Code 8: Part II is the sequel to Code 8, a much more influential movie than many of you may know. Initially starting with a crowdfunding campaign after the success of its short film with the same name, the Canadian import found its way onto Netflix on April 11, 2020. Why is that important? Well, the pandemic started. Then, movie theaters began to close. Then, something called the Netflix Top 10 suddenly became vitally important.
Code 8 debuted as an independent science fiction thriller and stayed there for weeks. Considering the streaming giant’s library of content, it was impressive, and everyone was stuck at home with access to the biggest names in entertainment at the time. Hence, there is a sequel, and Code 8: Part II brings back the first punk rock science fiction neo-noir that throttles you to the core with its gritty sci-fi feel and well-defined world-building.
The last time we saw Connor (Robbie Amell), his mother died, and they let Nia take a truck to flee the city and later go on the run. Garrett (Stephen Amell) took over the drug trade of Psyke from the Trust in Lincoln City. Nowadays, Code 8: Part II picks up with Garrett, who uses the profits to help PWPs (“People with Powers”).
However, that also means paying off the police, led by a politician with a badge, Sergeant “King” Kingston (Alex Mallari Jr.). King has now, in addition to his robotic police force, introduced a robotic canine unit to Lincoln City. However, there is no need to fear, King tells everyone at a community gathering, “If you put your hands up, they will not hurt you.”
However, one of Garrett’s men, Tarak (Sammy Azero), steals the money from the drop to give the cops their cut. As a result, Connor, now working as a janitor at an abandoned school, defends the life of Tarak’s sister. Her name is Pav (Sirena Gulamgaus), and she saw something that night that put her life in danger. Connor soon finds that Pav not only needs protection from the police but also from Garrett and his band of Powers.
Directed by Jeff Chan, this follow-up is a very good sequel that puts a premium on themes of unethical policing, institutional corruption, and the use of community activism as a beard to illegal activities. The script, written by Chan, Chris Pare, Sherren Lee, and Jesse LaVercombe, builds a world where those with powers are persecuted. In a post-social justice world, the PWPs begin to fight for what is rightfully theirs.
The first film had an emotional connection, with Connor attempting to locate a PWP to save his mother. That film had the guts to not pander to audiences’ expectations of a happy ending. In the follow-up, that storyline repeats itself with Connor as a protector. However, the story does not have that same emotional impact. That’s because the “race against time” element is forgotten here.
The edgy buddy chemistry between Robbie and Stephen Amell is is where the film succeeds and gives the thriller its juice. Both characters represent the alienation of the almost caste-like system for PWPs in a repressive socioeconomic society by macro-level systems. This is an X-Men homage, where both men feel they know what may be best for someone with powers. And we all know where the X-Men franchise was born.
Code 8: Part 2 is worth watching because of the commanding performance from the leads and the world of PWPs that Chan and Pare keep building around them. There are some great scenes here, including one where Garrett and his team try to wipe a memory clean from a fellow power. You’ll notice the use of slow action energy. This technique is meant to mirror the frustrations that Connor keeps at bay, but Garrett feels he should be harnessed.
Those moral dilemmas give Code 8: Part 2 a well-rounded story with some surprising depth. If anything, the story of the PWPs feels like something from which the X-Men were born. That Marvel world is a metaphor for thematic undercurrents made big and showy to grab the viewer and prove a point.
However, here, the Code 8 franchise of films is gritty, underground, and raw. Chan and Pure wrote a minimalist world that’s almost an antonym of that franchise that’s patient. Their story expertly builds a science fiction narrative around the viewer instead of dropping the viewer in the middle, which can be overwhelming. That is something that the audience will undoubtedly appreciate.
Code 8: Part II will be available to stream only on Netflix on February 28, 2024.
The Code 8 franchise of films is gritty, underground, and raw. Chan and Pure have written a minimalist story that expertly builds a science fiction narrative around the viewer that's thrilling and thought provoking.
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GVN Rating 7
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User Ratings (1 Votes)
6.5
I am a film and television critic and a proud member of the Las Vegas Film Critic Society, Critics Choice Association, and a 🍅 Rotten Tomatoes/Tomato meter approved. However, I still put on my pants one leg at a time, and that’s when I often stumble over. When I’m not writing about movies, I patiently wait for the next Pearl Jam album and pass the time by scratching my wife’s back on Sunday afternoons while she watches endless reruns of California Dreams. I was proclaimed the smartest reviewer alive by actor Jason Isaacs, but I chose to ignore his obvious sarcasm. You can also find my work on InSession Film, Ready Steady Cut, Hidden Remote, Music City Drive-In, Nerd Alert, and Film Focus Online.