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The Universal Theory

Play trailer 2:22 Poster for The Universal Theory Released Sep 27 1h 58m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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65% Tomatometer 26 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Set in 1962 at a quantum mechanics conference in an isolated lodge nestled amid the towering landscapes of the Swiss Alps, THE UNIVERSAL THEORY is the story of a gifted young physicist, his curmudgeonly mentor, and an enigmatic jazz pianist who knows things about our wunderkind scientist that he's never told another living soul. German director Timm Kröger--himself also a cinematographer--films his tale with an eye for the majestic natural beauty that surrounds our characters, effectively evoking the paranoid postwar era. Driven by astonishing twists and improbable coincidences, THE UNIVERSAL THEORY unravels a captivatingly complex chronicle with brain-tickling suspense.
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The Universal Theory

Critics Reviews

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Robert Abele Los Angeles Times Nothing in “The Universal Theory” is going to blow your mind, but as it plays its fastidiously crafted notes of conspiracy and chaos, you’ll know the idiosyncrasies of the art house are alive and well. Oct 14, 2024 Full Review Isaac Feldberg RogerEbert.com It’s an illusion [Kröger] sustains with conviction, but the convoluted tangle of his narrative ends up feeling more like a trick than like magic. Rated: 2.5/4 Sep 27, 2024 Full Review Beatrice Loayza New York Times Though visually handsome, the film leaves the audience with the sense that, like a grad student, it is still working out its big ideas. Sep 27, 2024 Full Review Todd Jorgenson Cinemalogue ... becomes lost in its convoluted maze of misdirection and narrative gimmicks. Oct 12, 2024 Full Review Michael Atkinson LA Weekly/Village Voice ...before long you’ll realize the film is not going to answer any of its own questions. Oct 1, 2024 Full Review Paz O'Farrell ScreenAnarchy Oscillates between creepy and beautiful, with scant hilarious dialogue in dead-pan delivery. The suspense doesn't hold up for the entirety of the film, with the viewer becoming accustomed to the slow pace, but again, there's plenty to look at. Sep 30, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Universal Theory

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The Universal Theory

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Movie Info

Synopsis Set in 1962 at a quantum mechanics conference in an isolated lodge nestled amid the towering landscapes of the Swiss Alps, THE UNIVERSAL THEORY is the story of a gifted young physicist, his curmudgeonly mentor, and an enigmatic jazz pianist who knows things about our wunderkind scientist that he's never told another living soul. German director Timm Kröger--himself also a cinematographer--films his tale with an eye for the majestic natural beauty that surrounds our characters, effectively evoking the paranoid postwar era. Driven by astonishing twists and improbable coincidences, THE UNIVERSAL THEORY unravels a captivatingly complex chronicle with brain-tickling suspense.
Director
Timm Kröger
Screenwriter
Roderick Warich, Timm Kröger, Roderick Warich, Timm Kröger
Distributor
Oscilloscope Laboratories
Production Co
Catpics Coproductions, Ma.ja.de. Fiction, Panama Film, The Barricades
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
German
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 27, 2024, Limited
Runtime
1h 58m
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