deerstalker
https://www.themarysue.com/code-8-review/
SPOILER ALERT: This review discusses plot points of Code 8, but not the ending.
When it comes to superhero stories, there is little new territory to explore. As the genre has become one of the most profitable in Hollywood history, every major studio is competing to franchise whatever intellectual property they can get their hands on. But while the studio system churns out endless franchises, there is originality to be found in independent film.
Indie superhero films like Fast Color, Chronicle, and Defendor expand on the themes we’re familiar with, adding style and substance to the genre with varying degrees of success. The latest entry is Code 8, a grounded sci-fi crime thriller starring Stephen Amell and Robbie Amell.
The Amell cousins are well versed in superheroics. Stephen has spent the last 8 years headlining the CW’s Arrow as Oliver Queen, while Robbie has portrayed Ronnie Raymond/Firestorm on companion series The Flash. But the Amells are a long way from their CW soapy polish in Code 8.
Code 8 opens with a dizzying amount of exposition: 4% of the population are People With Powers (PWPs) and have been in America for decades, helping to win World War II and working to construct Lincoln City, the “City of Tomorrow”. But soon automation takes over their jobs, and people start blaming PWPs for taking their jobs and claiming that they are a danger to society. With a ban on powers in effect, many PWPS have turned to selling their spinal fluid, which is sold as an opioid-like drug called Psyke. In present day, PWPs are impoverished second-class citizens and heavily policed by drones, which carry robo-cops known as Guardians.
It’s a blunt metaphor for the immigrant struggle, but it’s effective nonetheless. The film centers on Connor Reed (Robbie Amell)a class 5 Electric (meaning he can control electricity), who struggles to find construction work. His mother, who has freezing powers, is suffering from a brain tumor that makes her lose control of her powers. Connor is desperate for money to help his mother, so he allows himself to be recruited by a criminal gang of PWPs, lead by the charismatic Garrett (Stephen Amell) who is telekinetic.
Together, the gang works under crime lord Marcus Sutcliffe, a telepath, whose girlfriend Nia (Kyla Kane) is a Psyke-addicted PWP with healing powers. From there, the film turns to your standard crime thriller. Garrett takes Connor under his wing and trains him to hone his powers. Garrett also believes that PWPs shouldn’t be beholden to oppressive laws, and that they should take what they want. As the crew escalates from robbery to a multi-million dollar heist, the film hits all the familiar beats of a heist movie.
Code 8 began as a short film, which functioned as a teaser to crowdfund a feature length version. The team raised $3.4 million via an Indiegogo campaign, and was able to make the film, which has seen massive success on Netflix. However, while the film is entertaining, it struggles with massive plot holes that were perhaps not readily apparent in the short.
If Garrett is a telekinetic, then why does he need Connor to fry an electric fence? Can’t he just destroy it himself? And why is everyone using guns and dodging bullets when Garrett can simply float the guns away using his powers? The rules of the PWPs are muddled and unclear, leading to several logic gaps that aren’t addressed in a satisfying way.
Then there’s the ranking of PWPs into classes, which isn’t fully explored. How many different powers are there? Can you hide powers without being noticed by the government? And while the Amells acquit themselves well, the supporting characters are thinly drawn and not well acted.
There is a rich world to explore here, and it seems that the Amells will get the opportunity to delve further into the tales of Lincoln City. The Amells and director Jeff Chan have sold a spin-off series to Quibi.
Code 8 is streaming now on Netflix.
Have you watched Code 8? What did you think?
(image: Vertical Entertainment)
Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!
—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—
SPOILER ALERT: This review discusses plot points of Code 8, but not the ending.
When it comes to superhero stories, there is little new territory to explore. As the genre has become one of the most profitable in Hollywood history, every major studio is competing to franchise whatever intellectual property they can get their hands on. But while the studio system churns out endless franchises, there is originality to be found in independent film.
Indie superhero films like Fast Color, Chronicle, and Defendor expand on the themes we’re familiar with, adding style and substance to the genre with varying degrees of success. The latest entry is Code 8, a grounded sci-fi crime thriller starring Stephen Amell and Robbie Amell.
The Amell cousins are well versed in superheroics. Stephen has spent the last 8 years headlining the CW’s Arrow as Oliver Queen, while Robbie has portrayed Ronnie Raymond/Firestorm on companion series The Flash. But the Amells are a long way from their CW soapy polish in Code 8.
