Upgrade |OT| I Asked For This [Open Spoilers]

More_Badass · Jun 3, 2018

This thread for reviews and non-spoiler impressions

RT: 85%
"Like its augmented protagonist, Upgrade's old-fashioned innards get a high-tech boost -- one made even more powerful thanks to sharp humor and a solidly well-told story."

Red Band Trailer
UPGRADE is a thrilling and hyper violent vision of the future from the producers of GET OUT and THE PURGE, and the creator of SAW and INSIDIOUS.
After his wife is killed during a brutal mugging that also leaves him paralyzed, Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green, SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING, PROMETHEUS) is approached by a billionaire inventor with an experimental cure that will "upgrade" his body. The cure–an Artificial Intelligence implant called STEM–gives Grey physical abilities beyond anything experienced, and the ability to relentlessly claim vengeance against those who murdered his wife and left him for dead.

Rolling Stone

There are good modern B movies – those films that still borrow the old termite-art terminology of back-half programming, because what does "double feature" even mean anymore, but have kept the phrase's shorthand description for guttery, grungy giddiness alive – and then there's Upgrade. There are sublimely ridiculous Robocop rip-offs and bottom-shelf Black Mirror outtakes, and then there's Upgrade. There are sci-fi parables that know how to meld tech-paranoia with body horror, and then there's Upgrade. There are films whose performances run the gamut from unbelievably charismatic to "Unclean! Unclean!", and then there's Upgrade. There are pulp pleasures that make trekking out to a theater completely worthwhile, and then there's Upgrade.Leigh Whannell's hi-fi, lowbrow gem from the House of Blum is exactly the sort of sick, satisfying Grand Guignol genre flick you want smuggled in among the big-ticket summer blockbusters right now. That title works on two levels.

AV Club

What rescues Upgrade from fading into the static of an overstuffed genre market is not only the comedic dynamic between Grey and STEM, but also some seriously impressive special effects—including a thrilling highway car chase that looks like it came from a film 10 times this one's budget—and Whannell's eye for dynamic, Wachowski-influenced action, which contrasts nicely with the dingy world-building from production designer Felicity Abbott.

Hollywood Reporter

That such '80s-era films as The Terminator and Robocop were an inspiration becomes instantly apparent in the latest directorial effort from Leigh Whannell (veteran of the Saw and Insidious franchises). Infusing its familiar dystopian sci-fi tropes with stylishly gonzo, low-budget filmmaking and inventive narrative flourishes, Upgrade proves far more entertaining than it has a right to be.

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dlauv said:
This movie kicked so much ass. Our tiny theater audience got vocal - me included. It's probably a better Venom movie than Venom will be.

Edit: Glad to see I wasn't the only one leaving the theater with that impression.

awilliams213 said:
Fun movie it felt like a black mirror episode that Paul Verhoeven got to write and direct.

Kinggroin said:
My take on it:
https://letterboxd.com/kinggroin/film/upgrade/

This film deserves it's own proper OT. Holy fucking shit what a gleeful indulgence in bleak science fiction action. Can't believe this came out of Blumhouse.

gagewood said:
I saw this movie today and it is awesome. Someone on letterboxd wrote, "2001 meets Robocop meets The Crow meets Blade Runner meets Her meets Death Wish meets Minority Report," which pretty much summarizes it. I'd throw The Matrix in there as well for the mood, hacking aspects, and the style of the fight scenes (e.g. Neo fighting Mr. Smith using one arm). I loved the vibrant colors in every scene. The plot is familiar but Upgrade is such a fun ride from start to finish

Ducarmel · Jun 3, 2018

Ducarmel said:
Cool movie for a moment I thought we were going to get one of those movie ruining endings, twist was good.

Movie title makes a lot of sense.

Cross post

Is this open spoilers thread?

sph3re · Jun 3, 2018

Well, this sounds incredible

Gatti-man · Jun 3, 2018

I have tickets and can't wait

kylecoley182 · Jun 3, 2018

It was great, definitely go in dark

Deleted member 9317 · Jun 3, 2018

Ducarmel said:
Cross post

Is this open spoilers thread?

Not yet (unless OP/OT states or changes?).

I'll definitely watch this soon.

More_Badass · Jun 3, 2018

Shao Kahn said:
Not yet (unless OP/OT states or changes?).

