Anti Matter

Anti Matter is a 2016 independent British science fiction film written and directed by Keir Burrows. The film takes a deeply philosophical angle on the concept of teleportation and investigational science, making it stand out within its genre. The movie features rising actress Yaiza Figueroa manifesting the challenging role of the lead protagonist. The ensemble also includes Philippa Carson and Tom Barber-Duffy, each delivering noteworthy performances.

Figueroa plays Ana, a PhD student at the prestigious Oxford University, who is fervently focused on her experimental physics thesis. Ana, along with her fellow scientists, researcher Nathan (Barber-Duffy) and cosmologist Liv (Carson), are embarking on their journey of path-breaking experimentation with teleportation. Their experiment involves sending matter from one location to another using quantum foam. One day, on a whim, Ana decides to be the first human subject of their teleportation experiment, marking the beginning of a series of unexpected and life-altering sequences.

Following the experiment, Ana realizes that she can no longer form new memories following her teleportation, which she compares to having an endless sensation of déjà vu. Every time she goes to sleep, her memory resets and she wakes up forgetting everything she did the day before. Evidently, though successful, their scientific leap of faith has mysterious side effects that discomfortingly reshape Ana's existence.

To her utter shock and despair, she also finds herself completely shut out from her previous scientific work by an unknown hand, and to make matters even more mysterious, her partners in experimentation deny even the basic details about the nature and purpose of their scientific enterprise this far.

From this point onwards, the narrative takes the shape of a psychological thriller, forced to consider that she might be losing her mind, Ana embarks on a mission to get to the bottom of a conspiracy that lies at the intersection of madness and reality. As she uncovers evidence after evidence of her worst fears, the line between truth and hallucination gets irrevocably blurred. Furthermore, Ana's personal relationships start to wrinkle under the pressure; her relationship with her colleagues and friends, namely Nate (played by Noah Maxwell Clarke), complicates matters even more.

Director Burrows skillfully charts a disturbing journey of existential chaos and intellectual paranoia. Burrows also moves the visual narrative away from the conventional sci-fi tropes to a more accessible, grounded, everyday campus life of an exceptionally gifted student. The pace of the narrative alone is enough to keep the audience glued to the edge of their seats.

The protagonist's character is beautifully layered, with an equal mix of vulnerability, determination, and genius, which Figueroa delivers with finesse and authority. The supporting performances of Carson, Barber-Duffy, and Clarke are equally commendable, contributing to the movie’s rich texture of mistrust and twisted camaraderie.

Anti Matter is an intriguing fusion of science fiction, mystery, and psychological thriller. It intricately navigates through concepts of 'science gone wrong,' 'breakthrough discovery,' and 'paranoia,' culminating in thought-provoking storytelling that keeps you guessing till the end. The film’s indie origins have led to certain limitations in terms of production value, but this hasn't stopped the creative team from delivering a compelling narrative.

Anti Matter opts to prioritize depth of character and developing an intriguing storyline over flashy visual effects, making it hard to categorise it strictly under the sci-fi genre. Combined, the actors, the writer, and the director have managed to create an immersive world for viewers that is intellectually astounding and emotionally powerful. It's a movie that invites its audience to think, to try and solve the puzzle that is presented before them, and to empathize with the characters and their choices, making it a stimulating viewing experience irrespective of whether one is a hardcore fan of sci-fi or a curious movie enthusiast. All in all, Anti Matter is a compelling cinematic piece that questions the ethical boundaries of scientific advancement and the indomitable power of human will and spirit in the face of adversity.