[FrightFest 2025] FILM REVIEW: Redux Redux

Redux Redux - FrightFest English Premiere Review

Director: Kevin McManus, Matthew McManus

Starring: Michaela McManus,Stella Marcus, Jim Cummings, Jeremy Holm, Debra Christofferson

Written by: Kevin McManus, Matthew McManus

Produced by: Michael J McGarry, Nate Cormier, Marcela De Luna, PJ McCabe, Kevin McManus, Matthew McManus

Cinematography by: Alan Gwizdowski

Original Score by: Paul Koch

Synopsis:

Irene Kelly travels through parallel universes, repeatedly killing her daughter's murderer. As she becomes consumed by vengeance, her humanity hangs in the balance.

Thoughts:

The McManus Brothers' latest is a gutsy, low-fi science fiction thriller about dealing with unimaginable grief, that relies more on the excellent performances from the leads than getting too dragged down by the science fiction of the plot.

Michaela McManus stars as Irene Kelly, who when we first see her, is concentrated on a rising flame in front of her. And then we realise that inside the flame is a man tied to a chair, writhing in pain and burning alive. An incredible opening image that straight away tells us all we need to know about our main character. Irene is a drifter with a secret. She has a machine that can transport her through alternate universes and the man she is burning alive is the man who kidnapped and murdered her daughter. The interesting thing about this is, we don't know which universe she is in because her whole life is now consumed by killing this man over and over again.

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Irene Kelly is soft spoken and desperate and as soon as we meet her and begin to follow her story I kept thinking "What if Robin Wright had been cast as Sarah Connor." 'Redux Redux' definitely takes its cues from 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' not because of all the action or apocalyptic fear mongering but mainly because of the questioning of humanity. And it's got a similar vibe and atmosphere to that segment where Sarah, John and the T-800 hide away in the desert and ponder about their next move. It's also a really thought provoking picture that doesn't ever feel like it must explain the science fiction elements of the story. It's simply just a part of the storytelling and it works all the better for focussing on the characters and their motives.

For the most part of the first Act we witness Irene finding and killing Neville, a scruffy looking cook who also happens to be her daughter's killer. It's usually just through gunshot but sometimes a new universe throws a curveball and Irene has to adapt. The biggest adaptation to her plans come when she infiltrates Neville's home and finds another victim, Mia (Stella Marcus), terrified and almost inconsolable. And then the film becomes something different. It sort of turns into a buddy movie for a short period where both Irene and Mia get to delve into their characters a bit more. It's really meaty stuff. Mia is a bit like John Connor in 'T2' . A kid with a bratty attitude who thinks she knows better and can't be saved and pretends she doesn't want to be saved, even though she secretly yearns for it.

But deep down the film explores Irene's choices, specifically the choice she makes repeatedly. The one where she chooses to use her machine to travel to the next universe in order to murder the same man. There's no doubt that this is a choice she makes reluctantly at first perhaps but now something that feels second nature. In fact it doesn't even feel like a choice to her anymore, it feels like a purpose. It's saving her life.

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Michaela McManus and Stella Marcus have great chemistry and their relationship feels authentic. A testament to their acting chops. They're given enough time together to make each other shine and allow the viewers to ask the question..why does Irene keep doing this? First it's a choice out of pure revenge but by the time we meet Irene she already seems shaken and disillusioned by everything. And that's what the film is really about.

The writing here is really good. There's some cringey dialogue early on but I think for the most part is quite restrained and the McManus brothers give just enough for the viewers to be locked in for the ride. Through Irene's interactions with Jonathan, her booty call and shoulder to cry on, we realise that maybe killing the same man over and over again isn't exactly a satifying experience and certainly not one that will bring her daughter back. Irene has become a robot. Irene has become the T-800.

Perhaps taking a little influence from the early work of Christopher Nolan but on a fraction of the budget, 'Redux Redux' is a really stellar piece of filmmaking. Tense, absorbing, innovative and with fantastic performances from the cast.

Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

-Gavin Logan

'Redux Redux' received its English Premiere at FrightFest '25 on August 24th