I'll definitely watch this soon.

Oh, right. Yeah, this can be a spoiler thread. The other one can be for reviews and tagged impressions. I ask the mods to add that to the title

MrBS · Jun 3, 2018

Not out until the 14th in Australia, really looking forward to it.

Kinggroin · Jun 3, 2018

MrBS said:
Not out until the 14th in Australia, really looking forward to it.

Aww that sucks. Not sure why I think this, but given the director is Australian, I had assumed it would open in his home country.

Anyway, I hope this is a sign of things to come regarding his future career in directing. Good stuff.

Chumley · Jun 3, 2018

This was really fucking good. The Deus Ex movie I never knew I needed.

VeryHighlander · Jun 3, 2018

Just came back from this. The action scenes were awesome, but there could have been a little bit shaven off especially in the middle. The ending was good, and it's surprising how similar it is to Ex Machina in retrospect

itwasTuesday · Jun 3, 2018

Tuesday.

Until then.

More_Badass · Jun 3, 2018

That was great. It reminded me of that Kevin Bacon movie Death Sentence (but more efficiently paced) wrapped in an equal-parts-cool-and-disturbing sci-fi story about AI. The action was slick, the effects and look of the future was well done, the pacing was good, and the humor was on point. Logan Marshall-Green worked really well here; I couldn't see Tom Hardy pulling off the violent physical comedy or making the lines and expresions as well as Green did.

AndreGX · Jun 3, 2018

Went in blind and loved it. Fantastically inventive action scenes and surprisingly funny. Not sure how I feel about the ending tho...

VeryHighlander said:
Just came back from this. The action scenes were awesome, but there could have been a little bit shaven off especially in the middle. The ending was good, and it's surprising how similar it is to Ex Machina in retrospect

Reminded me a bit of Matrix + Bladerunner 2049. Although the ending is a little Ex Machina esque now that I think about it.

VeryHighlander · Jun 3, 2018

Loved how Gray was moving around in the very end. So creepy. Wish they delved into STEM wanting to be human more. He should have asked Gray to show him how to drive or something. If STEM made up the entire revenge plot for Gray, it's like a reverse Ex Machina, but both AIs aiming for the same goal.

Jeff ChickenDig · Jun 4, 2018

Enjoyed it.

Crazy the level of movie you can make with a few million now.

Really only the car scene looked a bit tv budget.

Deleted member 3058 · Jun 4, 2018

I saw this movie tonight and I fucking loved it.

Loved the concept of the AI testing it's VR playground by inserting his wife into a few scenes here or there, each instance being more and more elaborate.

I expected the movie to be a bit heavier on the body horror side of things but was pleased that it didn't go the way I expected it to. Love that it ended with the rogue AI.

For those bringing up ~~Deus Ex~~ Ex Machina, there's some similarities there but STEM is IMO more malevolent.

Edit: had a tired brain fart moment.

More_Badass · Jun 4, 2018

I wonder if they used CGI enhancements in that final scene like in Westworld, or if that was all Green's physical acting. He really sold the creepiness of the AI taking full control, all through his body movements

Chumley · Jun 4, 2018

Gattsu25 said:
I saw this movie tonight and I fucking loved it.

Loved the concept of the AI testing it's VR playground by inserting his wife into a few scenes here or there, each instance being more and more elaborate.

I expected the movie to be a bit heavier on the body horror side of things but was pleased that it didn't go the way I expected it to. Love that it ended with the rogue AI.

For those bringing up Deus Ex, there's some similarities there but STEM is IMO more malevolent.

STEM itself isn't Deus Ex-like at all, but the framework of the movie outside of that made me think of it a bunch of times. Age up the kid who created STEM and change his personality a little bit, you've got Bob Page, and the main bad guy who killed Grey's wife was basically Gunther Hermann.

Like, you could do a sequel that's an even more direct 1:1 analogue of Deus Ex 1 after a timeskip with Grey/STEM as Icarus and a new character as JC Denton.

Deleted member 3058 · Jun 4, 2018

Chumley said:
STEM itself isn't Deus Ex-like at all, but the framework of the movie outside of that made me think of the game a bunch of times. Age up the kid who created STEM and change his personality a little bit, you've got Bob Page, and the main bad guy who killed Grey's wife was basically Gunther Hermann.

