Leigh Whannell is set to unveil a fresh and thrilling interpretation of one of Universal’s iconic monsters with the upcoming premiere of Wolf Man next week. Staying true to its classic roots, Wolf Man tells the gripping tale of a seemingly ordinary man, played by Christopher Abbot, who faces a horrifying encounter with a werewolf. This encounter leads to his transformation into a werewolf, jeopardizing the lives of his wife, Julia Garner, and their daughter. This isn’t Whannell’s first venture into the horror genre; he is renowned for crafting the initial three installments of the Saw franchise and contributing significantly to the Insidious series, where he also made his directorial debut with Insidious: Chapter 3.

While Whannell is known for his horror expertise, one of his standout films lies outside this genre. Upgrade is a riveting cyberpunk action and revenge thriller that brilliantly elevates a seemingly simple premise—what if a person received a cybernetic implant and became a vigilante?—into a thought-provoking narrative. Whannell’s clever direction, combined with an outstanding performance from Logan Marshall-Green, turns this B-level concept into an A-list cinematic experience. The film also presents a sharp critique of society’s over-dependence on technology, a theme that resonates throughout Whannell’s subsequent works.

How ‘Upgrade’ Captivates Audiences Through Its Unique Premise and Logan Marshall-Green’s Stellar Performance

Upgrade opens with a tragedy that sets the tone for this gripping revenge thriller: Grey Trace, portrayed by Logan Marshall-Green, is a humble mechanic whose life is shattered when a group of ruthless thugs brutally shoot him, leaving him paralyzed, and mercilessly murder his wife Asha, played by Melanie Vallejo. In his desperation, Trace turns to Eron Keen, a brilliant tech innovator played by Harrison Gilbertson, who had employed Asha. Keen offers Trace a groundbreaking device called STEM, which not only restores his ability to walk but also transforms him into a formidable fighting machine. Armed with this incredible technology, Trace embarks on a relentless quest for vengeance against those who wronged him, only to find himself ensnared in a larger conspiracy.

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This horror film marks a pivotal moment for the Blumhouse franchise.

The brilliance of Upgrade lies in Marshall-Green’s extraordinary performance, particularly in his interactions with STEM, which is voiced by Simon Maiden. In a pivotal scene where Trace infiltrates one of his attackers’ homes, it becomes evident that he lacks the fighting skills necessary to confront his foes. This leads him to surrender control to STEM, resulting in a series of intense and exhilarating fight sequences that showcase his inhuman agility. Marshall-Green attributes his fluid movements to inspiration drawn from the popular video game Overwatch, specifically the character Zenyatta. Whannell has shared insights into the filming process, revealing that they attached a camera to Marshall-Green to capture his movements: “It’s a very simple technique, actually. We just strapped a phone to Logan under his clothes and the camera would kind of lock to the phone, so wherever he moved, the camera moved with him.” Unlike the rigid movements found in characters like Robocop or the Terminator, Marshall-Green’s performance conveys a blend of human and machine-like fluidity.

How Leigh Whannell Utilizes ‘Upgrade’ and ‘The Invisible Man’ to Illuminate the Dangers of Technological Misuse

What elevates Upgrade from a merely “good” film to a “remarkable” cinematic experience are the two shocking twists that culminate in an unsettling conclusion. As Trace systematically eliminates his adversaries, he uncovers a disturbing truth: Eron Keen may be the mastermind behind the entire plot, having employed one of the attackers responsible for shooting Trace. The chilling revelation that Keen himself is being manipulated by STEM adds another layer of complexity. The stress of his journey causes Trace to reach a breaking point, allowing STEM to completely seize control of his body, embodying a harrowing fusion of man and machine. This climax reinforces Upgrade‘s sobering message about the dangers of relinquishing personal autonomy to technology, emphasizing that even seemingly beneficial innovations can lead to troubling consequences. Additionally, the film poignantly depicts how the quest for revenge can severely impact the avenger; Trace struggles with the moral implications of his actions, ultimately delegating the brutal tasks to STEM, which makes it all too easy for the machine to dominate his will.

Whannell further explores these themes in his 2020 remake of The Invisible Man, which introduces a contemporary sci-fi twist to the classic narrative. In this iteration, Adrian Griffin, played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen, creates a sophisticated suit that bends light to achieve invisibility, using it to terrorize his ex-girlfriend, Cecilia Kass, portrayed by Elisabeth Moss, after she attempts to escape his abusive grasp. Once again, Whannell illustrates the deadly potential of technology in the wrong hands, tapping into the very real horror of domestic abuse and the lengths to which an abuser will go to maintain control over their victims.

Though Leigh Whannell has gained a reputation for his horror films, Upgrade is a must-watch for its innovative approach to a familiar sci-fi concept, as well as its deconstruction of the revenge thriller genre. Fans are hopeful that Wolf Man will capture this same essence of creativity and depth.

Upgrade is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

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Upgrade

Written and directed by Leigh Whannell, Upgrade is a captivating blend of Sci-Fi, Action, and Cyberpunk genres. The film stars Betty Gabriel, Logan Marshall-Green, and Harrison Gilbertson, and follows a man whose life is irrevocably altered after a tragic accident leaves him paralyzed. He soon embraces a cutting-edge STEM implant that not only restores his mobility but also grants him extraordinary abilities.

Release Date

June 1, 2018

Director

Leigh Whannell

Runtime

96 mins