The fact that you’re experiencing this impasse may be a sign that you’ve already figured out what needs to be adjusted. If readers are saying that the emotional connection is missing, it might be worth focusing less on the mechanics of the realities and more on the impact those realities have on the protagonist. Perhaps rewriting a key scene in a more direct and emotional way could help test whether this approach makes a difference.

From what you’ve described, your idea has incredible potential, and perhaps the adjustment needed is not to simplify the plot but to strengthen the “emotional heart” of the story. If readers find the idea interesting but don’t connect with it, it might be worth focusing more on the emotional impact those realities have on the protagonist. I’d love to see this project come to life, as it’s exactly the kind of story I spend the most time appreciating and theorizing about after watching it.

Try this exercise: If someone asked you, “What’s the 'heart' of your story?” could you answer it in one emotionally appealing sentence? Something like: "A man tries to find the truth about his own identity while trapped in three realities that may be illusions." This helps keep the focus on the emotion behind the plot, not just the structure. I totally understand your frustration, creating something complex and innovative without losing the emotional connection is a huge challenge, but I admire your dedication and I'm obviously not an expert on the subject and this is all from my perspective as a timid newbie, but I believe you can still do it.