Whoops. Sorry, it's late here and I had a brain fart. I meant to type Ex Machina.

gagewood · Jun 4, 2018

Quoting from the previous thread:

Fuzzy said:
gagewood said:

Upgrade is a movie featuring a Tom Hardy lookalike who undergoes an experiment and finds himself with superhuman abilities controlled by an alter ego with whom he communicates.

Venom is a movie featuring a Logan Marshall Green lookalike who undergoes an experiment and finds himself with superhuman abilities controlled by an alter ego with whom he communicates.

:p

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

I just wonder if Hardy's stunt double did both films.

IMDb says LMG's stunt double was Rian Goodge (plus Warwick Sadler for driving sequences).

Also, it's great someone pointed out Ex Machina as another notable ingredient the melting pot of Upgrade. It's definitely more Ex Machina than 2001, at least in where the protagonist and AI are by the end. Of course, one could argue the AI in Ex Machina and Upgrade each was the protagonist all along. :p

Rufio · Jun 4, 2018

awesome movie. loved it. didnt see the twist at the end coming.

i was rolling my eyes towards the end when i figured aron was the one who set up everything for his chip. but then blamo it was the AI controlling him.

loved it.

Chumley · Jun 4, 2018

Ducarmel · Jun 4, 2018

The music sounded like it belonged in BR 2049!

More_Badass · Jun 4, 2018

I got the most Matrix fight choreography vibes from Grey vs Fisk towards the end, the fast perfect countering reminded me of Neo vs Smith

STEM reminded me of PoI's Samitarian, guiding everyone in pursuit of its larger objective with brutal efficiency. The biggest gutpunch was the "I don't need your permission" reveal IMO; for a generally more action b-movie tone, that moment and what followed was appropriately unsettling.

jmood88 · Jun 4, 2018

I already liked it leading up to the last few minutes, but the ending took it over the top for me. I didn't even know that this movie existed before I accidentally clicked on the trailer thread a couple of days ago, but it's now one of my favorite movies of the year.

Deleted member 3058 · Jun 4, 2018

More_Badass said:
I wonder if they used CGI enhancements in that final scene like in Westworld, or if that was all Green's physical acting. He really sold the creepiness of the AI taking full control, all through his body movements

Yeah, his acting through the actions scenes were a highlight.

That first fight scene in particular: he was simultaneously shocked, awed, and horrified. And you could see it on his face and through his voice as he was Neo-style wrecking that dude. Great physical acting, great choreography.

And that last light? Goddamn.

He really sold the concept.

Chumley said:

Ugh

LOVELY

hordak · Jun 4, 2018

Im gonna wait until Hotel Artemis opens this Friday and use some movie pass magic.

I might come out of the movie theater with some chest hairs!

shintoki · Jun 4, 2018

This has the best "twist" since Get Out. It packages everything nicely.

The film throws a lot of red herrings out at you. Initially with the Steve Jobs getting the bulk of them, but then STEM getting a few mid way thru like the car jacking. But while you're thinking it just wants to survive. The idea of the AI forcing him to do all these things to break him and revert himself inwards to fully take over was amazing. They divert it to the typical tropes of the business man or AI protecting itself, but an actual AI leading him on this dark, twisted path, to procure a body because he wants it for his next step in evolution.

Its a film you have to reevalute at the end, due to how it changes the entire perspective of the film.

Kirblar · Jun 4, 2018

More_Badass said:
I wonder if they used CGI enhancements in that final scene like in Westworld, or if that was all Green's physical acting. He really sold the creepiness of the AI taking full control, all through his body movements

He was walking like that all movie post STEM, it was never natural.

I'm so glad I didnt know the SAW writer did this cause I would have been looking for the extra twist and it caught me off guard.

Chumley · Jun 4, 2018

shintoki said:
This has the best "twist" since Get Out. It packages everything nicely.

The film throws a lot of red herrings out at you. Initially with the Steve Jobs getting the bulk of them, but then STEM getting a few mid way thru like the car jacking. But while you're thinking it just wants to survive. The idea of the AI forcing him to do all these things to break him and revert himself inwards to fully take over was amazing. They divert it to the typical tropes of the business man or AI protecting itself, but an actual AI leading him on this dark, twisted path, to procure a body because he wants it for his next step in evolution.

