Made on a shoestring budget, filmed in limited locations, and featuring only four actors, Timecrimes is a gripping science-fiction romantic Spanish thriller written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo, who also plays a leading role in the film.

Far from the city, a married couple, Héctor (Karra Elejalde) and Clara (Candela Fernández), are living an idyllic life. One day, Héctor catches sight of a woman(Barbara Goenaga) in the woods taking off her T-shirt. She suddenly disappears from view. Curious, Héctor walks to the area where he saw her and finds her lying naked but still breathing in the woods.

Suddenly, a mysterious stranger attacks Héctor, stabbing him in the arm with a pair of scissors. Wounded and pursued by the attacker, Héctor flees to an abandoned building. As evening turns to night and darkness descends, he breaks a window to enter the building and finds a walkie-talkie. Using the device, he hears a male voice guiding him along a pathway illuminated by ground lights.

He eventually enters another building, where he encounters a scientist (played by Nacho Vigalondo). The scientist warns Héctor about the assailant and instructs him to get into a large contraption. Héctor complies, and the scientist locks him inside. Soon, Héctor is submerged in a mysterious liquid. After several minutes, the contraption opens, and Héctor emerges—only to find that the scientist no longer recognizes him.

The scientist explains that the contraption is a time machine and deduces that Héctor has traveled an hour into the past. Héctor soon sees his past self with his wife, Clara.

Against the scientist’s advice to stay put and allow events to unfold naturally, Héctor steals a car and drives to the location where he saw the woman undress. However, a large van collides with his car, forcing it off the road. Injured, Héctor is unexpectedly assisted by the very woman he saw earlier.

I’ll stop here to avoid spoiling the rest of the story, but suffice it to say that there are plenty more twists before the plot reaches its unpredictable conclusion.

Timecrimes proves that a great movie doesn’t require an extravagant budget. All it takes is talented actors, a solid screenplay, and well-defined characters. Scratch that—just one well-defined character. Héctor, brilliantly portrayed by Karra Elejalde, is the film’s focal point, while the other three characters, including Vigalondo’s scientist, serve mostly supporting roles.

Héctor is a complex figure. At first, he seems like a loving husband, but his attachment to his wife borders on obsession. His true nature emerges when he sees a past version of himself with his wife. Overcome with jealousy, Héctor cannot tolerate the idea of his wife being with another man—even if that man is himself. He becomes his own worst enemy, his own nemesis.

In the film’s final act, Héctor evolves into a hero, willing to do whatever it takes to protect his wife, even if it means changing the past and confronting himself.

Timecrimes boasts a brilliant, intricately constructed plot by Vigalondo. Even more remarkable is his choice to entrust Karra Elejalde with the role of Héctor, which he executes masterfully. This movie is a must-watch for all thriller fans.