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Upgrade (2018) N
Yet another film that I'm inclined to label as "The Outer Limits scifi" because they basically feel like an episode from that series stretched to movie length.
In near future computer integration has gone quite a bit further that it's now: many cars drive themselves, houses are run by computers and there is even implanted technology á la cyberpunk. In this world a technophobe called Grey is paralyzed from neck down during an attack that leaves his wife dead. He ends up having an experimental chip implanted on his neck that allows him to function again. With his new abilities he begins to investigate the attack.
First of all Upgrade is extremely predictable because it follows the "The Outer Limits" formula to the letter. Other than that the story's premise is quite alright but there's lots of details that annoy in a film that attempts to be hard scifi (like Stem's inability to make Grey move naturally instead of the Robocop impersonation we get). Also the final twist (if you can call it that) doesn't really bear scrutiny.
Upgrade looks better than these low budget scifi films on average. Stem's fight scenes are stupid but it's more of a script issue. Effects are good enough and few glimpses of graphic violence work well. Acting is pretty good and the overdone stiffness of Grey/Stem is again more about writing and directing.
I don't get the few raving reviews I've seen for this as to me Upgrade feels like a standard low budget scifi that has nothing to make it memorable. It's not bad but I doubt I'll remember much of it in few months.
Yet another film that I'm inclined to label as "The Outer Limits scifi" because they basically feel like an episode from that series stretched to movie length.
In near future computer integration has gone quite a bit further that it's now: many cars drive themselves, houses are run by computers and there is even implanted technology á la cyberpunk. In this world a technophobe called Grey is paralyzed from neck down during an attack that leaves his wife dead. He ends up having an experimental chip implanted on his neck that allows him to function again. With his new abilities he begins to investigate the attack.
First of all Upgrade is extremely predictable because it follows the "The Outer Limits" formula to the letter. Other than that the story's premise is quite alright but there's lots of details that annoy in a film that attempts to be hard scifi (like Stem's inability to make Grey move naturally instead of the Robocop impersonation we get). Also the final twist (if you can call it that) doesn't really bear scrutiny.
Upgrade looks better than these low budget scifi films on average. Stem's fight scenes are stupid but it's more of a script issue. Effects are good enough and few glimpses of graphic violence work well. Acting is pretty good and the overdone stiffness of Grey/Stem is again more about writing and directing.
I don't get the few raving reviews I've seen for this as to me Upgrade feels like a standard low budget scifi that has nothing to make it memorable. It's not bad but I doubt I'll remember much of it in few months.