Ah, Alice Lowe—UK’s very own darkly comic auteur. You may not have realized it while chuckling at her delightfully deranged characters, but she’s a filmmaking force to be reckoned with.
With gems like Sightseers (2012) and Prevenge (2016) under her belt, Lowe has stamped her twisted but unique mark on low-budget cinema. Let’s be clear: these aren’t your grandma’s Oscar bait. Her films prance merrily down the path of absurdity, dragging a delightful chaos that’s unmistakably hers.
Now, Lowe is back at it again with Timestalker, a reincarnation comedy streaming on NOW TV. But remember, this isn’t a quaint tale of rebirth; it’s rife with her trademark gruesome flair. After all, what’s a reincarnation comedy without a little neck-chopping theatrics?
The protagonist, Agnes—played by Lowe herself—is not your average rom-com dreamer. This gal is a stalker. Yes, a stalker you’ll see traipsing through history, making the same poor choices repeatedly. I guess some habits die hard, even in the afterlife.
Adding a sprinkle of star power, the film features UK comedy legends like Nick Frost and Kate Dickie. Oh, and don’t forget Aneurin Barnard, who you’ll soon see shining in Duncan Jones’s adaptation of 2000AD’s Rogue Trooper. Talk about keeping company with legends!
We managed to catch Lowe following Timestalker’s release. The film, by the way, zips by in a delightful 90 minutes—perfect for when you need a break from the hefty holiday blockbusters.
So, how do you convince a NOW TV scroller to dive into Timestalker instead of watching yet another episode of Bad Boys: Ride or Die? Lowe had a bold pitch: “It’s a new year; try something fresh. Avoid the formulaic explosions and opt for something colorful—with a side of chaos. Trust me, palate cleansers exist after a tidal wave of holiday clichés.” The irony of using “fresh” while depicting reincarnation is a delightful touch.
Now, you might think, “Isn’t this just a high-concept film?” Oh, you sweet summer child, that’s precisely the goal. Lowe compares it to Back to the Future but approaches it with a self-aware twinkle: if you can accept a time-traveling mum-crush, then what’s so weird about getting a stalker’s existential crisis across multiple lifetimes?
If you thought just mixing genres was difficult, try blending dark comedy, horror, and a dash of romance—all while ensuring that the viewer’s emotional range goes from chuckles to shock, and straight back again. That’s what Lowe aims for, claiming that art should embrace the myriad of emotions we face in life, even the messy ones. And why would anyone want to suppress that chaos? After all, who needs life to make sense when it can just be delightfully messy?
When asked about future plans, Lowe lets slip that she’s working on two new horror films—because why not add more psychological twists while you’re at it? She’s also involved in the Rogue Trooper buzz, adding yet another feather to her impressive cap. But keep your eyes peeled; in an age of endless content, who knows what hilariously twisted gem she’ll unearth next?
So, while the UK film industry may seem beleaguered at times, Lowe stands as a reminder that creativity can flourish, albeit on a shoestring budget made from cardboard and string. It’s a nod to the “DIY or die” ethos that runs rampant in the indie scene. And with Timestalker, you have an opportunity to laugh, gasp, and revel in the delightful absurdity of life—after all, cinema doesn’t have to follow the conventional path to be entertaining. Now, that’s something worth streaming! Timestalker is available to make your day a little brighter, and maybe a bit bloodier—just the way Lowe intended!
