Code 8 is a 2019 sci-fi thriller about a desperate young man with special powers, who clashes with a militarized police force after committing a petty crime.
We enter a world where everything is the same as ours except that four percent of the population are born with innate superpowers. Some can control electricity, others can read minds, a few can levitate objects and more. Naturally, as beneficial as they are to society, eventually they are targeted and discriminated against, not allowed to work, forced into hiding where special police and armed drones patrol to ensure they keep out of the workforce. Connor Reed (Robbie Amell) is one such powered human, host to a number of special abilities, living with his sick mother (Kari Matchett). Desperate for work, he is soon lured into the underworld with drug lord Garrett (Stephen Amell) offering him a job, though local cops Park (Sung Kang) and Davis (Aaron Abrams) are on to him and soon he’s in more danger than he can handle.
From director Jeff Chan and screenwriter Chris Pare, Code 8 is based on a short film they produced, expanding the story to further delve into the themes of discrimination and abuse of power. It’s not entirely a new idea of course, where those with powers become symbolic of any minority, targeted and oppressed, left with no choice but to turn to crime just to survive having been themes in lots in this genre. That leaves Reed to be the face of that injustice, a good guy who wants to contribute, pressed into helping bad guys just to take care of his ailing mom.
Fortunately, despite the premise and the potential, Chan – limited by his budget – contains this is to a local affair, not trying to over do it all with big effects and explosive sequences the film can’t possibly produce, keeping it about the characters and the consequences. That doesn’t mean the film is absent of very strong visual effects, the subtle use of power at a ground level make it all the more believable as things escalate to battles in the street. There are no capes and cowls, just people with power since births trying to make ends meet in a world that suppresses his talents.
There’s real heart in this, with the relationship between Reed and his mother the best part of this, though that’s not to say the film lacks punch elsewhere. Loads of good dialogue and compelling action find their mark. More so, there’s not a bad performance in the lot, while Chan makes for a strong visual bit of storytelling, balancing well the leads with, finally, a pair of good cops on the job, trying to work out what’s happening and who’s behind it.
While Code 6 might not have the polish of a big studio production, Chan and his crew deserve credit for delivering a well made and convincing sci-fi treat that tells a solid, complete story with some honest to goodness earned moments of authenticity. Fans of science fiction and independent movies will have plenty to feel good about as this digital release is a genuine gem.