A sci-fi thriller about immortal warriors that struggled to find its own identity
In short: Directed by Antoine Fuqua, this 2021 action film explores a secret society of individuals who retain memories of their past lives. Despite a high-concept premise involving reincarnation and global threats, the production faced significant delays and critical backlash, ultimately bypassing a traditional theatrical release for a digital debut on Paramount+.
The film centers on Evan McCauley, a man struggling with schizophrenia who discovers he is part of a group known as the Infinites. These 500 individuals possess total recall of their previous incarnations. The group is split between the Believers, who aim to improve humanity, and the Nihilists, who seek to destroy all life on Earth using a weapon called the Egg. The narrative follows Evan as he attempts to recover his memories and stop the Nihilists from triggering a global catastrophe.
The project's origins trace back to a 2009 self-published novel, The Reincarnationist Papers, by D. Eric Maikranz. Seeking a film adaptation, the author offered a commission to anyone who could secure a Hollywood producer. This unconventional approach succeeded when a junior executive discovered the book in a Nepalese hostel. The resulting screenplay, written by Ian Shorr and Todd Stein, eventually caught the attention of Paramount Pictures in 2017.
Production was marked by significant turnover and logistical challenges. Chris Evans was initially attached to star, but scheduling conflicts led to his departure, with Mark Wahlberg eventually taking the lead role. Filming spanned multiple international locations, including Mexico City, Scotland, and Nepal. The project faced further complications due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced Paramount to cancel the planned theatrical run in favor of a streaming release in June 2021.
Upon release, the film was met with harsh criticism. Reviewers frequently compared it unfavorably to genre staples like The Matrix and Inception, citing a derivative screenplay and uninspired performances. With a low score on aggregators like Rotten Tomatoes and multiple Golden Raspberry Award nominations, including Worst Picture, the film was widely panned. Critics described it as a disjointed collection of action tropes, and The New York Times ultimately named it one of the worst films of 2021.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Infinite (film)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-infinite-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
