The best way to describe “Circulation,” if it were being touted to a major DVD distributor would be in the vein of “Wristcutters” but more on a focus of re-incarnation with a twist of mysticism. The world our characters Gene and Ana are in is a world that’s much different from ours. Sure, it looks like Earth, but in a way they’re in a plain of existence that they’re not completely aware they’re in. Gene seems to know that he’s in a state of re-incarnation, making a journey to another life and a whole other form, but isn’t sure what yet, while Ana is so focused on her duty to her abusive boyfriend, she doesn’t know that her journey will end as Gene’s. “Circulation” may be too slow and elaborate for folks expecting a more insightful journey, but director Ryan Harper’s film is enough of a well made existential road drama that it’s interesting, even when it has a tough time selling me on the story and characters.

Some of the visuals here are successfully surreal with stark tones of read splashed along the California landscape, while Harper digs into the reincarnation themes with a keen eye, and interesting sense of visuals and editing. The journey to live on in a new form provides us with some interesting confrontations as Gene battles with other humans learning how to live as the animals they will have to become, and they find themselves adapting to their new forms slowly, as well. Ana begins to take the form of the caterpillar through eating leaves, wearing heavy green, and wandering around, while Gene begins to become the predator, always hunting and preying on his enemies, and displaying an aggression with the increasingly meek Ana. The performances from Yvonne De La Rosa, and Sherman Koltz are strong and keep “Circulation” moving at a steady pace. Even with the language barrier between them, the chemistry is always volatile.

Even at ninety eight minutes, there were instances that sorely tested my patience and threshold, as Harper’s film can tend to ramble on at certain points. Though he doesn’t intend to hold our hands that only leave “Circulation” to be quite confusing and disorienting. I often had to rewind certain scenes only to gain a full perspective on what was occurring before me, and even then I was a bit hazy. “Circulation” moves at a slug’s pace, and while that can be a positive, it’s also a definite caveat that threatens to hurt the film at many turns.

Ryan Harper’s “Circulation” will be a very hard film to sell to audiences who won’t expect a slow boiling spiritual thriller based around the elaborate concept of re-incarnation and purgatory, especially when it has definite caveats. But for those willing to give it a chance, it’s a strong opus.

• For more information on "Circulation," visit the official website.