“Go To It!”
“[…] This sci-fi drama, written and directed by Michael Bachochin, is a heavy exercise in "things are not as they seem." It has a polished look, but takes a while to get going, and we in the audience may be excused, I think, if we initially find Naomi's blank unresponsiveness as frustrating as Lucas does. Gradually, however, the movie does take hold, generating a quiet, moody sense of the sunlit SoCal sinister.”
4/5 Stars
“[…] The ambiguity makes this film interstellar–much like Chris Nolan’s film. A lot of what she’s going through gets explained, but I have to wonder if the sequences of events she’s experienced resulted from her imagination shutting down or something else? There may be another reason, but saying too much can destroy the wonderful exposition at the film’s end.
The science fiction elements are all theoretical. It’s a product of what quantum physics is currently postulating on, and what we can do to “travel” there. This art house style film will have the intellectuals talking about it until writer and director Bachochin reveals all in this film’s eventual home video release.”
63/100%
”[…] Parallax is similar to movies like Jacob’s Ladder (1990) and the Matrix, where the very fabric of reality can’t be trusted. There’s not a lot on the surface that will pull in viewers; it doesn’t have the appeal of a midnight movie that can be enjoyed in a room full of thrill seekers. Those who do choose to watch it will have to be patient through the first half, and remain concentrated in the second half. I’d say it’s better to watch during the day or in the evening with a partner, so that you can bounce theories about what’s happening off each other, while also shutting up during pivotal dialogue when certain details are revealed.”
“Michael Bachochin has been working as a writer and producer for almost 10 years, but returns to the director’s chair for his second feature film, Parallax.
Centered on the character of Naomi, a woman who wakes up in a life she has no memory of, it’s a film with multiple levels.
We spoke to Michael about the film, his inspirations for Naomi and where he plans to go next." […]”
“[…] I think the director has shown himself in possession of a definite voice and vision and a willingness to experiment and try things that may or may not work, and will probably have a lot more to say in the future. I’m looking forward to what may come next.”
3/5 Stars
“[…] All I can say is that you should pay CLOSE attention to the details in Parallax. All of them. Because there is a thin line between what is and what isn’t real and that is where the science fiction aspect of this meditative movie comes into play. Be prepared to go deep. […]”
“[…] Another allegory for ‘living a lie’ in some respect would have just been another allegorical film in a long line of them, but Parallax does far more than that. When it really begins to unfold and move in new directions, it rewards your attention. Above all, it has a clear sense of aspiration, and that really does mark it apart from a whole host of other indie movie projects.”
4.5/5 Stars
“[…] This is a very small project, one wisely weighted by its dialogue rather than superfluous visual effects to try and fool us into something it’s not. It is heavy science fiction brilliantly disguised as an existential headtrip that builds to a labyrinth of questions that takes some effort to understand. That will surely keep some at bay, but this is a movie carefully crafted for fans of a specific genre, uninterested in exposition and straight lines. That goes a long way in earning Parallax its cryptic and troubling end where anything goes.
Highly recommended.”
“[…] And thanks to a very sure directorial effort that doesn't give into spectacle and instead keeps the film's underlying mood throughout, this all still seems like a homogenous whole that's carried rather beautifully by the ensemble's understated performances, all of which makes up for a very unusual genre experience.”
“[…]but the mind-tripping material is worth making the effort. This is ultra-micro-DIY filmmaking, but it is built around some smart writing and intriguing concepts. It is a promising statement from an emerging filmmaker, but genre fans should be ready to pace themselves during the early going. Recommended for fans of scrappy indie science fiction[…]”
3/5 Stars
“Trying to explain exactly what Parallax is about is slightly complicated. It can be written in simple terms but that just wouldn’t cover the half of it. Parallax is a complex movie with lots of ideas, some of which I will try to explain – even if I didn’t necessarily understand them all!”
3/5 Stars
”Parallax is a film that should be watched, nevertheless, to support the ideas and dedication of independent filmmakers to bring diversity to the genre. It should be watched because it is the debut film of praiseworthy merit. Michael Bachochin can become an interesting voice in cinema in the future to come. He has the quality and a vision that is waiting to reveal its potential.”
3.5/5 Stars
“[…]Even so, Parallax is one of those films that may require multiple viewings to really get the full scope of it. Like Fight Club, Inception, or any of the other aforementioned films, misdirection and ambiguity are staples of this type of sci-fi. Bachochin’s film has these things in spades and should have viewers catching new things in subsequent go-rounds. With additional viewings, the overall score may very well go up but this seems like a good starting point. Michael Bachochin crafts an effective, compelling, and overall original science fiction tale despite an abundance of influences. Parallax is a constant enigma in which viewers will always be longing to see how deep the proverbial rabbit hole goes.”