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Upgrade (2018) poster

Upgrade

dir. Leigh Whannell · 2018

Feature
Revenge & Justice
Mood
Dark / Tense
Look
sleek, neon-lit urban landscapes contrasted with gritty realism
Structure
linear progression with flashbacks to pivotal moments
Plot

Grey's a stay-at-home mechanic, whose wife is Asha. One day, Grey asks Asha to help him return a car to his client. Whilst Grey and Asha's self-driving car malfunctions, it crashes. Grey watches helplessly as Asha bleeds to death next to him. Grey returns home - a widowed quadriplegic, under the care of his mother. His wife's death and the inability of police to identify their attackers cause him to sink into a depression. After a suicide attempt, he's offered to have high tech chip implanted - enabling him to walk. Though initially hesitant, he's persuaded to have the surgery.

Why watch

"Upgrade" is a visceral exploration of grief and vengeance, where cutting-edge technology becomes both a lifeline and a curse. With its relentless pacing and darkly thrilling narrative, this film invites viewers to question the cost of control in a world increasingly dominated by machines.

Cultural context
the rise of AI technologysocietal fears surrounding surveillancethe impact of trauma on mental healththe exploration of masculinity in crisis

Where this shelves

every shelf · back to the store