Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strong language and violence in offbeat comedy romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Timestalker
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In TIMESTALKER, Agnes (Alice Lowe) is doomed to repeat the same cycle every time she seeks out the supposed love of her life, Alex (Aneurin Barnard). She dies a violent death, and then is reincarnated centuries later, only for the same thing to happen again.
Is It Any Good?
This may be only the second feature film that Lowe has directed, but already she's carving out a unique and recognizable style that marks her as a British filmmaker to watch. The follow-up to her 2016 horror comedy Prevenge (another in which she also plays the lead role), Timestalker toys with notions of romance and fairy tale, gender roles and expectations, but throws in plenty of playful violence and innuendo to boot. Recent film and television has proven time and again that the central character doesn't need to be likable to be fully engaging, and here Lowe's Agnes is definitely not much of a hero to root for. But there's something familiar and relatable to the futility of her journey that makes it easy to hook viewers in. The tone is weird, subversive, and dark, yet Nick Frost's presence will give an indication of the kind of bizarre, chaotic, genre-fusing comedy viewers can expect mixed in. The jumping between eras keeps the pace moving, as does the sardonic script, but things falter a little toward the end, where the payoff—similarly to Prevenge—doesn't quite live up to the promise.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how romance was portrayed in Timestalker. How did the movie pull on traditions from fairy tales, romcoms, and other romantic narratives? What did it say about those messages, and what did it do to subvert those expectations?
How did the tone of the movie impact the violent and gory moments? Did the comedic elements make them less shocking? Why, or why not? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
There's lots of strong language in the movie. What did it contribute to the story? Is a certain level of language expected in a film like this? If so, why?
What did you think of Agnes? Did you like her? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 14, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : February 14, 2025
- Cast : Alice Lowe , Nick Frost , Jacob Anderson , Aneurin Barnard
- Director : Alice Lowe
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Level 33 Entertainment
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , History
- Run time : 89 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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