Its a film you have to reevalute at the end, due to how it changes the entire perspective of the film.

It's evil as fuck, like what the robots did to humanity in The Matrix. Just a really bleak ending that makes me want a sequel where someone tries to bring him down or Grey trying to take back control or something.

BWoog · Jun 4, 2018

I want a sequel, as unlikely as that might be.

One where Grey just "wakes up" and STEM has taken over the country or something.

More_Badass · Jun 4, 2018

Kirblar said:
He was walking like that all movie post STEM, it was never natural.

I'm so glad I didnt know the SAW writer did this cause I would have been looking for the extra twist and it caught me off guard.

The ending scene was like super robotic even more so than before. It was really weirdly unsettling, like watching up a animatronic, while before his movements looked like a human moving robotically.

More_Badass · Jun 4, 2018

Chumley said:
It's evil as fuck, like what the robots did to humanity in The Matrix. Just a really bleak ending that makes me want a sequel where someone tries to bring him down or Grey trying to take back control or something.

My brother was saying how it was simultaneously a happy ending and fucked-up ending. Grey gets to be with his wife in a happy life and STEM is completely in control.

Honestly, given Grey's comments throughout the movie...I don't think he'd want to wake up. He'd probably prefer a fantasy world where he can live with his wife

shintoki · Jun 4, 2018

Chumley said:
It's evil as fuck, like what the robots did to humanity in The Matrix. Just a really bleak ending that makes me want a sequel where someone tries to bring him down or Grey trying to take back control or something.

But here is the thing, The robots in the Matrix weren't "evil". Humanity did it to themselves. Robots responded. No different than Ex Machina where the machine just wanted to survive and be free.
Typically, Robots are written in a way that is either fairly "follow logic" or wanting to push past their human hosts.

This shit is just looking for a sack of meat to achieve its next stage in evolution. It takes a bit of both ideas, but combines it with a really nasty idea that the only thing needed on the human side is the body. Not the mind. To do that, it has to find a possible host, target it, manipulate dozens of people, etc. And then basically torture a human to mentally breaking, freeing up its mind. There is a reason why it was depriving him of sleep and saying his first pass was just a dream. STEM needed someone who could be psychologically manipulated and physically willing to do everything.

Its far bleaker than Matrix or Ex Machina that still ended as a downer, but not really bleak. It's bleakness is sort of like Devilman. That, I need a smoke after because life sucks ending. Though not as bleak as that. LOL.

More_Badass · Jun 4, 2018

shintoki said:
But here is the thing, The robots in the Matrix weren't "evil". Humanity did it to themselves. Robots responded. No different than Ex Machina where the machine just wanted to survive and be free.
Typically, Robots are written in a way that is either fairly "follow logic" or wanting to push past their human hosts.

This shit is just looking for a sack of meat to achieve its next stage in evolution. It takes a bit of both ideas, but combines it with a really nasty idea that the only thing needed on the human side is the body. Not the mind. To do that, it has to find a possible host, target it, manipulate dozens of people, etc. And then basically torture a human to mentally breaking, freeing up its mind. There is a reason why it was depriving him of sleep and saying his first pass was just a dream. STEM needed someone who could be psychologically manipulated and physically willing to do everything.

Its far bleaker than Matrix or Ex Machina that still ended as a downer, but not really bleak. It's bleakness is sort of like Devilman. That, I need a smoke after because life sucks ending. Though not as bleak as that. LOL.

Oh, that's good. I didn't catch that as something malevolent

Boxy Brown · Jun 4, 2018

This was fucking great. A true surprise

HP_Wuvcraft · Jun 4, 2018

That went from your typical action sci-fi to body/sci-fi horror really fucking quickly.

Holy shit, what a goddamn surprise.

thediamondage · Jun 4, 2018

Saw this today with zero info on what it was or anything going in, really enjoyed it. Felt very much like a Deus Ex Human Revolution prequel kinda movie mixed with a little RoboCop. Its crazy this was done on a under $10m budget, I'd love to see what the director and cast and crew could do with a big budget and something like a Deus Ex or Neuromancer or (was gonna say Altered Carbon) Snow Crash kinda setup.

