Upgrade is a satisfying, straightforward little folktale, a violent, revenge-fueled romp, and a thoughtful forecast of the inevitable technological storm to come. It’s The Matrix meets John Wick, Saw meets Ready Player One, Alexa meets Grand Theft Auto; it’s analog versus digital, classic cars versus the Ubers of tomorrow, man versus machine—and if you’re guessing that means it’s a mashup that’s as messy as a toddler making fingerpaint of his leftovers, you’re sorely mistaken. It’s an indulgent, fun little 
treat of a film, and definitely worth a trip to the theater this summer.
Upgrade is set in the not-too-distant future, and follows the story of Grey Trace, a T-Bird-driving, beer-drinking kind of simple dude who is great with his hands (hello). He loves his wife, and doesn’t even seem bothered by the fact that she wears the pants in the relationship, or that her high-powered job at a tech company pays for their oh-so-fancy home and her self-driving car that he just can’t seem to comprehend.
But one night a few thugs bring Grey’s world crashing down around him, and he struggles to find his purpose again. Thankfully, he has a friend in Eron, a Steve Jobs-type character trapped in Justin Bieber’s body who apparently goes to the same tailor as Dr. Evil. Funded by Eron, a special operation brings renewed meaning to Grey’s life, and armed with super-human, AI-guided strength, he sets out to make things right.
Grey is played by Logan Marshall-Green, who at times veers a bit too close to the guardrails keeping every good actor from crashing into the overacting ditch, but Marshall-Green maintains control of the wheel in the end, and makes for a believable hero. No stranger to horror, Marshall-Green played the mechanic in Devil, and the main character in The Invitation, but his rugged, full beard and gruff expressions evoke Tom Hardy at his finest (think red carpet and not The Revenant) and offer enough eye candy to satisfy the sweet tooth of every 
young lady who may have been dragged to the theater by her unsuspecting significant other. Joke’s on you, boys.
But it’s not just the brawny presence of Marshall-Green that makes Upgrade so fun; it’s also the genre-bending, fast-paced adventure that Writer/Director Leigh Whannell throws us into after a steely, futuristic start. A film that opens as a slate-cold slow jam quickly becomes consumed by blood-red raging house music. 
From weapons constructed into body parts, to VR addicts on opioid-like highs, Upgrade certainly doesn’t hold back, nor does it paint a rosy picture of the future. Although at times you might think the plot is as predictable as a bedtime story, hang in there, because it really does keep you guessing until the end.
The film takes us on a wild ride of humor, violence, and futuristic horror. Stylistically, it plays with color almost as masterfully as John Wick, and with first-person violence as unapologetically as Hardcore Henry, leaving us just as stunned by Grey’s new ninja-like skills as he is. Upgrade is complete with cringe-worthy gruesome deaths, amusing Easter egg references to other horror and action films (gold star if you also caught sight of Jigsaw), and characters as raw and over-the-top as those in Sin City.
Now you may be wondering, dear readers, why on earth this horror-loving, terrorphile is recommending a futuristic action film. Well, if the incestuous references to some amazing horror films above weren’t enough, get this: Writer/Director Whannell is—brace yourself—Specs from the Insidious series! That’s right. Our very own demon-chasing, glasses-sporting, tie-donning little horror dork has really come into his own! Let’s all share a collective, “Awwwww!” and give Whannell a high-five. Yes, this may not be his directorial debut, but I think we can all forgive him for Insidious: Chapter 3 after this one. It’s looking like the summer of 2018 may be ushering in a new era of horror directors, which is music to this fan’s ears.
SpecialK Verdict: Although far from true horror, Upgrade offers a fun, futuristic mishmash of a film that’s best enjoyed in the theaters with as few expectations as possible. Sit back, relax, and enjoy.
Upgrade opened on Friday, June 1.
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