Serena and The Ratts

Serena and The Ratts, directed by Kevin James Barry, is a distinctively intriguing blend of science fiction, time travel, and crime thriller that, despite its modest budget, paints a captivating narrative and vivid character portrait. This 2012 movie ropes you in with its enthralling storyline and compelling performances by Evalena Marie, Jonathan Thomson, and Dave Neal.

The film is set in a bleak future where assassinations have become corporate business. The narrative revolves around Serena, the main character, played by Evalena Marie. She's a contract killer with an interesting twist: she doesn't remember her past, and she flounders in the dire and merciless sea of her present. This darkly complex character is brilliantly brought to life by Evalena Marie, whose performance oscillates between fierce and vulnerable, unraveling the enigma of Serena with the progression of the plot.

In this dystopian world, Serena works for an assassination business called the Ratts—short for Remote Assault and Tactical Termination Specialists. With its emphasis on missions involving time travel, the Ratts enable assassinations by meddling with the past. Within this setup, the script explores notions of free will, fate, loyalty, and betrayal. Despite her ruthless profession, Serena is portrayed as someone holding onto a sense of morality, highlighting some deep-seated ethical dilemmas in her character.

The plot thickens when Serena is tasked with an assignment that involves training a new recruit named, Spencer, compellingly portrayed by Jonathan Thomson. He's a youthful, tech-savvy individual being groomed for these brutal killings. As Serena reluctantly takes him under her wing, a grim bond forms between the two characters, brewing a mixture of drama, suspense, and subtle touches of black comedy.

As the story unfolds, we meet the character of Carlo, played by Dave Neal. Carlo is the elusive handler at the Ratts organization, adding an aura of menace and mystery as he steers the assassins towards their deadly duties. His performance contributes another layer to the narrative's complexity.

However, what sets Serena and The Ratts apart from the general trope of sci-fi thrillers is how it uses the context of a dystopian future, not merely as a backdrop, but as a significant plot element. The theme of time travel, the dystopian backdrop, and the settings play out not just as gimmicks but integral parts of the story, contributing to a high-stake race against time that Serena discovers.

Contrary to popular time-travel narratives, Serena and The Ratts does not succumb to the temptation of overindulging in special effects. Instead, it grounds itself with live-action sequences, believable sets, and barebone production design. This minimalistic approach highlights the storyline and the performances of the actors more prominently, enhancing the movie's raw, gritty charm. The storyline keeps you hooked, with twists and turns that make you question the characters' motives and challenge Serena's loyalty, morality, and identity.

While the movie does draw heavily on familiar themes, it does so with ingenuity and daring in its approach. The director presents a sophisticated narrative, intertwining different timelines, and making you question the nature of fate and the ripple effect of actions occurring in different points of time.

Serena and The Ratts successfully uses its limited budget to its advantage, delivering a gripping tale that raises thought-provoking questions about free will, personal identity, corporate control, and the complexities of time travel. Evalena Marie, Jonathan Thomson, and Dave Neal deliver credible performances that make their characters memorable, each bringing a unique dynamic to the script.

In conclusion, Serena and The Ratts is a must-watch movie for fans of science-fiction and thriller genres, intriguing for its intriguing exploration of the human morality entwined within a grim backdrop of corporate assassinations and time travel. Even though it's a low budget production, its strong narrative, coupled with noteworthy performances, helps it punch well above its weight.