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I went into this movie having no clue what it was about and wasn't expecting much, but I loved it.

There are innumerable movies with huge budgets that simply fall flat, and Upgrade, with a Budget of around $5,000,000, which doesn't cover the cost of catering on some of these huge budgeted flops, honestly looked like it cost a lot more than it actually did.

Intelligent script, good action, very few unnecessary scenes, and though I thought it was sure to let me down, a very good ending.

And although I have seen much of Logan Marshall-Green's work and was never a huge fan, he does a very good job here.

Recommended.

I'll give this film credit for putting a fresh spin on the overdone revenge film. The action is very unique, while also evoking memories of the Wachowskis' work on The Matrix. I really enjoyed the Vangelis-esque score used throughout. It helped create that dark, futuristic atmosphere necessary for the story. Even if you think you see where the story is going, it manages to go in unexpected directions. Between the cool concept, great sets, and dark themes, Upgrade is just that, an upgrade to the typical revenge action thriller.

Through and through this movie felt like a longer episode of black mirror. The production was higher and the cinematography was really cool. I could see how the stabilization lock on his head during fight scenes could make some people dizzy, but I thought it was a unique way of doing things. Some of the acting was sub-par during the casual interactions, but I thought the plot and action made up for it. It's thought provoking in the way Black Mirror is and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys that content and doesn't mind gore.

This film is basically "Robocop" meets "Death Wish", with less satire than the former and more humor than the latter. And it's a B movie blast. An unrelenting pace, fantastic fight choreography that doesn't skimp on the gleeful blood and gore, and never not fun or interesting to look at.

Yeah some of the one-liner dialogue as delivered by Logan Marshall-Green feels a bit forced and the plot isn't exactly clever or unique, but damn it, it all works and it makes it's own beautiful alchemy out of a bunch of borrowed parts. This is cheap genre filmmaking done right.

Probably worthy of a bigger production as it's a great science fiction story with comedy action and a few twists.

One of those pleasant surprises that you don't expect in an unknown film, I've seen far worse more well known and promoted movies, worth a view.

Brilliant.

This movie is proof that you don't need all the special effects in the world to make an amazing sci fi movie. This is low budget done right (think Ex Machina).

I signed up to IMDB to review this movie, I was that impressed. I see tons of people making that remark about films but honestly, this movie is unbelievable and for any sci fi fan out there, you need to watch this.

I went in blind, no trailer, no knowledge of the movie what so ever and I would advise you do the same.

The plot is simple, it's a revenge story that's been done countless times, yet it feels so fresh, acting Is slightly suspect throughout the first 10-15 minutes but the story will grip you, be patient.

Honestly, I don't want to give anything away so just watch this movie.

9.5/10

Easily my favourite sci fi for a LONG time.

Enjoy.

After watching this movie you will realize how bad every other major sci-fi has been in the past several years. This is a film with an excellent story, great cast, direction is on point, and the sci-fi is well developed. The gore is in your face ;) but it adds style to the movie and depth to the plot which one realizes later in the movie.

A classic to remember. Look forward to seeing this again.

I think that many of the reviews below have already summed this movie up quite well. It's a standard revenge movie, but with a sci-fi twist and some incredibly impressive fight scenes. It's well-paced, well-acted, has a solid script, and the plot is more interesting and complicated than you might think from seeing the trailers alone.

One other thing I really liked about it was the director's vision of the near future. With a few little exceptions (like how a computer chip in your neck can make you defy physics and stand up without bending any limb) the world here is very believable and depicted in such a way that was visually appealing without going too far as to make it look too flashy to be realistic.

Don't let the fact that this was made by someone who directed one of the Insidious movies bother you either. This is wayyyyyy better than any of those movies. Director/writer Leigh Whannell has really found his footing here and delivered a movie that's highly entertaining and doesn't pull any punches.

This movie has a plot that we have already seen in many movies, it's a mix between "Robocop" and "The Crow", so let's say that something was very predictable except for the ending that in my opinion was unexpected. One thing I really appreciated were the fight scenes that use a very particular camera movement that gave the right power and importance to the blows, scenes shot really well. I loved the performances of everyone, especially Benedict Hardie and Logan Marshall-Green. Highly recommended film, it may not be the most original thing in the world but it has its strengths.

