certainly couldn't have made a movie of this calibre like they did. So ignore the haters who just love hating on everything and let your mind be expanded by this trippy, really cleverly put together movie shot with no equipment or crew.

If you want tinitus at the end of the movie: watch it

[yves-defossez · 2/10 · 6 August 2021]

They use so many times a super high pitched noise, almost no other sounds and no talking... Watch it muted or don't watch it at all.

Well Made But Pointless

[thingmaker2001 · 3/10 · 17 April 2022]

A well made, well acted story involving an apparent time loop and using the word "quantum" to suggest some sort of explanation for it all. The important thing to understand is that it is not going anywhere and nothing will ever be explained. If that appeals to you, you might want to see it.