Does anybody know if string theory was around when this came out? Could the writers have been influenced by this? It's nice to think of this as unlocking the great mystery of the universe and "God". Humans must come together and form a great understanding of one another to solve very complex issues. Obviously it has taken from the Twilight Zone, but there's a greater influence as well. Either way this is a good movie that isn't your run of the mill viewing experience.
shareString Theory ( as a possible 'Theory of Everything") has been around since the 1960's, although it has been refined and has spawned multiple connected ideas since then.
The themes clearly include philosophies of the universe and existence as well as philosophies of societies and human interaction. This film is very intelligent, and when interpreted allegorically, is fascinating but also a bit mind-bending and creepy.
It's interesting that the one who survives is the one who is not trying to solve the mystery. He is used as a tool by the others to solve the riddle, but he seems to lack the capacity to make meaning out of the situation (he is just brilliant with numbers, which is invaluable to those that are able to make meaning out of their circumstance). Perhaps this means that we tarnish the experience of living by over-analyzing it and compulsively trying to make meaning out of it. Meanwhile, the ones who are rewarded at the end of the journey are those who simply experience it without clouding it with speculation and meaningless interpretation.