Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox is a trippy sci-fi comedy that takes a popular thought experiment and pushes the concept to its limits. Written and directed by Stimson Snead, this sci-fi spectacle features a star-studded cast, wonderfully complex ideas, and off-the-wall humor. But even beyond the fun and adventure that takes place, the standout performance of the film is delivered by the time traveler himself, Samuel Dunning.
Dunning plays Tim Travers, a gifted man whose intelligence has led him to push the limits of what is possible. Through his own invention, Travers has developed time travel, but rather than use this incredible breakthrough for any goal or reward, he embarks on a journey of discovery, trying to unravel the time traveler’s paradox — which is what happens if you go back in time and kill your younger self. What follows is almost beyond comprehension.
Samuel Dunning Steals The Show In Tim Travers & The Time Travelers Paradox
As one could imagine in a film about time travel and its paradox, things quickly go sideways. The story follows a non-linear narrative, which is fitting, but it also leaves us scrambling to organize the pieces into the correct order and make sense of the chaos. Fortunately, the comedy aspect of the film easily quells any concerns about the piece, and despite the high-concept, it is intended to be fun and disarming.
Much of the runtime is consumed by Dunning speaking to himself, but the way this effect is implemented makes it seamless, and it’s easy to forget that Dunning is playing all the roles.
This is best seen in the performance from Dunning, who has the unique job of playing not just two or three characters, but at least a dozen versions of Travers created at various points. Much of the runtime is consumed by Tim speaking to himself, but the way this effect is implemented makes it seamless, and it’s easy to forget that Dunning is playing all the roles. Each character begins to take on a life of its own, and it’s incredible to see this done to such great effect.
Of course, the film also features incredible talent such as Joel McHale, Danny Trejo, and Felicia Day, but as much as these parts add to the overall film, Travers is the main event. It would be easy to ᴀssume that such a film would exhaust the material and quickly deteriorate, but Snead’s script and direction manage to ensure that Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox is engaging from start to finish.
Tim Travers & The Time Travelers Paradox Is Peak Independent Cinema
The film has some minor flaws, and some jokes are pushed beyond reason, but overall, it’s a spectacular adventure. It excels at asking questions and playfully responding. It also excels at utilizing limited resources to create something that feels so much grander. All things considered, Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox is indicative of what independent films are capable of.
It’s crude, it’s loud, it’s bright, and it’s zany, but it’s never boring.
Without too much studio interference, Snead’s vision comes to life, and the performers taking part are clearly enjoying the freedom and flexibility. It’s crude, it’s loud, it’s bright, and it’s zany, but it’s never boring. And while the film deals with ideas that feel out of this world, it makes the narrative distinctly human. All in all, Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox is a stunning piece of work that is incredibly creative, creating something unique and delightful.
