Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (Movie Review)

Screened as a part of the 2021 Fantastic Fest

If you are a sci-fi or genre fan, then let me tell you about an amazing two minutes stretched out ad infinitum.

Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes from writer/director Junta Yamaguchi is a one-shot, time loop film. It tells the story of Kato (Kazanori Tosa), a cafe owner that suddenly learns he can communicate to himself two minutes into the future using two computer monitors. Wacky hijinks ensue as a cast of characters become invested in the "Time TV" whether they want to or not.

Audiences may have seen similar time travel stories before, this film boldly builds to boisterous bits that successfully exploit every potential payoff to its premise. The movie was shot entirely on an iPhone by the Europe Kikaku theatre group, and the camera placement for the "one-shot" is fun to figure out—there are scenes in the credits that confirmed my suspicions.

While the film takes awhile to outline its premise and test the authenticity of the Time TV, the situations continue to heighten and I loved the way early moments return once you realize their importance. Despite the eventual complexities, the story is easy to digest. The characters are unfortunately limited to one dimension, but in the short run-time the fabulous cast flushes out the film's broader universe.

If you liked One Cut of the Dead (2017) then find Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes a fitting recommendation. Both films have a lot of heart, some creative uses of set-ups, and an ambitious shooting style that rewards the audience for getting through the first act. If you want something light, fun, and easy to enjoy with a significant other (who hopefully won't ask what is happening) then future me is telling your past self, “It was worth the watch.”