Primer
2004 · 77 min · Director: Shane Carruth, Shane Carruth
Show plot summary (may contain spoilers)
Engineers Aaron, Abe, Robert and Phillip are working on an invention, the prototype being built in Aaron's garage. This project is beyond their day jobs. The project truly does belong to Aaron and Abe, as they use all their free time working on it, primarily trying to overcome the many engineering related problems they've encountered. It is during one of his tests with the invention running that Abe discovers that a protein inside the main unit has multiplied much more rapidly than it could in nature. Rather than the invention being a protein super incubator, Abe, using himself as a guinea pig, and a very meticulous one at that, discovers that the invention can be used as a time machine. In his self experiment, Abe was especially careful not to interfere with his own self in that time warp. Abe passes along this discovery to Aaron, who he expects will tell his wife Kara in what is the sanctity of their marriage, but he doesn't want to tell either Robert or Phillip. Much to Abe's surprise, Aaron does not want to tell Kara, it being a sole intellectual property of just the two of them, in the process moving the base of operation to a locked storage unit. Aaron's plan for the two of them is to use the invention to win big in the stock market by knowing through the time travel what has happened in the market. With two thoughts on the matter now instead of just one, Aaron and Abe may hit some logistical and philosophical roadblocks in how to move forward.
Emotional fingerprint
Primer (2004) — Movie. Top emotional signals: Confusion 35%, Curiosity 22%, Anxiety 20%. Source: AI estimate. Shares describe emotional signal, not percentages of people. Your experience may differ. How we measure
AI estimate · no viewer votes yet
How we measure
AI estimate
Share of emotional signal, not the percentage of people or a probability of enjoyment.
Each viewer contributes one response, split equally across their selected emotions. When available, an automated estimate supplies a prior that is blended with those responses. Counts include distinct viewers, not automated estimates or archived anonymous votes. Fewer than 3 viewers is an early estimate; more responses do not guarantee certainty.
Why it feels this way
The strongest emotional signals are Confusion, Curiosity, Anxiety. Genres: Thriller, Drama, Sci-Fi. AI estimate.
Is it worth watching?
Consider this title if you are looking for Confusion, Curiosity and Anxiety. Its IMDb rating of 6.7/10 suggests a generally positive audience reception. For these leading emotions, its Feel Score is 70/100.
How did it make you feel?
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Pick up to three · 0/3
Emotional journey
- Curiosity
- Tension
- Confusion
Not enough subtitle evidence
No dominant emotion
Dominant emotion: Curiosity
Dominant emotion: Tension
Dominant emotion: Confusion
Dominant emotion
| % | Approximate minute | Dominant emotion | Overall intensity | Curiosity | Tension | Confusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 % | ≈ 2′ | Curiosity | 32 % | 32 % | 11 % | 15 % |
| 7.5 % | ≈ 6′ | Curiosity | 35 % | 34 % | 15 % | 19 % |
| 12.5 % | ≈ 10′ | Curiosity | 39 % | 37 % | 26 % | 20 % |
| 17.5 % | ≈ 13′ | Curiosity | 44 % | 42 % | 31 % | 22 % |
| 22.5 % | ≈ 17′ | Curiosity | 47 % | 46 % | 25 % | 29 % |
| 27.5 % | ≈ 21′ | Curiosity | 50 % | 50 % | 24 % | 34 % |
| 32.5 % | ≈ 25′ | Curiosity | 58 % | 57 % | 30 % | 38 % |
| 37.5 % | ≈ 29′ | Curiosity | 61 % | 61 % | 37 % | 38 % |
| 42.5 % | ≈ 33′ | Curiosity | 59 % | 56 % | 43 % | 34 % |
| 47.5 % | ≈ 37′ | Curiosity | 56 % | 51 % | 43 % | 29 % |
| 52.5 % | ≈ 40′ | Curiosity | 52 % | 47 % | 37 % | 27 % |
| 57.5 % | ≈ 44′ | Tension | 54 % | 42 % | 43 % | 27 % |
| 62.5 % | ≈ 48′ | Tension | 53 % | 37 % | 47 % | 28 % |
| 67.5 % | ≈ 52′ | Confusion | 48 % | 38 % | 43 % | 34 % |
| 72.5 % | ≈ 56′ | Curiosity | 55 % | 48 % | 50 % | 41 % |
| 77.5 % | ≈ 60′ | Tension | 63 % | 55 % | 56 % | 46 % |
| 82.5 % | ≈ 64′ | Curiosity | 64 % | 54 % | 55 % | 46 % |
| 87.5 % | ≈ 67′ | Tension | 68 % | 49 % | 61 % | 41 % |
| 92.5 % | ≈ 71′ | Tension | 66 % | 44 % | 61 % | 37 % |
| 97.5 % | ≈ 75′ | Confusion | 59 % | 42 % | 49 % | 37 % |
Riches to rags
Rags to riches: The emotional tone rises from negative to positive.
Riches to rags: The emotional tone falls from positive to negative.
Man in a hole: The tone falls, then recovers.
Icarus: The tone rises, then falls.
Cinderella: The tone rises, falls, then rises again.
Oedipus: The tone falls, rises, then falls again.
AI reading of the film’s English subtitles (dialogue and sound cues) — not viewer votes. How we measure ↗
Kadri — your film companion
AIAsk anything about Primer. From the film’s own dialogue and FeelDB data, at your spoiler level.
Afterward Reveal viewer responses · may contain spoilers
Viewer responses about feelings after the title ended, separate from feelings while watching. No AI estimates.
0 responses so far
Feeling details appear after at least 3 viewers respond, to protect privacy.
Cast
Aaron
Philip
Kara
Metalshop Worker
Man On Couch #1
Man On Couch #2
Hostess
Rachel Granger
Thomas Granger
Laney
Aaron's Co-worker
Clean Room Technician
Laboratory Technician
Will
Will's Cousin
Rachel's Date
Translator
Seth Pool Party Guest
Details
- Directed by
- Shane Carruth, Shane Carruth
- Written by
- Shane Carruth, Shane Carruth
- Type
- Movies
- Released
- 2004
- Runtime
- 77 min
- Country
- United States
- Ratings
- Feels mostly
- Confusion
- Data updated
Where to watch
Rent
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