‘Redux Redux’ SXSW Review – Multiverse Revenge Thriller Smartly Refuses to Get Repetitive

“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” It’s a well-known proverb that frequently applies to revenge thrillers that see their protagonists slowly transform into monsters themselves when wholly consumed by their vengeance. The logline for Redux Redux suggests a similar path for its lead character, a distraught mother driven to murder her daughter’s killer over and over again, snuffing out every iteration by hopping through the multiverse. Luckily the McManus Brothers, writer/director duo Matthew and Kevin McManus (The Block Island Sound), know how repetitive this sounds and use it instead as the foundation for a violet yet profoundly emotional journey.

We meet Irene Kelly (Michaela McManus) well into her established routine of stalking and then dispatching Neville (Jeremy Holm) by any means necessary. Her wrath and determination feel as fresh as the cuts and bruises on her face when the reality is that her vengeful murder spree of one single man is now edging toward the thousands. Despite the endless practice, it’s dangerous and volatile work that puts Irene at risk of getting caught by authorities or worse – dead. Yet the higher the body count gets, the more subtle changes between universes throw catastrophic wrenches into Irene’s plan of attack. Changes that could potentially break her addition to murdering Neville or cause her to lose her humanity altogether.

The McManus brothers smartly ground their multiverse in reality; despite its sci-fi leanings, every version of Irene’s world looks identical save for small changes in character or routine. For example, in one realm, Neville is a waiter instead of the line cook at the diner. Irene prowls to track him. Or a convenience store clerk might be more welcoming in this universe than the last. It’s subtle variations that keep Irene, and the viewer by proxy, on her toes even in a deeply familiar setting. While that occasionally sparks an intense getaway from the cops, Irene simply hops into her coffin-like multiverse machine, a not-so-subtle visual metaphor for the grave she’s willingly digging for herself to move on the next. 

Just when Redux Redux feels poised to continue down this path toward exhausting repetition, it introduces a narrative foil in Mia (Stella Marcus), a rare victim of Neville’s found still alive. The teen runaway turned trauma survivor clings to her savior, shattering the careful routine and injecting a chaotic unpredictability. That’s largely due to Marcus’ bold performance; Mia is a teen who rebukes authority and is as unwaveringly stubborn as Irene. Her loose set of morals born of survival needs becomes both an asset and a hindrance in ways that often lead to exciting chase sequences, confrontations, and even horror-leaning violence right up to the intensely harrowing and violent finale. It’s the much needed shakeup that both Irena and her story needed to avoid retreading similar fare.

Also clever is the way the filmmakers structure this twisted revenge tale. Irene is introduced as the violent aggressor, framing Neville as a hapless diner employee with smaller clues of villainy. As Irena continues down her path, however, her guard lowers, giving glimpses of her vulnerabilities and soulful heartbreak as Neville showcases more and more of his sadistic streak. Holm becomes utterly terrifying in the climax, ensuring that no matter whether Irene loses herself to vengeance for good or not, it’s justified if it means ridding the world of this sick maniac. 

Redux Redux takes the tired multiverse concept and makes it feel fresh through its gritty, grounded approach and tautly wound storytelling. There’s a complexity to Irene’s grief that’s authentic and layered, more than earning her emotional journey and rooting interest even as she makes missteps. Slickly directed and cleverly told, Redux Redux makes for a dread-soaked and pleasantly unpredictable surprise of an indie sci-fi thriller.

Redux Redux made its world premiere at SXSW. Release info TBD.

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