Zone 414 – Movie Review
98 minutes, Rated R
Written by Bryan Edward Hill
Directed by Andrew Baird
Synopsis:
Set in the near future, private detective David Carmichael is hired by Marlon Veidt, an eccentric businessman, to track down his missing daughter. David teams up with Jane, a highly advanced A.I. to solve the mystery.
Sometimes, you know what a movie is going to be going in, but you watch it anyway…
In the near future, the Veidt (pronounced VEET) Corporation makes androids. I know the spelling might lead you to believe this takes place in DC’s “The Watchmen” universe, but it doesn’t.
Whether that confusion is intentional or not is up for debate.
What we really have here is not just a Blade Runner knock-off (androids indistinguishable from humans, but also yet another riff on the great John Carpenter classic “Escape From…” schtick.
Our protagonist, played by Guy Pearce (who was already in an “Escape From…” knock-off that was such a rip-off it got sued: Lockout), has to penetrate the titular Zone and find the genius’ runaway daughter.
Guy Pearce is a hell of an actor, as he has proved time and time again, from Memento, to LA Confidential, to his recent guest appearance on the incredible Mare of Eastown, he is capable of turning in some great performances.
And he’s doing his damnedest to do so here.
But the script really lets him down.
It strives for some sense of depth, but its derivative as hell nature is too distracting to really invest in any of these characters, and so it doesn’t matter how good you might consider his performance, it gets lost in the clutter of everything else going on.
Which is kind of a crime.
A clearly-small budget also lends itself to the least science-fictiony feeling “near futures” ever, despite the fact we have freaking androids that look and act like people.
You’ve probably figured out that I’m not suggesting anyone run right out and watch this one, but I will say that, if you’re pressed for something to watch, you’ve run through your various queues, and you’re a Guy Pearce fan, feel free to go ahead and burn an hour and a half.
It’s not the worst thing you could watch, that is 100% for sure.
Zone 414 is currently available on most streaming services (for rent), but if you’re already paying for Netflix, it’s free.
Zone 414 stars Guy Pearce, Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Jonathan Aris, Colin Salmon, Travis Fimmel, Fionnula Flanagan, and Olwen Fouere.
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