Upgrade is unfortunately in the club of great movies that completely flew under the radar when first released. But that might actually work to its advantage, as this is definitely one of those movies where the less you know going in, the better. The only reason I was aware of Upgrade is because of writer/director Leigh Whannell (Saw, Insidious), and the fact I'd heard plenty of great things from friends who'd seen it. The film takes the all-too-familiar premise of a man looking to avenge the murder of his wife, and puts an interesting new sci-fi spin on it. Whannell clearly loves the classics, because Upgrade's influences are easy to spot - RoboCop, Blade Runner, Dredd, Death Wish. They've all been thrown in a blender, and what comes out is something that feels like its own movie, while also paying tribute to everything that inspired Whannell to become a filmmaker in the first place. Upgrade is violent, thought-provoking, funny, surprising, with some terrific fight sequences, an awesome soundtrack, and a dynamite performance from Logan Marshall-Green. I also get the feeling I'm gonna love it even more the next time I watch it. Highly recommended for fans of sci-fi/action.

Upgrade blends action, sci-fi, and cyberpunk to explore a chilling future where technology becomes both a tool and a weapon. The story follows Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green), a man left paralyzed after a brutal attack that kills his wife. When a tech billionaire offers him a chance at a new life through an experimental implant called STEM, Grey embarks on a journey of vengeance. However, what begins as a personal quest for justice soon evolves into a battle for control over his own body.

At its heart, Upgrade challenges the boundaries between humanity and machine. The film delves into the ethical implications of cybernetic enhancements, questioning whether augmenting the human body for convenience or revenge truly improves one's life-or strips away what makes us human. Grey's relationship with STEM, which begins as a means to reclaim his agency, gradually becomes a haunting symbol of technology's potential to dominate and manipulate, offering viewers a glimpse into a world where control is given up in exchange for power.

The film's exploration of loss, identity, and the clash between free will and artificial intelligence offers a compelling reflection on how far we are willing to go to regain what we've lost-especially when technology offers us a tempting, though dangerous, solution. As Grey struggles to maintain control over his actions while grappling with the autonomy granted by STEM, the film poses the unsettling question of how much of ourselves we are willing to sacrifice in exchange for power and control.

Upgrade invites viewers to consider the future of human augmentation, posing a critical question: if technology can enhance our abilities, should it also take away our humanity?

'Upgrade' takes up many familiar dystopian sci-fi tropes and fuses them into a generic revenge-action movie. And if you came for the action there is a good change you will like this film. The fighting scenes, involving a combination of (slightly overpowered) superhero physics and grindhouse-like violence, certainly look spectacular, especially considering the low budget. However, if you, like me, came for thought-provoking sci-fi you will probably be disappointed. It's not that it totally lacks great ideas, on the contrary. By touching on too many interesting topics (humanity's increasing dependency on technology, governments and companies experimenting on humans, and, of course, the rise of Artificial Intelligence) you could even argue that the makers bit off more than they could chew. What remains is a cyberpunk action flick that never really goes into depth.

The same can also be said of its main characters, all of which seem to lack any emotional complexity. Even the non-enhanced humans in the story often seem to act robotlike. This especially applies to Eron, but also to Grey, who, even though he is supposed to represent humanity in a world dominated by technology, is practically emotionless throughout the entire movie. The underlying problem here seems to be the pace of the film. With a first act taking up no more than ten minutes, the film takes absolutely no time to develop the main characters beyond the archetypes of the "stubborn technophobe", "brilliant but anti-social inventor", and the "happy-go-lucky wife". Not to mention the machine-hybrid cliche supervillain, who is especially hard to take seriously. The limited time you get to spend with these characters makes it even harder to genuinely feel for them as the story unfolds.

