We're onto that point that creators will be immersed with so much creativity and intelligence that sometimes power and common sense can be overlooked. Are we on the way of creating artificial intelligence that could potentially threaten the human race? Well, I hope not. I hope not too soon. But, this movie makes me question whether artificial intelligence controlling humans is a good idea and after watching this, I do not think so. Nevertheless, we have yet another revenge movie that has the feel of a B-action thriller that is fun and also creative that it never lets go of the thrills and keeps you guessing what will happen to its main character.
Sometime in the future, Grey Trace (Logan Michael-Green), a mechanic, is living with his wife, Asha (Melanie Vallejo), in a home where everything is controlled by technology. Grey takes Asha to a secret location to meet his client, Eron Keen (Harrison Gilbertson), regarding a powerful computer chip called Stem that could prove to be revolutionary in the fields of science and medicine. On their way home, their self-driven car malfunctions and seems to be hacked as Grey and Asha are injured and taken by four goons, led by Fisk (Benedict Hardie). Grey is shot in the spine as Asha is killed (it's not a spoiler as it is in the trailer).
Grey is left as a quadriplegic. As he is adjusting and suffering in the hospital, Grey meets Detective Cortez (Betty Gabriel), who is investigating the case. The authorities are working over the case, based on surveillance drones over the scene of the crime but they have no leads. Grey is greeted by Eron, who offers him a chance to walk again if Grey allows him to put Stem in his back. Initially reluctant, Grey signs an NDA and goes through the procedure. Grey hears a voice in him and it is Stem (voiced by Simon Maiden) and he helps Grey track his wife's killers.
I would not be surprised that this is going to be one of the overlooked movies of the summer because it is a movie that is targeted to the hard-core action fans or revenge fans and it delivers. This movie was fun. It is a standard revenge story that is a bit challenging and complex as it is about a character who is not that techno-oriented and as you can see as his character is suffering, Grey sort of blames it on the advanced technology that impacted his life and his wife's. However, the movie tackles the theme of power surrounding Grey and another character that I cannot spoil but it impacts the plot. There are a lot of twists and turns along the way especially towards the end that I did not see coming and it pays off.
Logan Marshall-Green gives a very solid performance as a man who is inhabited with bitterness, power and rage that it is not identical but a bit reminiscent to Harrison Ford's character of Rick Deckard from both Blade Runner movies. Except for the loneliness, Deckard does have the power and rage, and to add, experience, of tracking the Replicants down whereas Grey is tracking down, except for the experience but with the addition of technology, the people who killed his wife. It would be an interesting double feature with this movie and Blade Runner or Minority Report, which it is about a father coping with the loss of his son and his marriage. I think Betty Gabriel, who you might recognize from Get Out as the maid, is good as the detective. Also, Harrison Gilbertson is fine as the inventor.
Director Leigh Whannell, who is known for producing and writing the Saw and Insidious movies, takes his crack at sci-fi action movie of attempting to take a standard revenge story and turn into something a bit meaty and tense as we follow the character to make his stand against the killers. There are plot holes in the story that does not hurt the experience but it is a bit questionable once you think about it. However, this is a fun sci-fi action revenge story that will keep you glued onto the screen, experiencing both the visuals and the character development that is almost a throwback to the 80s and 90s action movies that we do not get as much anymore.
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