Upgrade — A body without control

Spoiler-free review.

The main problem is the man’s internal conflict. He gets mobility back via an AI chip, but we don’t really see his emotional journey. Logan Marshall-Green does the heavy lifting, but his character doesn’t show much vulnerability or change. The film moves quickly, but the emotional parts feel rushed and don’t connect well with the main character’s story.

The visuals are all neon and cyberpunk, but the film doesn’t really dive into what the genre is about. Betty Gabriel does a good job, but her character doesn’t have much to do in the bigger picture. The dialogue is more about explaining things than building real relationships.

Harrison Gilbertson adds some tension as the bad guy, but his reasons for acting the way he does aren’t clear. The film tries to mix action with deeper thinking, but it doesn’t keep both up for long. The AI’s voice is a nice touch—it gives a different perspective that contrasts with the main character’s situation.

Even with its problems, Upgrade has a good idea and some exciting scenes. But it doesn’t really make you care emotionally, so the impact is just on the surface. It relies too much on flashy moments instead of deeper ideas, which stops it from being a truly thoughtful sci-fi thriller.

2018 · English. Film details

— Desly