There’s a reason for trepidation when one sees a film that’s written, produced, and directed by the same person, doubly so when it’s someone you’ve never heard of. Although I reserved judgment until the very end, that feeling of being in for a rough ride started in the very first scene for me. I held on until the Nazi scientist started “explaining” things, at which point I got up and grabbed a BIG cup of coffee, just so I could finish. By that point, the campiness had worn off, and I was hoping for it to end. But oh no, there was another half hour (!) to go. This is the part of the movie I’d like to call the “death by talking” phase.
The soundtrack adds a bit of inappropriateness-induced hilarity to an otherwise snoozy script here and there, so there’s that, I guess. It’s also amusing that the film’s auteur, Russ Marker, wrote the music and lyrics to Leave Me Alone, the only titled song present. Gotta love it when a movie feels like it’s imploring you to go away in the first 20 minutes.
Overall, The Yesterday Machine is entertaining, or perhaps I should say amusing, even if for all the wrong reasons. If you’re like me, and can enjoy low-budget Z-grade stuff, it’s worth the free viewing. But if a traveling salesman knocks on your door, don’t be afraid to pause it.
