Parallel

Montages, seesawing Dutch tilts and profligate overuse of lighting gels fail to conceal the fact that the film's writing doesn't match the lure of the central idea.

It's watchable, but don't expect your mind to be blown - more gently prodded.

Despite a lame late plot twist, Isaac Ezban's thriller is a rollicking rollercoaster ride.

both heady multi-dimensional sci-fi and a self-conscious discourse on originality and alteration. "I'm not stealing sketches," Leena insists to Devin, "I'm appropriating art." Here, the difference is everything, and integrity is always up for grabs.

Tonally, it's muddled, struggling to manage its comedy beats and darker impulses. Still, the performances and Scott Blaszak's to-the-point script make the film easy to like, in spite of its flaws.

This clever Canadian indie is part Flatliners, part Butterfly Effect, and smoothly entertaining throughout.

Parallel is another clever and thought-provoking "what if" story from Mexican director Isaac Ezban. His first English-language feature, Parallel's UK premiere was held at the Frightfest's Halloween event.

Slow-burn multiverse morality tale has violence, language.

Though it has a fine premise, it also is fuzzy and is a not so greatly executed sci fi film.

There isn't much more to it than the usual cautionary tale of hubris, but it's good fun, and sometimes genuinely chilling too.