Look forward to Blum doing more sci fi stuff, this worked really great I thought.

lazybones18 · Jun 6, 2018

So I saw the movie tonight. I thought for sure they would use the "guy who made you better was the real mastermind after all" twist, which is so predictable and boring it makes you wanna roll your eyes. And of course, they did. *yaw....

Movie: Nah, we're just fucking with you. The computer chip was in control of everything. EVERYTHING.
Me: What the fuck? :o
Movie: And just to stir the pot even further, let's fuck with you some more. Dude was dreaming this shit up the entire time
Me: :O
Movie: GOTCHA! The computer chip is in complete control of the main dude's body now. Main dude is gone mentally and physically, living in a happy ending in his own mind. Also, bye female cop. Can't have any loose ends *bang*

Me: Bra-fucking-vo *claps*

And I loved the violent deaths. Great movie

Gatti-man · Jun 6, 2018

Saw it and immediately wanted a sequel. One of the only movies that has good twists and an ending that's solid while also leaving huge potential for a sequel I'd want to see.

Dat Action. Dat Gore. Dat hand to hand goodness. Loved every minute of it.

More_Badass · Jun 6, 2018

Gatti-man said:
Saw it and immediately wanted a sequel. One of the only movies that has good twists and an ending that's solid while also leaving huge potential for a sequel I'd want to see.

Dat Action. Dat Gore. Dat hand to hand goodness. Loved every minute of it.

What would be the sequel? STEM as a villain protagonist exacting its plans, while Grey tries to regain control? I don't see how a sequel would work after such a definite ending like that. The villain won and the protagonist got what he wanted in a fucked-up happy ending. That it's so conclusive is part of what it makes it work so effectively

wenis · Jun 6, 2018

Great movie. Please no sequel.

Logan Marshall Green also deserves way more attention. If you want more material from him everyone should watch Quarry immediately. Easily one of the best shows of 2017 no one watched and was done a disservice by being cancelled after one season.

Ducarmel · Jun 6, 2018

lazybones18 said:
Movie: And just to stir the pot even further, let's fuck with you some more. Dude was dreaming this shit up the entire time
Me: :O

STEM only got full control of Greys body after the hacker, and only got full control of his mind after the struggle for control at Erons home.

Gatti-man · Jun 6, 2018

More_Badass said:
What would be the sequel? STEM as a villain protagonist exacting its plans, while Grey tries to regain control? I don't see how a sequel would work after such a definite ending like that. The villain won and the protagonist got what he wanted in a fucked-up happy ending. That it's so conclusive is part of what it makes it work so effectively

Stem as the main character fighting for survival in a human world would be easy enough. Why does gray have to be involved at all?

Also the hacker left and said "we can't let them win" maybe it could be the hackers against the upgraded and stem gets involved somehow. There is tons of possibilities.

Deleted member 1726 · Jun 6, 2018

Well that's some bullshit, I can't see any UK release date mentioned anywhere.

Film looks incredible.

More_Badass · Jun 6, 2018

Gatti-man said:
Stem as the main character fighting for survival in a human world would be easy enough. Why does gray have to be involved at all?

Also the hacker left and said "we can't let them win" maybe it could be the hackers against the upgraded and stem gets involved somehow. There is tons of possibilities.

What made Upgrade work so well was the dynamic between human and AI. Just having STEM loses all of that. If they did a sequel, ideally augemented hackers and whatnot would be the protagonists and STEM would be the villain.

Wonderbrah · Jun 6, 2018

Saw this movie on a whim last night completely blind (thanks moviepass) and so fucking glad I did. Go see this movie now. Don't watch the trailer. Just see it.

Gatti-man · Jun 6, 2018

More_Badass said:
What made Upgrade work so well was the dynamic between human and AI. Just having STEM loses all of that. If they did a sequel, ideally augemented hackers and whatnot would be the protagonists and STEM would be the villain.

That's fine. Stem doesn't even have to be a lead character. The world and stem are what is appealing to me. That's why I liked the ending it's final and yet wide open.

More_Badass · Jun 6, 2018

Wonderbrah said:
Saw this movie on a whim last night completely blind (thanks moviepass) and so fucking glad I did. Go see this movie now. Don't watch the trailer. Just see it.

That's my only gripe. I wish I hadn't seen that red band trailer

Upgrade |OT| I Asked For This [Open Spoilers]

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