Kevin & Matthew McManus return with another signature sci-fi story, exploring the existential ramifications of humanity coming up against something beyond their understanding or control. In their previous feature The Block Island Sound (2020), a family struggles to grieve the slow-progressive loss of their father to dementia while also coming to terms with the existence of an Alien conspiracy. Similarly, their sophomore effort, Redux Redux, follows a grieving mother utilizing the multiverse to kill her daughter’s murderer over and over and over again. We all grieve differently.Â
Michaela McManus (The Block Island Sound) stars as Irene, a tough-as-nails woman whose only purpose in life is to see her daughter again. And she is prepared to go great lengths to make that happen. With the help of a multi-dimensional travel device, she moves from one universe to another hunting down the serial killer (played byThe Ranger‘s Jeremy Holm) that murdered her daughter. She’s gotten very good at killing him, but she’s found no solace. Her grief has completely consumed her but worse than that, after years of doing this, she has yet to encounter a universe where her daughter is still alive.Â
After making an unlikely friendship during her jumps, Irene begins to rethink her decisions and re-evaluate how destructive her grief has become. Meditations on grief these days in the Horror space is about as common as grave dirt. That said, the McManus’ multiverse approach adds a new avenue for exploring the hollow repetitive feeling of searching for meaning in a meaningless existence. Where Redux Redux (and The Block Island Sound) really shine is in their presentation of high-concept science fiction storytelling with limited resources. They don’t need giant explosions or million effects to build their worlds. The stories they tell are isolated, contained, and personal.Â
Dialog is the main ingredient in these films, but that isn’t to say that they don’t have good action. Because she has a fairly convenient escape pod, Michaela McManus is pretty much always in a shootout, and actor Jeremy Holm has the good fortune of being a mean of a bitch AND getting killed on screen a dozen times. In a variety of ways! The momentum of the story often takes a bit of a backseat to plumb the depths of its emotional core but it’s pretty upfront about its dour tone.
“Redux Redux is a classic sci-fi that prioritizes story over spectacle, and gimmicks over good ideas,”
In respect of its characters, there is very little fun to be had. The movie never wants you to forget the tragedy that kickstarted this interdimensional quest for revenge, but it’s loaded top to bottom with great cinematography and raw performances, including an appearance from indie film crusader Jim Cummings (The Wolf of Snow Hollow). Nevertheless, Redux Redux is a classic sci-fi that prioritizes story over spectacle, and gimmicks over good ideas, which is what we all come to indie film for.
The McManus Brothers’ Redux Redux celebrated its World Premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival. Click HERE to follow our continued coverage of the festival and be sure to let us know how you would misuse the multiverse in the official Nightmare on Film Street Discord!
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