Review by Claire Hoenecke

Upgrade is a totally fine movie as long as you don’t think about it for too long.

Upgrade follows Grey Trace, played by Logan Marshall-Green, a mechanic living in a futuristic world where computers perform most daily tasks. After an attack that leaves him paralyzed from the neck down, Grey must put his distaste for computers aside when a computer implant, called Stem, restores his mobility. What follows is a basic revenge plot and a predictable twist that makes sense as long as you don’t think about it too much.

The film sets up a fascinating futuristic world with constant drone surveillance, humans with computer implants, and a large portion of the population put out of work by machines, but all of this is merely the backdrop for a basic plot centered on an average protagonist. The film briefly touches on many futuristic creations but does not elaborate on any of them. Even Stem, the focus of the film, is still a vague piece of AI by the end of the film.

What Upgrade lacks in its story, it makes up for in its technical elements. The camera work often resembles the style of a video game, which reflects how Stem controls Grey’s movements. Logan Marshall-Green as Grey moves in a stiff yet smooth fashion that is consistent with Grey’s condition. This movement carries over to the fight scenes when Stem takes full control over Grey’s body transforming him into an efficient weapon and stripping him of his humanity. The fight choreography coupled with unconventional camera work gives the film the suspense that its plot fails to deliver.

Rating: 5/10

Upgrade is rated R for strong violence, grisly images, and language.