Upgrade Review

Upgrade is one of those movies that I wish I had seen in theaters on the big screen. I had seen advertisements for it and was interested, but it didn't get a wide enough release so I didn't get a chance. But I still saw it on demand because it was still something I wanted to see. I say this because even though I liked it, I felt all the action and stylized shots would have looked better on the big screen.

The film takes place in the future and follows mechanic named Rey who's world is turn upside down when he gets shot and his wife is murdered. Now paralyzed, a millionaire offers to help him by installing a special chip in his neck that will let him walk again and enhance his body. The chip works but he then finds out that it has a mind of his own and talks to him. With the AI's help he hunts down the men who killed his wife, and discovers more about what it has been done to his body.

I like this movie because it feels like a call back to the violent action movie of the 80s like Terminator and RoboCop, and we don't see those that much anymore. While it's a call back to those old sci-fi movies it also has it's own unique style that keeps it interesting. A lot of scenes are lit in bright neon colors that help bring out it cyberpunk feel. The action scenes are also uniquely filmed by the why the camera move and turns with the action. This helps bring the audience into the action more. All of these things help give the film new but familiar look.

At first the film starts to look like every other sci-fi but it does still manage to give you something new. The future world and all the technology have been done before but I think that helps some of the new elements stand out. The story, at first, looks like it is going in a predictable direction but it manages to surprise you at the end. It even puts a twist on the helpful AI trope that we have seen a lot of in sci-fi movies.

While I may not have enjoyed it as much as I thought I would, Upgrade is still an entertaining movie that mixes classic sci-fi action with new styles. If you want to see something familiar but different I would say check it out.