A new film from writer-directors Jack Auen and Kevin Walker transforms an unlikely setting into a source of genuine cinematic tension. “Chronovisor,” the directorial debut for both filmmakers, constructs an intricate mystery centered around academic research and library archives, proving that compelling drama need not rely on conventional action or spectacle.
The film follows Beatrice, a Columbia University scholar specializing in philosophy and neuroscience, as she becomes consumed by the historical puzzle of the Chronovisor—an allegedly impossible device invented by an Italian Benedictine monk in the 1970s that purportedly could retrieve video footage from any moment in history. Though widely dismissed as a hoax, Beatrice pursues the story across continents, interviewing sources and excavating decades-old documents in her quest for answers.
The filmmakers employ an innovative visual approach, illuminating key passages as viewers follow Beatrice through weathered books and academic papers, creating an immersive reading experience that mirrors her investigation. The narrative blends factual history with speculative fiction and Vatican conspiracy theories, styled after found-footage horror cinema, while maintaining a scholarly tone throughout.
Drawing on their acclaimed 2021 short “Marblehead,” Auen and Walker demonstrate a distinctive ability to extract maximum tension from minimal resources. The film received attention at the Rotterdam festival and now enters limited theatrical release, positioning the directors as innovative genre practitioners capable of crafting distinctive, cerebral entertainment.
Originally reported by Variety →
About the Author
