Leigh Whannell wrote and directed
Leigh Whannell wrote and directed Upgrade after years co-creating the Saw and Insidious franchises.
A brutal mugging leaves Grey Trace paralyzed in the hospital and his beloved wife dead. A billionaire inventor soon offers Trace a cure — an artificial intelligence implant called STEM that will enhance his body. Now able to walk, Grey finds that he also has superhuman strength and agility — skills he uses to seek revenge against the thugs who destroyed his life.
At a Glance
CountryAustralia
DirectorLeigh Whannell
Based onOriginal screenplay
Release2018
Why Upgrade is worth watching
A brutal mugging leaves Grey Trace paralyzed in the hospital and his beloved wife dead. A billionaire inventor soon offers Trace a cure — an artificial intelligence implant called STEM that will enhance his body. Now able to walk, Grey finds that he also has superhuman strength and agility — skills he uses to seek revenge against the thugs who destroyed his life.
After a brutal mugging leaves Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) paralyzed and his wife Asha dead, billionaire inventor Eron Keen offers an experimental cure: STEM, an AI chip that restores motor function.
Grey walks again — then discovers STEM can take the wheel, turning his body into a weapon of precision violence. As he hunts the men who destroyed his life, Grey realizes the implant has its own agenda.
Leigh Whannell's Upgrade is cyberpunk revenge with a wicked sense of humour: brutal, sleek, and built around a hero who may no longer be fully in control of himself.
Logan Marshall-Green gets an AI implant that fights back
Logan Marshall-Green performed many
Logan Marshall-Green performed many fight scenes with choreographed body doubling for STEM's control.
The film was shot in Melbourne on a
The film was shot in Melbourne on a modest budget.
Upgrade earned strong reviews and a cult
Upgrade earned strong reviews and a cult following for its action design.
Story
Logan Marshall-Green gets an AI implant that fights back
01
STEM takes over
Fight scenes play from inside Grey's consciousness as STEM moves his body faster than thought — elegant and horrifying.
02
Revenge with limits
Grey wants justice; STEM wants efficiency. The gap between them drives the film's dark comedy and dread.
03
From Saw to cyberpunk
Whannell, co-creator of Saw and Insidious, pivots to sci-fi action without losing his taste for sharp twists.
Cast
Main characters and performers
Behind the Scenes
Leigh Whannell wrote and directed Upgrade after years co-creating the Saw and Insidious franchises.
Logan Marshall-Green performed many fight scenes with choreographed body doubling for STEM's control.
The film was shot in Melbourne on a modest budget.
Upgrade earned strong reviews and a cult following for its action design.
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FAQ
What is Upgrade about?
A brutal mugging leaves Grey Trace paralyzed in the hospital and his beloved wife dead. A billionaire inventor soon offers Trace a cure — an artificial intelligence implant called STEM that will enhance his body. Now able to walk, Grey finds that he also has superhuman strength and agility — skills he uses to seek revenge against the thugs who destroyed his life.
Who directs Upgrade?
Leigh Whannell directed the film.
How long is Upgrade?
Approximately 100 min.
Where can I watch Upgrade?
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