Movie Reviews

[SXSW ’25] ‘Redux Redux’: Revenge story is a vicious cycle

The cycle of revenge.

March 9, 2025

Redux Redux is a risky take on the revenge story. Irene Kelly (Michaela McManus, The Orville) travels through parallel universes repeatedly killing her daughter’s murderer. Mechanically, she goes through each location and takes out her prey before moving on. When she comes to one universe, her routine is disrupted by a chance encounter. This causes her to rethink what she has been doing and her own humanity.

Vengeance and multiversal travel do not seem like a good combination. One usually involves a deeply emotional tale involving deep moral decisions while the other is about fantastic adventures in odd timelines. Inevitably, one part becomes less important than the other.

This is never an issue in Redux Redux. The McManus brothers (writer-directors, The Block Island Sound) are able to seamlessly merge together both elements by always keeping the focus on the characters. There are some scenes involving crossing universes, and the film does not shy away from violence, but it never loses its emotional core.

[SXSW '25] 'Redux Redux': Revenge story is a vicious cycle

(The one extended scene that is solely science-fiction is probably the weakest part of Redux Redux. It comes out of nowhere and has little bearing on the plot. The montages involving Irene’s kills are very effective, however. They are used sparingly and are some of the most powerful visuals.)

The writing does an excellent job of building its main characters. What Irene has decided to do is unhealthy and the toll it has taken on her is written on her face and mannerisms. As things progress, it becomes more clear how much it has affected her. While she initially wants little to do with Mia (Stella Marcus, The Return to Why), their meeting is also what helps her come to some realizations.

Everything builds to a tension filled finale. The strength of the script is put on full display. There are no loose ends (a common problem with time travel/multiverse stories) and the whole thing has a real sense of closure. Redux Redux brings together some surprising elements in a powerful film.