movie: Code 8
director: Jeff Chan
genre: sci-fi
release date: December 13, 2019
star rating: three out of five

review by Noah Yager

Code 8 is a movie with superpowers in it – but not necessarily superheroes. When I first heard of Code 8, I knew I wanted to see it. The movie is produced by and stars cousins Stephen and Robbie Amell, who are well-known for their roles in the CW Arrowverse shows, of which I am a huge fan. On top of that, it’s a theatrically-released, feature-length film that was completely crowdfunded, which doesn’t happen often. Although it’s a somewhat small, independent movie, its scope and execution allow it to feel much bigger.

The story follows Connor Reed (Robbie Amell), a superpowered individual living in a not-too-distant future where 4% of people have powers and are prejudiced against or outlawed. When faced with a new hardship, he’s forced to make some tough decisions, and the story unfolds from there. The movie does a great job of building the world it operates in; it’s very immersive and feels like a place that could actually exist. The setting also lent itself to situations that were often morally ambiguous. There are many times when it’s hard to tell who’s good and who’s bad, which is unique for a movie like this.

There’s a lot to like in Code 8. All the acting is good, the story is nice and well-directed, and the visual effects are top notch. My only qualms are: the dialogue was occasionally not that great, a few plot lines were unresolved or unnecessary, and the movie ends on a somewhat odd note. Aside from that, if you’re a fan of sci-fi, superheroes, or just action, I think you’ll find Code 8 to be a solid movie.