Writer: David Hewlett (Screenplay)
Starring: Tenika Davis, Adrian Holmes, Kerr Hewitt, Kyle Mac, Sidney Leeder, Jadyn Wong, Adam Butcher, Jason Momoa, Jeananne Goossen
Plot: Six young computer hackers sent to work on a derelict spaceship, are forced to match wits with a vengeful artificial intelligence that would kill to be human.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Hidden Sci-Fi Gem
Story: Debug starts in a futuristic sci-fi base where a woman tries to break out of a futuristic A.I. controlled prison cell which she achieves until the psychopathic A.I. system I am (Momoa) manifests itself into human form showing its true power.
Orcus Freighter Amphitrite is uninhabited, Department of Corrections Dispatch Shuttle 5263 has 6 computer crime criminals and 1 supervisor and the mission is to rendezvous with abandoned freighter and shut down all programs, Debug, Reboot.
Capra (Holmes) is the supervisor on the space prison as the six prisoners along with Capra enter the ship. This mission will be Kaida’s (Goossen) last mission before she gets released with James (Butcher) on his first mission, we see the team is united through the situation as they all know that this work will cut their prison time. Seeing as there is no threat the group splits up to a different level of the freighter so they can work alone.
When I am traps the seven on the freighter as they hackers uncover the true identity of I am and that he is bio-ware with a bit of human inside him. When each of the members of the team starts having to face their fears they realize just how powerful I am has become as his programming has the desire to never let them escape.
Debug brings us something very simple on the story side of things, we get the idea of 6 criminals working to get their freedom which all works nicely, we learn the characters skills set all hackers and the job they need to. The computer system going rogue works because we have had a couple of films with ideas before recently one that worked (The Machine) the other that didn’t (Transcendence). Everything comes off very routine as you can tell who will be the last characters standing but how things unfold could come to us looking thinking we have seen before because the characters end up falling for their desires. I do think for what the film offers it gives you everything you needed from a film like this but doesn’t always end up pushing us to the next levels. (7/10)
Actor Review
Jason Momoa: I am is the bio-ware program system that has complete control of the freighter, it believe it is in charge of a prison ship and sees our group as itself next set of prisoners. I am has a psychopathic side where it likes to torture and kill anyone who tries to out smart him with the crew trapped he is ready to play his own games now. Jason has always been cast in roles where his size because a symbol but with this film he gets to show us acting skills that he possess. (8/10)
Jeananne Goossen: Kaida is the most skilled hacker on the team, but her leadership got a fellow member killed on a former team mate. This is her last mission before she is granted freedom but she ends up going toe to toe with Iam to see if she can out smart the programming system. Jeananne makes for a strong female leading character that kick ass when she needs too but plays in cool when she needs to. (8/10)
Adam Butcher: James is the rookie on the mission with this being his first mission after his recent incarceration, he clashes instantly with Capra but in the end he is just there to cover for his little brother who is the real hacker. Adam does a solid job but could easily be the weak link of the mission. (6/10)
Adrian Holmes: Capra is the supervisor of the prisoners who has to leave them to the work while he ends up focusing on his own addictions which lead to him being taken over by I am turning him into a killing machine. Adrian does a good job as the authority figure with a personal problem that gets easily manipulated by the A.I. (7/10)
Support Cast: Debug has a small supporting cast that includes the rest of the disposable characters that I Am gets to play his games with, they are all very generic and easily identifiable as the characters that won’t make it to the end.
Director Review: David Hewlett – David brings us a good sci-fi film that keeps you attention from start to finish wondering how our characters will make it out of the situation. (7/10)
Horror: Debug puts our character into a horror situation where they are left wondering how to escape the isolation I Am has put them in. (8/10)
Sci-Fi: Debug brings us into the world where space travel and technology has reached this level we never know the year but in the future where the A.I. can take over. (10/10)
Settings: Debug puts our characters in a position where there is no escape from the situation they find themselves in. (9/10)
Special Effects: Debug has solid special effects, you know the inside the system is CGI but that can always look however we want it too, but certain space scenes do come off easily identified as CGI. (5/10)
Suggestion: Debug is one for the sci-fi to try, I do think they will enjoy this one but will have skipped past it. (Sci-Fi Fans Try)
Best Part: Capra kill.
Worst Part: Certain iffy CGI moments.
Kill Of The Film: Capra even if you don’t see it you know what is happening to him.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 26 Minutes
Overall: Event Horizon meets Cube and 2001 A Space Odyssey.
Rating