Code 8 opens with a dizzying amount of exposition: 4% of the population are People With Powers (PWPs) and have been in America for decades, helping to win World War II and working to construct Lincoln City, the “City of Tomorrow”. But soon automation takes over their jobs, and people start blaming PWPs for taking their jobs and claiming that they are a danger to society. With a ban on powers in effect, many PWPS have turned to selling their spinal fluid, which is sold as an opioid-like drug called Psyke. In present day, PWPs are impoverished second-class citizens and heavily policed by drones, which carry robo-cops known as Guardians.
It’s a blunt metaphor for the immigrant struggle, but it’s effective nonetheless. The film centers on Connor Reed (Robbie Amell)a class 5 Electric (meaning he can control electricity), who struggles to find construction work. His mother, who has freezing powers, is suffering from a brain tumor that makes her lose control of her powers. Connor is desperate for money to help his mother, so he allows himself to be recruited by a criminal gang of PWPs, lead by the charismatic Garrett (Stephen Amell) who is telekinetic.
Together, the gang works under crime lord Marcus Sutcliffe, a telepath, whose girlfriend Nia (Kyla Kane) is a Psyke-addicted PWP with healing powers. From there, the film turns to your standard crime thriller. Garrett takes Connor under his wing and trains him to hone his powers. Garrett also believes that PWPs shouldn’t be beholden to oppressive laws, and that they should take what they want. As the crew escalates from robbery to a multi-million dollar heist, the film hits all the familiar beats of a heist movie.
Code 8 began as a short film, which functioned as a teaser to crowdfund a feature length version. The team raised $3.4 million via an Indiegogo campaign, and was able to make the film, which has seen massive success on Netflix. However, while the film is entertaining, it struggles with massive plot holes that were perhaps not readily apparent in the short.
If Garrett is a telekinetic, then why does he need Connor to fry an electric fence? Can’t he just destroy it himself? And why is everyone using guns and dodging bullets when Garrett can simply float the guns away using his powers? The rules of the PWPs are muddled and unclear, leading to several logic gaps that aren’t addressed in a satisfying way.
Then there’s the ranking of PWPs into classes, which isn’t fully explored. How many different powers are there? Can you hide powers without being noticed by the government? And while the Amells acquit themselves well, the supporting characters are thinly drawn and not well acted.
There is a rich world to explore here, and it seems that the Amells will get the opportunity to delve further into the tales of Lincoln City. The Amells and director Jeff Chan have sold a spin-off series to Quibi.
Code 8 is streaming now on Netflix.
Have you watched Code 8? What did you think?
(image: Vertical Entertainment)
Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!
—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—
Source: Nuccio DiNuzzo / Getty
The last time Azriel Clary and Joycelyn Savage saw each other, they ended up throwing fists during an ugly fight as Clary was moving out of R. Kelly’s apartment while broadcasting on Instagram Live. The disgraced singer’s two live-in girlfriends had come a long way from their days of going to Kelly’s court hearings arm-in-arm. Since then, Clary has reunited with her family and opening up about her horrific experience of being with Kelly. Besides healing from such a traumatic time, she recently shared on her Instagram story that she deeply misses Savage.
In her post, she seems to have forgiven Savage for their physical altercation.
“You’re beautiful and strong and one day you will remember your strength too,” she wrote. “I know leaving was bad but I also know you weren’t yourself because the funny, southern belle, wingspot lovin’, Memphis reppin’ Joy I know would’ve never.”
She also offered Savage some words of wisdom to help her realize her relationship with Kelly is toxic.
“I love you. A man should never hold you back and one that is happy to do so is not a real man. A man that doesn’t not allow you to have a life outside of him is not a man with genuine intentions. Always missing you.”
Kelly remains behind bars for countless criminal sexual abuse and racketeering charges in Illinois, New York and Minnesota for his sexual encounters and relationships with minors. His lawyer, Steve Greenberg, is hoping to have Kelly put on house arrest due to the spread of COVID-19 in jails and prisons. After his first request was denied, another one was submitted this week. U.S Department of Justice attorneys are arguing that Kelly is a flight risk and a danger to the community and therefore should be keep in jail as he awaits trial. Kelly’s trial in New York will begin September 29th, 2020.
Thoughts? 