Movie Review: The Infinite Man is clever and challenging

IT’S one of the cleverer, more ambitious and challenging Australian films of recent times. What’s more, The Infinite Man is a comedy.

The Infinite Man (MA15+)

Director: Hugh Sullivan (feature debut)

Starring: Josh McConville, Hannah Marshall, Alex Dimitriades.

Rating: ***

One of the cleverer, more ambitious and challenging Australian films of recent times. What’s more, it’s a comedy!

In an abandoned motel complex somewhere along the coastline of South Australia, a couple’s first anniversary as boyfriend (Josh McConville) and girlfriend (Hannah Marshall) ends in disaster.

Happy couple ... Josh McConville and Hannah Marshall in a scene from Australian film The Infinite Man.

Then later, it does not. Then later again, the whole situation gets much, much worse (hello, Alex Dimitriades). A curious closed loop of good fortune and misfortune takes hold.

How is this even possible, you ask? Here’s a hint: time travel. A very limited, no-frills form of the medium, but it is time travel all the same.

Time travel ... Alex Dimitriades and Josh McConville in The Infinite Man.

The only mistake anyone can possibly make is not learning from a mistake the next time it is about to happen.

Courtesy of a very promising talent in first-time filmmaker Hugh Sullivan, a considerable amount of thought has gone into the complex, echolike plot structure of this film. Much of it pays off in strange, amusing and wholly unexpected ways.

Awaiting cult status ... Josh McConville and Alex Dimitriades in The Infinite Man.

While it must be said The Infinite Man can stray very close to outstaying its welcome on a few occasions, it can win you back over in the blink of an eye.

A devoted and deserved cult following awaits.

The Infinite Man is now showing Nova VIC, Dendy Newtown NSW, Nova SA. Other states to follow.

Originally published as Movie Review: The Infinite Man is clever and challenging