The film, however, does succeed in bringing to life a dark, grim and empty world that feels painfully familiar and realistic - a sheer contrast with the characters that inhabit it. A scene, for example, that clearly stood out for me was the one with VR-junkies in the worn-out apartment building; it beautifully captured the blurred lines between the "real" and the "fake" that we increasingly seem to experience in everyday life. But even during these rare brilliant moments, the film felt rushed and overshadowed by action sequences. Admittedly, the ending was pretty surprising, but this could hardly compensate for structural flaws of the film. All in all, I found it an unfulfilling experience.

What an unexpectedly brilliant movie. Lots of laughs, some moments that I almost couldn't look, fabulously different story line, last minute surprise ending, car chases, and brilliant fight scenes.

Upgrade greatly exceeded my expectations: truly entertaining, and remarkably well produced. Great acting by the lead character. Stylistically speaking, it's perfect: very good cinematography, amazing fight choreography, beautiful scenography and music, perfect CGI, and the overall "feel" of the atmosphere. Only 5 millions were spent. Often, you will not find that attention for scenography and CGI in Hollywood productions. In the end, it's a little nice movie with a standard plot that nonetheless got me hooked: it got more and more entertaining, and then some more. There are many cliches, but that's a plus: when the director is good, having a cliche smoothly inserted into the story is pure fun. Each of the main events has a reason to be and a nice explanation (sometimes, it's quite original), so that the story never really feels that "standard". There are just a couple of minor holes here and there, but nothing like what you will read in some reviews: infact, the structure is perfectly logic, and if part of the audience doesn't pay attention, that's not movie's fault.

Ps: forgot to mention... I realized I never saw a movie depicting cyber-bio-implants or whatever. Blade Runner does not, Ex-Machina does not, Strange days does not. This movie finally does.

It was an absolute cinematic feat that Leigh Whannell made this film with just $3 million and it looks and feel like it made with at least $100 million.

I went into this with fairly low expectations. The trailer looked good, and the cinematography looked exciting. But the premise seemed tired and worn.

*in a deep, movie-voice over voice* some guys kill his wife, and now he's seeking revenge".

But this film surpassed my expectations, and was a well-worth experience. Not only was I correct about the cinematography being exciting and engaging, but the plot actually strung together compelling way. This film came out of nowhere for me, and now, it's a memorable film that accomplishes the most important goal of any great film: gets the audience to keep wondering about it.

Since I don't want to go into spoilers, I'll say one last thing: pay attention to the Foley artist's work. The sound design is poignant and additive to the experience. It reminds me of the clever usage of music from Baby Driver. Nothing is wasted and is always enriching of the world building. With Baby Driver, the music was giving us Baby's personal experience. Here, the sound effects give us Grey's point of view. Didn't experiences, but both are elevated through sound, masterfully.

I genuinely want to see it again. If the trailer interested you at all, go see it. It's worth your while.

Leigh Whannell's Upgrade feels like the type of film made for Netflix; a sort of mid-level science-fiction story constructed around one intriguing idea, and bulked up with elements from other, better genre movies. It's also the type of film I would consider for a few seconds whilst flicking through my Netflix queue, before opting for something else with a more compelling premise. Set in the very-near future, the film's main hook comes from a game-changing microchip that, when surgically planted in a willing - or unwilling host - allows body and foreign body to communicate with each other. Of course, it doesn't stop there. The implant can also turn down your nerve endings so you don't feel pain, and - with the host's permission - can fully operate your body and turn you into a hand-to-hand master. This comes in handy for grease monkey Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) when the plot demands he seeks revenge on some baddies.

As well as possessing one of cinema's all-time most ridiculous names, Grey spends his time fixing classic muscle cars and drinking beer. This near-future is complete with iHomes and self-driving cars, but Grey is far more comfortable getting his hands dirty. His wife Asha (Melanie Vallejo), on the other hand, works for one of the big tech companies and has fully embraced this new digital, hands-free world. Opposites do attract however, and Grey invites his wife along to the isolated home of tech genius Eron Keen (Harrison Gilbertson), his most high-profile customer. Eron, who is clearly inspired by Elon Musk, is withdrawn, strange and undeniably brilliant, and also eager to show off his latest invention: a microchip he dubs "a new, better brain." On the journey home, their car experiences a catastrophic error, sending the couple down dark streets before crashing and overturning. Injured, they are then preyed upon a gang of masked criminals, who murder Asha and cripple Grey. Waking up paralysed from the neck down and understandably angry, Grey is offered a solution when Eron makes a rare public appearance at the hospital.

