Upgrade is a fast, grim, and occasionally clever sci-fi thriller about a man who gets a brain implant after his wife is killed, and decides to use it to get revenge. The film knows what it wants to do, and mostly does it well. It is not subtle, and it does not pretend to be.
The setup is simple. Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) loses his wife during a mugging, and becomes obsessed with finding the men responsible. His grief drives him to try a new kind of neural implant called STEM, built by his friend, Dr. Battison (Haley Joel Osment). The implant lets him control machines, move faster, and remember everything. It also turns him into a killing machine.
Trailer, via Blumhouse.
Grey Trace and the STEM Implant
Marshall-Green carries the film. He plays Grey as a grieving husband whose anger never fully goes away, and the performance holds the movie together through its quieter stretches. The character arc is predictable — he starts as a broken man and ends as something worse — but Marshall-Green sells both sides of it.
Osment plays Battison as the quiet genius who made the technology. He is a nervous, obsessive figure, and his scenes with Grey are the film’s best moments. Their relationship is tense, and Battison’s secret motives keep the plot moving.
The Action Sequences
The action in Upgrade is the reason to watch. The film leans heavily on its practical stunts and its use of the STEM tech to create inventive fight scenes. Cars become weapons, and Grey moves through crowds with a grace that feels unnatural. The sequences are choreographed well, and they are genuinely exciting to watch.
The film also understands pacing. It cuts quickly between shots, and the action never drags. That discipline keeps the film moving even when the plot stalls.
The Tone Problem
The tone problem is real. Upgrade tries to balance dark crime thriller with science fiction spectacle, and the two styles bump against each other. The film is at its best when it commits to being a grim, violent story about grief and revenge, and at its worst when it tries to be a stylish, cool action movie.
The result is a film that feels tonally split. Some viewers will find that mix refreshing; others will find it jarring.
The Villains
The villains are less memorable. The criminals who attacked Grey’s wife are faceless figures, and the film spends little time developing them beyond their roles in the story. That lack of depth means the final act, which hinges on Grey’s confrontation with these men, feels rushed.
The supporting cast fills out the world around Grey, but none of them get the same attention as the leads. That imbalance shows in the final stretch, where the stakes feel smaller than they should.
Comparing the Two Leads
| Character | Actor | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Grey Trace | Logan Marshall-Green | The grieving husband turned killer |
| Dr. Battison | Haley Joel Osment | The creator of the STEM implant |
What Works
- The lead performances, especially Marshall-Green’s
- The action sequences
- The use of STEM tech to create inventive set pieces
- The tension between Grey and Battison
What Falls Short
- A tonal split between crime thriller and action movie
- Underdeveloped villains
- A rushed final act
Upgrade is a solid, entertaining film that knows what it wants to do with its premise. It does not reinvent the genre, but it executes its ideas with confidence. The action is sharp, the performances are strong, and the film’s commitment to its central idea keeps it engaging even when the plot sags.
It is not a great film, but it is a good one. For fans of the genre, it delivers on its promises. For those looking for something deeper, it will fall short.
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