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Total Recall

Unlike the other movies on this list, Total Recall actually refers to its central twist as “a mindf*ck.” It goes like this: Arnold Schwarzenegger is an average, everyday family man living in the far-off future of 2084. One of the benefits of living in the future is that instead of going on an expensive vacation, you can get the memories of a vacation implanted in your skull – and these memories can even be exciting and dangerous adventures. That’s the option Arnie goes for, but it all goes awry when the dangerous adventure turns out to be real – or does it?

Well, Mr. Elliott has a bit of a dark side, the inhabitants discover as they find a gun to go along with his sordid past. Despite their reservations, they reluctantly believe his claim that a deadly affliction has wiped out much of the earth, forcing the trio to quarantine themselves in their cabin.

First time director Carl Tibbetts seems to have found a winning formula here. The minimalistic sets do a good job of fostering tension and claustrophobia. Also jarring is hearing Mr. Murphy speak with a brogue. He’s been in so many American films recently, I felt we had naturalized him. Nope. Still Irish.