One of the most enjoyable aspects of any time travelling film is the concept of our heroes inadvertently inventing something crucial to modern society. It almost feels like a waste of an adventure if they don't do something to influence the future, even if they don't have the foresight or in depth knowledge of patent law to get the credit for their inventions. But think about it: if you had the opportunity to go back to a more primitive time, it would be next to impossible to avoid using your future knowledge to contribute something to their society. Realistically, it's totally possible that a good 40% of the cool things we have nowadays are the result of some stealthy guy from the future, helping the metaphorical cavemen discover fire. For example, the other day Motorola got FDA approval for an Edible Password Pill, which uses stomach acids to emit a specific signal that can be detected by your electronics, making you the password. Come on. You know no one from 2014 came up with that idea. At any rate, the concept of the accidental timey-wimey invention is an undeniable crowd pleaser, starting off as a gag but developing into one of the most tried-and-true tropes of the genre.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
