Code 8 (2019) Review!!

Synopsis – A super-powered construction worker falls in with a group of criminals in order to raise the funds to help his ill mother.

My Take – It’s hard to comprehend that after eight long years The CW series ‘Arrow’ revolving around the DC Comics character Green Arrow is finally coming to an end in a few days. A series which augment into a shared superhero TV universe by adding various more shows into its roster.

However, while the success and the quality of these shows can be easily debated, there is no doubt about how it also managed to put most of its relatively unknown actors on the map, especially cousins Stephen and Robbie Amell. Who are now rightfully using their relative stardom to launch a new franchise, which they can call their own.

Initially produced as viral short film back in 2016, which served as a teaser and sales pitch for a feature-length film, the Amells were able to successfully crowd-fund through Indiegogo, were they surpassed their initially target of $200,000 and produced a film boasting of a budget of $29 million.

Though I am not sure what audiences expected to see, but personally I found this one to be quite a decent standalone sci-fi thriller, which while presenting a story consisting of rather familiar arcs and themes, is rather handled well to warrant a watch. While the film might not have the polish of a big studio production, yet, retained director Jeff Chan is able to expand on the short by successfully managing to deliver a grounded and realistic world, which is different from the typical superhero genre.

Resulting in a well-made and convincing sci-fi treat that tells a solid, complete story with some honest to goodness earned moments of authenticity. With plenty of fast paced and exciting action sequences, emotional drama and a fresh look at a society developed through the use of superpowers, this is a film with a lot to offer fans of the genre.

Taking place in an alternate reality where 4% of the world’s population are born with super-powers, allowing them to do everything from read minds to manipulate electricity or, in rare cases, even heal other people physically. While the rest of the world are initially open to their abilities which facilitate a Manufacturing Revolution, it also leads to the creation of machines. Upon realization that machine can replace their functioning, the specials are cast out from everywhere, leading to severe unemployment rates, and eventually massive chaos.

In the current time, the story follows Connor Reed (Robbie Amell), who lives in a crowded metropolis called Lincoln City with his sickly single mother Mary (Kari Matchett). Being a powered individual, Connor is forced to scrounge for work especially at construction sites, mainly due to the continued discrimination by the government, who are now also using drones and autonomous robots to support the police and keep their kind in check.

Deep in debt, and unable to pay his mother’s stacking medical bills, Connor agrees to carry out high-paying jobs with Garrett (Stephen Amell), a super powered criminal who works for Lincoln City’s most infamous drug lord, Marcus Sutcliffe (Greg Bryk). But when Lincoln City cops Park (Sung Kang) and Davis (Aaron Abrams) connect Connor to the bank heist he recently carried out with Garrett and his crew, Connor begins to find himself in deep danger from all sides.

As I previously mentioned, the story is built of arcs and themes which are routine enough, and feels like an amalgamation of sci fi themes including second-class citizenship, feared supernatural ability, and over-militarized police state. Running for about 98 minutes, the film doesn’t quite explore its world as much as you’re curious about. It uses news montages and bits of exposition to give you as much as you need to know. But with a refreshingly new take on familiar concepts, the film manages to tell a worthwhile story with both a high entertainment value as well as remarkable social awareness.

By containing it to a local affair, director Chan lets the film be a brisk, lean ride that feels honest and heartfelt. Yes, it’s ambitious, but does not get ahead of itself. Though plenty of relation can be made between the issues presented in the film and modern society, you don’t feel as though any messages are being crammed down your throat or any attempt to imprint a version of morality on you. Here, the film attempts to condense all of social injustice into the film, including topic like automation, police brutality, the opioid crisis, gentrification and economic inequality in the discourse.

The excesses of the police force was particularly effective, and the drone officers serve as a particularly terrifying glimpse of the near future. However, the most valued possession of the film is probably the special FX, cinematography and production design. For a film of this budget it looks admirably awesome, the style is on-point and contained, and the subtle use of power at a ground level make it all the more believable as things escalate to battles in the street. There are no capes and cowls, just people with power since births trying to make ends meet in a world that suppresses his talents.

However, where it stumbles is by the inability to effectively using its talented supporting cast. There’s no exploration of Park’s character, an oversight that could have been alleviated if his partner wasn’t the archetypical agent of chaos willing to cross the boundaries into illegal activity so long as the bad guys were put behind bars. The film’s choice to almost entirely focus on the triumvirate of Conner, his mother, and Garrett is not a bad one, but the material preset to expand on Park’s story, particularly that of Park and his powered daughter, would have been an extremely positive addition to the narrative.

The same goes for the film’s primary antagonist, Marcus, who despite the ability to read minds, comes out as vanilla. The same can be said for Nia (Kyla Kane), a healer caught up in this shady world through no fault of her own. A problem which can be probably addressed in the recently announced follow up Quibi series.

Nevertheless, the Amells make capable leads. Robbie Amell gives a solid performance, and he’s able to make you sympathize with him and his situation. Stephen Amell is perfect for the role of Garett, a leader of a criminal group who is looking for a bigger slice of the pie in the underworld. Even though Amell is the star in the Arrow series, he takes a step back in the film, allowing Robbie to shine.

Where the Amells carry the heaviest load, Sung Kang is decent enough as the strong, thoughtful, and honest Park. Despite their poor characterizations, they are ably supported by Kari Matchett, Greg Bryk, Aaron Abrams, Kyla Kane and Laysla De Oliveira. On the whole, ‘Code 8’ is a decent indie sci fi film which uses its gritty and grounded take to deliver most of what it promised.