Written by: Leigh Whannell
Starring: Logan Marshall-Green, Betty Gabriel, Harrison Gilbertson, Melanie Vallejo, Benedict Hardie
Rating: [4/5]
Technological advances present the opportunity to advance humanity in ways to make our lives easier, but as with all things in life, another shoe drops with the ripple effect it causes. It makes the overreliance on technology something to continually proceed with caution. Upgrade presents the perils of artificial intelligence’s fusion with humans and delivers such an exhilarating fun story spearheaded by an entertaining lead performance.
Following the tragic murder of his wife and his paralyzation at the hands of villainous men, Grey (Logan Marshall-Green) gets presented with the opportunity to have a chip named “STEM” implanted that allows him to regain his motor functions. As he begins to operate his body again, he learns STEM can speak to him and enhance his movements, which presents the opportunity for him to seek revenge on the men who caused this misery.
Quite the intriguing setup, Upgrade presents us with what it looks like for someone to have their bodies controlled by a piece of artificial intelligence in dark and comedic ways. At the heart of it, we have a man who wants to avenge the murder of his wife but currently does not have the physical ability to do so. With STEM he not only can process basic motor functions again but when he gives control to the system, he becomes a killing machine like no other. This upgrades his ability to enact what he never could before and did not have the power to do when he tragically lost his wife. An idea not particularly new but the execution of it in this feature makes the discernible difference in making this such an entertaining film to take in.
Much of the success rests on the direction of Leigh Whannel and the performance of Logan Marshall-Green. The latter does some exceptional physical acting through expression in the way he reacts to STEM taking control of his body in moments of peril. The initial fight sequence where STEM takes control shows Marshall-Green in shock and awe at what STEM does with his own body sets up this hilarious juxtaposition between what Grey’s body does and how he reacts to it. Marshall-Green truly sells this idea, physically, that his body and mind operate on different wavelengths. None of it feels silly and it looks great, which comes down to the lead’s committed performance.
In addition, the presentation would not work without the camera work by Leigh Whannell and cinematographer Stefan Duscio. The different pans and zooms demonstrate the hilarity and thrilling nature of Grey fighting with STEM controlling the wheel in ways that look unnatural but also plausible. In these moments these two flex their muscles which makes this fight choreography quite unique and something to appreciate but the world-building also helps immerse us in this futuristic world.
Set in 2046, this feature carries this cyberpunk aesthetic with several technological advances that surely our society will not emulate. It sets the stage for the type of world we’re entering and the dimly lit rooms in addition to the pops of color contribute to further establishing this world. Having Grey and his wife traverse through an automated car and the whole concept of a chip implanted in one’s spine set the stage for the further advances that get presented in this feature in such a cool manner. I mean, there’s a guy who has a gun in his arm that can load up and fire. Talk about a different interpretation of finger guns. It’s the little things that add to the coloring of this world and how the future views ways to further optimize the human body with a common theme of violence at the center of it all. As we go on this journey with Grey, we further delve into this world as we learn what other weird advances he encounters and how he must then fend them off if he will succeed in avenging his wife. It makes for a wildly fun ride and what ultimately makes this such an entertaining film.
Wildly imaginative in the world it establishes, Upgrade finds itself in an intriguing place in Leigh Whannel’s career. One of the most intriguing figures in Hollywood, his collaboration with James Wan has shepherded many enjoyable feature films but with this movie, he truly begins to make his own mark specifically as a director and in developing his own personal style behind the camera and not just in what he contributes through his screenplay in addition to acting. He makes quite the impression with what he does here through his visual style and energy but he upgrades even further with The Invisible Man highlighting he has established himself as a filmmaker to keep our eye on as we know what he crafts will certainly bring some entertainment value on top of some larger meaning.
Films with Josh 
