UPGRADE review by Mark Walters – Logan Marshall-Green becomes a killing machine

UPGRADE review by Mark Walters – Logan Marshall-Green becomes a killing machine

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We’ve certainly seen our share of revenge thrillers come out of Hollywood, so the only natural next step is to incorporate technology and take it more in the direction of Science Fiction. The new film UPGRADE feels like a hybrid of several movie genres, including Sci-Fi, horror, action and drama. It isn’t content to just try one thing, but instead blends different concepts into something new and fresh, and the end result is rather brilliant. This is the brainchild of writer/director Leigh Whannell, who co-created the SAW and INSIDIOUS franchise with James Wan, only this time this is 100% his baby. And like those other popular film series, this movie takes familiar material and gives it a new and interesting spin.

Set in the near future, the movie opens by introducing us to Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green), a sort of old-fashioned guy’s guy who works on “classic” cars and resists technology. His wife Asha (Melanie Vallejo) works for a big tech company, and spends her day on business calls and riding in her self-driving car. The two are very much in love, but also very different with their lifestyles. Grey takes her to meet a client he’s built a muscle car for named Eron (Harrison Gilbertson), a Steve Jobs-esque developer who lives underground and is constantly working on next level inventions. His latest work is called STEM, a small tech chip that is said to do amazing things for its intended human counterpart. After leaving this meeting, Grey and Asha are attacked in a dark alley by several masked men. Asha is killed and Grey is left paralyzed. As time goes by, Grey battles depression and anger, and seems to have no real quality of life left. The detective working on his case, named Cortez (Betty Gabriel), seems to have no leads and has made no arrests. One day Eron visits Grey and offers him an alternative… STEM, promising Grey that it could help him re-gain control of his body and independence. Grey eventually agrees, and finds the surgically-inserted technology to be incredible. And there’s an added surprise – STEM talks to him, like a voice inside his head. It isn’t long before STEM is pointing out to Grey how to find the men who killed his wife, and even suggesting Grey go after them with his help. Nervous but still angry at the lack of justice, Grey starts to track them down, and finds STEM to be a big assist when encountering them one-on-one. Now he’s become judge, jury and executioner, but one can’t help but wonder who is really controlling who.

When it comes to revenge flicks like DEATH WISH, JOHN WICK, PAYBACK or even the classic GET CARTER, one thing that is often left out or overlooked is the idea of one’s moral doubt. Sure, the bad guys deserve to die, but would you have the ability to go through with killing them? And if you didn’t, could you watch someone else do it? Now what if it was you doing it, but you weren’t in control? These are the questions that define the heart of UPGRADE and elevate it past the normal expectations of a revenge story. The character of Grey is heartbroken at the loss of the woman he loves, and he very much wants to see justice done, but he had already checked out mentally… he was done, he just wanted his life to end, and then STEM comes along and keeps it going. How do you process that? It makes for a very interesting narrative. And Logan Marshall-Green plays it beautifully, from the plucky grease monkey existing in a world he’s not flowing with, to a caring lover, to a tortured widower, and finally an insecure killing machine. It’s one of the most interesting action heroes in years, especially in that this is a guy who doesn’t want to be an action hero. The villain of the piece, a psychotic figure called Fisk with weapons implanted into his body, is played masterfully by Benedict Hardie, looking like a Hitler-esque crazy-eyed soldier in plain clothes, and in some ways being the only character in the film that is truly comfortable with who they are… and that’s a scary thing. Betty Gabriel is also good portraying the well-meaning detective who can’t seem to catch a break, and now has to shift her focus on who the vigilante is doing her job for her. Harrison Gilbertson does a fine job portraying the shy scientist who is so deep in his work that he’s lost his own sense of humanity, a sort of hi-tech Dr. Frankenstein archetype… he’s the one character I wanted more of, as I think there was story to be told there, but the action has to keep moving along. And I can’t leave out the voice of Simon Maiden as STEM, which is perfect in every way. I’m actually glad it was a voice I wasn’t familiar with, but it’s so fitting for the character.

Everything about UPGRADE is smart, it’s slick and confident in its presentation, and has surprises around every corner without ever feeling flashy. Even the pulse-pounding score by Jed Palmer feels perfect and matches every scene with a masterful touch. Leigh Whannell has shown he knows how to do a lot with a little, and craft a clever genre piece that will leave viewers impressed and surprised. The action sequences are dizzying and spectacular, taking hand-to-hand combat to new and unexpected levels. This is a production released by BH Tilt, a division of the Blumhouse Studios brand, and BH Tilt specializes in films made for under $5 million… which is amazing, as UPGRADE has the flare and feel of a much bigger production, and in several ways is more inventive and pleasing than most of the current blockbuster superhero fare hitting theaters these days. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, or know how it’s going to end, it throws you yet another curve ball. I’ve been fortunate enough to see it twice now thanks to test screenings, and I loved it both times. Tell your friends, make plans, don’t miss this one.

And here’s the less violent green band version of the trailer:

UPGRADE opens June 1, 2018

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About the Author

Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff.