I am not a whimsical person. In fact, I have an outstanding reputation for being where whimsy goes to die. Although I am painfully aware that my grim exterior may be somewhat off-putting, it’s a situation that simply can’t be helped. Just as a bird is born to fly, it would seem that I’ve been put on this Earth to scowl. Call me an old crank, if you must, but you know what they say – you can’t force a leopard to change its spots. No matter how hard you try.

Now, that being said, I’m also not entirely made of stone. Believe it or not, I am just as capable of feeling joy as the next guy is. So, when something actually does manage to tickle me, it is certainly a welcomed change of pace; case in point, my reaction to Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes, which was overwhelmingly positive. 

Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes isn’t a horror film, but rather a science-fiction comedy – and I must say, what an excellent science-fiction comedy it is! While it’s not the type of film that will make you burst out laughing, it is steeped in a contagious sort of enthusiasm. Because of this, the project has an undeniable charm to it, which makes not smiling while you watch it damn near next to impossible.  

The incredibly unique plot is, as it should be, the driving force behind the film. Kota (Kazunari Tosa) is the owner of a small café in Japan, who stumbles upon a remarkable anomaly in the space-time continuum. You see, the live feed connecting the television sets located in his upstairs apartment and downstairs café is experiencing a delay of two minutes. However, this is not a technical error – but a quantum one. Amazingly, he discovers that if you travel between them, they allow you to speak with yourself either two minutes into the future or the past. While Kota is wary of this newfound revelation, his friends dive into the situation with childish glee, leading them into a whole new set of outlandish scenarios.

Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes is a magnificent film in all regards. Aside from the extraordinary story, it also utilizes engaging cinematography that effectively catches and keeps your undivided attention for the entire seventy-minute duration. The performances given by the cast are spot-on and precisely what they need to be, adding significant entertainment value to what is already a fascinating concept. Overall, I highly recommend this movie to anyone who particularly enjoys wacky, sci-fi productions. It is, hands-down, one of the best things I’ve seen this year.    

8.5 out of 10

This film is part of Fantaspoa, which ran for free on the streaming platform Darkflix, from April 9th through the 18th. All film screenings are geo-blocked to Brazil, with additional details available at www.fantaspoa.com.