Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!
Plot Summary: After his wife is murdered, and he is left quadriplegic, a mechanic is given an implant that makes him superhuman.
Review: Damn, this is going to be one helluva cult movie as time goes on. "Upgrade" is relentless action on top of an amazing sci-fi world that is built up masterfully without needing to explain anything; you simply accept this future as plausible. Considering this was fairly low-budget, I am surprised the filmmakers were this ambitious with their vision and succeeded quite admirably. Although parts of the story feel like a collage of things we've seen before, these plot elements come together in an original way. The acting is good, the music is amazing, and the story is captivating--my only gripes come from the ending and how that affects parts of the story leading up to it.
To briefly cover the plot...we have the main character, Grey, as a hands-on kinda guy in a future where things are increasingly automated. Grey and his wife get into a car accident that is followed up by Grey's wife being murdered and Grey shot in the neck, left a quadriplegic. I especially liked the presentation of Grey's misery under this life...it endears the audience to Grey and you want to see him get justice. Eron, a kind of eccentric genius and seemingly billionaire CEO or whatever, was a costumer of Grey and feels inclined to help Grey become whole again. Applying an advanced microchip implant, with accompanying AI (named STEM), Grey is able to not only gain all mobility but the AI can enhance every physical ability beyond the normal human limit. With a computer in his head and superhuman abilities, Grey tracks down the men that killed his wife and seeks revenge. What makes things more interesting is that these guys are ex-military that have had cybernetic augmentations of their own which includes guns embedded in their arms among other things.
The fights are fun and there is some crazy camerawork at hand along with commendable fight choreography. However, "Upgrade" isn't just a mindless action movie...the sci-fi aspects are given considerable attention and the film takes on an emotional tone as it goes on. The partner relationship between Grey and STEM is interesting as well as seeing how deep this futuristic world goes. It's worth mentioning that the filmmakers definitely included elements that could open up room for a sequel with the villains apparently having a little more going on outside the film's peripheral as well as a hacker hinting at a bigger picture and the tech companies having ulterior motives; these subplots are by no means a distraction though. Anyway, by the end, we, of course learn a few twists regarding Eron's assistance, why Grey and his wife were targeted, and the true purpose of STEM. In fact, I would say the movie transitions into sci-fi/horror in the last 10 minutes. I won't completely spoil the ending since I want people to go out and see this movie.
As for my problems with the film, the most glaring issues concern how the story comes full circle. I do love when writers do that, but it doesn't completely work. I did like the hints to STEM creating a virtual world for Grey subtly with those alleged dreams that Grey says felt too real. Likewise, I did notice Eron wearing the earpiece...I just figured that was supposed to be their world's cellphone. Unfortunately, STEM running the company all along and wanting Grey is too farfetched and impractical for an AI to scheme. Plus, it's implied that Eron and Grey only met a handful of times. It's just too much of a stretch. In fact, making Eron and Grey have such a minor relationship was a misstep. It would have been better if Eron felt like he owed Grey something or admired him in a way. Furthermore, Eron only having a couple goons to protect him was nonsensical since he's supposed to be extremely rich and powerful. I could really spend a lot of time nitpicking the ending and how Eron being a pawn and STEM controlling the company makes little sense, but I don't want it to sound like the ending is bad, because it's pretty damn good and scary at the same time.
All things considered, "Upgrade" is one of the most impressive low-budget movies I've ever watched. The filmmakers accomplished so much and were able to do things with their world-building that huge studio films can't come close to creating. Everything from the simplistic set designs and eerie music enhances the film's tone and establishes a believable possible future. Grey is one of the best every-man characters I've seen in a long while, and I was fully in support of his revenge. I'd love to see this material continue in a sequel where we can get more context to those subplots and hopefully see Grey return. I'd highly recommend this movie with the mere caveat that not everything fully adds up by the end which kind of hurts the overall presentation.
Notable Moment: When Grey and Fisk fight. Great choreography, intensity, and truly impressive all around.
Final Rating: 7.5/10
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