Upgrade (2018)

"A Modern Science Fiction Classic "

The best low budget science fiction action picture of recent years gets a much needed Blu-ray upgrade with the release of this limited edition extras-packed disc from Second Sight. 

The near future. When Grey Trace and his wife find their automatic car redirected on a routine trip home things end in tragedy. Grey's wife is killed by muggers and he is left a quadriplegic. Reclusive millionaire Eron Keen (Harrison Gilbertson) offers Grey a once in a lifetime opportunity to regain control of his limbs by submitting to an experimental spinal implant called STEM. But then it starts talking to Grey and helps him plan how to find his wife's killers. Is it a good idea for him to take brutal revenge aided by technology he doesn't understand?

Shot for very little money but looking like a lot more, UPGRADE is the kind of Blumhouse production that makes you glad the company exists and further cements its reputation as the AIP (Leigh Whannell calls them the new New World) or Empire Pictures of today. Whannell wears his influences on his sleeve (ROBOCOP, TERMINATOR, and even DEATH WISH) without ever looking imitative and he's aided immensely by excellent production design, a fine cast and superb fight coordination.

UPGRADE has been released on Blu-ray elsewhere in the world but only on DVD in the UK up to now. None of these match up to Second Sight's excellent new Blu-ray release. Extras kick off with a commentary track from Leigh Whannell. There's also around 90 minutes of interviews with Whannell, producer Kylie Du Fresne, director of photography Stefan Duscio, editor Andy Canny and fight choreographer Chris Weir.

Exclusive to the limited edition are a poster featuring the new artwork on the cover and a 40 page book with new writing on the film from Jon Towlson and Scott Harrison.

"As genre fans we run at all these pictures, wanting to love them," Leigh Whannell said at the UK premiere of UPGRADE at London's Frightfest last year. Anyone wanting a well-written, fast-paced inventive science fiction action thriller is advised to run straight out and pick up UPGRADE in Second Sight's new Blu-ray edition. It's very easy to love indeed. 

Leigh Whannell's UPGRADE is out on limited edition Blu-ray from Second Sight on Monday 18th November 2019