Upstream Color

erbp | Release Date: April 5, 2013

6.9	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 154 Ratings

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TVJerryApr 30, 2013

Almost a decade ago, Shane Carruth created "Primer," a low-budget sci-fi flick that developed a cult following for its complex ambiguity. This new one has a better quality look, arty even. It's edited with short cuts to keep it moving.Almost a decade ago, Shane Carruth created "Primer," a low-budget sci-fi flick that developed a cult following for its complex ambiguity. This new one has a better quality look, arty even. It's edited with short cuts to keep it moving. But…the plot is totally obtuse. A man and woman have been part of some kind of enigmatic experiment involving a worm. There's also a guy who walks around recording sounds and tending to pigs. And "Walden." If you like to feel hip and love to dig deep for meaning, you're liable to find it perfect. Otherwise, there's lots of interesting imagery with no easy payoff.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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duncan1964Mar 24, 2015

If you found Shane Carruth's first film, Primer, a tough watch prepare to be completely bamboozled by his second feature. The plot is...well unexplainable! It involves strange maggots, operations on pigs, hypnotic states and an unorthodoxIf you found Shane Carruth's first film, Primer, a tough watch prepare to be completely bamboozled by his second feature. The plot is...well unexplainable! It involves strange maggots, operations on pigs, hypnotic states and an unorthodox love affair. For most this will induce frustration and confusion and many aren't going to make it to the end, others will delight in its offbeat, hallucinatory structure. There is no doubt cart is a filmmaker of talent but if he gets any more obtuse he risks disappearing up his own arthouse orifice.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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RenovatiaOct 12, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Warning, this review will be very critical so read at your own discretion.

Upstream Color, kind of falsely classified as a Science Fiction, is a fantasy drama about two people affected by a mysterious blue substance which allows them to be manipulated in a trance like state. They are fed a ringworm which leeches of the consciousness of its human hosts. The victims are manipulated into handing over their valuables.

The mastermind behind all this is called "The Thief". There's an interloper though: a person called "The Sampler". He figured out how to manipulate these people as well, and does so for his own pleasure.

At a higher level this movie addresses free will, connectivity with each other and nature. It's about two people who try to better themselves. At tangible level you won't receive any answers. It's unknown what the blue substance is, which transforms the worm into a conscious-leeching insect. It's unknown how The Thief got hold on that knowledge, it's unclear how both The Thief and The Sampler control the minds of the infected people. It's unclear what The Samplers motivation is to aimlessly play with his victims. Again, at metaphysical level I could think of a few reasons, but metaphysics is not what I'm questioning. Not providing any of these answers in the slightest is cheap in my book. Especially when the director tags it as "Science Fiction" he's misinforming his crowd.

At deeper level, things do make sense to me. I understand the metaphor of the conscious leeching worm (see Spider Wasp for a good example). The pigs and their piglets, as connectors for our protagonists to behave like distressed parents when the piglets are murdered. I recognize the life cycle from water to plant to mammals to death to water again. Rinse and repeat and the mysterious blue substance is a vessel for that cycle. And I do recognize The Sampler for what he is: a binding entity between all the elements, spiritual and natural. And I do understand that our protagonists are bettering themselves by freeing themselves from their antagonists.

This movie, though unnecessarily slow, could have been very watchable for more viewers if only it would have been executed decently. The beer budget of $50,000 is not it. Even on that budget Shane Caruth (yes, him) could have purchased a few camera stabilizers. He didn't, so we're stuck with shaky-cam footage; very annoying and for me largely unwatchable, mostly because I simply don't want to. Then there are the cuts: supposedly artistic, but I rather call it frantic. For example too much zooming-in (along with shaking), cutting halfway through objects, and the usual cliché art-house pretentiousness.

Shane Caruth himself didn't improve on his acting since Primer either: it's the way he talks. Doesn't finish sentences, stops halfway and then restarts, lots of "uh", "ah" - which is his trademark by now I'm sure - and then finally he finishes the sentence (or simply doesn't). This is what art students do with their iPhone. It doesn't belong in a movie I'm supposed to pay for.

So there's that. The shaky-cam and idiotic zooming is the worst culprit of them all. In Primer, Shane Caruth admittedly made things artificially more complex by adding unclear origins of some parallel dimensions and by introducing a red herring. Now in this movie things are made more complex because of a technical awkward implementation. The sloth of the movie becomes a challenge too as implied earlier. It wasn't implemented artsy at all: we were staring at things for too long and too many dialogs were moot.

I simply can't recommend this movie to anyone unless you're a freak like me. Hence the rating of 4 out of 10, meaning it needs two full notches before it becomes decent to look at. Story wise it's nice though, but it won't save the movie. Not to me that is.… Expand

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amheretojudgeFeb 25, 2018

it is better than anything you have ever tasted..

Upstream Color Even though the concept or the attempt is admirable and plausible, the far fetched idea is so upscale and yet predicable that the rest of the suffering becomes redundant andit is better than anything you have ever tasted..

Upstream Color

Even though the concept or the attempt is admirable and plausible, the far fetched idea is so upscale and yet predicable that the rest of the suffering becomes redundant and results into the same repetitive slog. Upstream Color is not easy to write let along project it on screen but that certainly does not imply that its a good ride to have. Shane Carruth; the writer-director is barely focusing on the screenplay which leads to an exhausting experience for the viewers. Amy Seimetz and Shane Carruth definitely works hard but fails to impress anyone and lacks a good supporting cast too. Upstream Color has a great thought provoking concept but fails to execute it on screen due to lack of a gripping screenplay and better performances.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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DawdlingPoetNov 27, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is very much an arty sci-fi film, which seems so sort of bizarre and random/surreal at first that its hard to fully understand or get your head around. I liked it more after a while, with the two main characters speaking more and the use of light and airy instrumental/classical music adding to a sense (or atmosphere) of floatiness, that I liked. It's clear this is a film with a fair bit of symbolism and many sub-plots present but I'm not sure you have to entirely follow it all, to enjoy it. I would say the first three quarters of an hour were quite weird and not too re-assuring but as I say, it did end up appealing to me and I felt intrigued to see what more might come to light, to try and help explain some of the context to the viewer as time moved on. Suffice to say, this isn't a light and easy/simple watch. I liked that it's set in a pretty normal domestic setting, for the most part. I found myself thinking back to Okja, with the link between the pigs in this film and the humans. I'm not sure it's entirely about using animals for human food/greed though. I believe it's more to do with inter connectedness. This obviously won't be a film that will suit everyone, it features shaky camerawork and it is quite hard to fully follow, certainly on a first viewing but if your ok with the thought of multiple viewings and thinking through what was seen and how it different elements may link to others - if your a fan of films by the likes of Terrence Malick perhaps, then you may enjoy this on one level, yes. At a guess, I'd say this film is about fragility, vulnerability possibly and fate, plus the circle of life and death. It focusses on snapshots of elements of moments in time. I suppose its quite a sensory film, about the importance of touch (not in a sexual way, I hasten to add). This is certainly one of the most surreal films I've seen in recent years...and the final shot - that has to be symbolic!. I'd also like to point out that there is really quite little in the way of dialogue. I suppose its more about body language.

I don't think I'd especially recommend this film to any and everyone overall, as its fairly impenetrable on first watch but it's not an awful film, its intriguing in some ways...I feel it is a thoughtful film but it certainly isn't a film for everyone. If it sounds of interest to you, then yes, give it a go, otherwise perhaps not.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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