If all of this sounds familiar, it's because you've seen it before in countless other movies. Upgrade's greatest achievement is that it doesn't make you wish you were watching something else, and instead pulls you along into its world. This is mainly down to some spectacular action scenes, which combine well-choreographed hand-to-hand fighting with some nifty camerawork, which bends and turns along with Grey as he dishes out violence with a look of both confusion and excitement splashed cross his face. There's something hilarious about a body acting independently of the face, and Whannell wisely chooses to play up these moments. Marshall-Green is often unfairly referred to as a bargain-bin Tom Hardy (who is currently dealing with his own parasitic second personality in Venom), and while he fails to convince as a leading man, he's clearly enjoying himself. Produced by Blumhouse Productions, who churn out huge hits with incredibly modest budgets, Upgrade is infused with a grainy, B-movie aesthetic that give it an exploitation vibe and slightly grimy feel. I mean that as a compliment, and it's a shame that the excitement generated by the outrageous action scenes couldn't be replicated in the generic beats of the main story.

It's an action-packed Sci-Fi/Horror thriller that's also clever and original (and even has a few laughs).

The above sentence describes both Upgrade and The Terminator, but Leigh Whannell diverged from James Cameron's masterpiece in remaining faithful to his horror roots till the very end, delivering one of the most haunting and thought provoking finales in recent years. So with that in mind, it's no coincidence that some astute reviewers are likening Upgrade to Black Mirror, just as The Terminator was likened to another Sci-Fi horror anthology, The Outer Limits. But despite the comparison to James Cameron's masterpiece, or Black Mirror, Leigh Whannell's 'Upgrade' is very much its own thing. It's masterful in its own right.

The setup of the movie is pretty straightforward, involving a man trying to recover from the horrible attack that made him a quadriplegic and took the life of his beloved wife. From that point forward the plot of the movie goes in some expected directions, and some really unexpected directions, pulling off both with style. I'll refrain from providing any more summation so as to not spoil anything. Please do avoid any and all spoilers; you'll be really glad that you did.

A few notes: 1. Logan Marshall-Green was impressive as the lead character Grey Trace, especially when it came to his convincing handling of the physical action. Also, Betty Gabriel was a real stand out as Officer Cortez, a surprisingly nimble role/performance.

2. The movies score was sneakily good; with a few of the tracks really standing out (I'm totally going to search them out).

3. The special effects and action were both very well done. The film looks much more expensive then what it probably is, given that it's a Blumhouse movie. That was supposed to be a compliment :)

When I see a film on IMDB flooded with 10 star reviews, well lets just say that is when I tend to write. I saw the trailer for this movie on tv and thought it looked like a brutal, fun, joyride. Needless to say I was interested. Upon release I checked my favorite critics reviews and was a bit surprised by the high praise. Although I heavily considered seeing this one in theaters, I ended up streaming it sometime in 2019. Unfortunately the film did not live up to the expectations I had set (and these expectations were reasonable, just watch the trailer). I hoped the film would focus on setting up fun scenarios for the premise to thrive creatively. While there are a few witty and creative action sequences, the film is much more focused on a predictable and watered down narrative. To all of the reviews claiming "Great Sci-Fi Movie" or "Really makes you think!" this is an action movie with a solid premise, but a glorified sci fi plot.

Really enjoyed this movie. A very good dose of future technology and where it would lead us to. We are already seeing the birth of some of the concepts shown in this movie and like with any technology there will be good usage and bad. I dont understand the bad comments on violence as it is "indirect" (without giving away). Fast paced and suspenseful. Logan Marshall-Green acted well without any "overacting" or showing off. Screen play and direction were very good. It is original concept and I did not see any connection with Death wish or other movies - not even close or people did not understand the movie?