The concept is interesting, but the execution is confusing. It really comes down to whom do you root for? During WWII, there was a secret program to create people who could make other people see things that are not there, and also control them. After the war, those people were no longer needed, so there was an extermination campaign, but some escaped. So there seems to be two sides, but neither side seems totally good nor totally bad and who is really right? We meet early on Ian and his father. Ian can make people see things that are not there, so that is ideal to pull off petty crimes to get things without getting caught. And Ian's father wants to keep things low level, as he knows there are those hunting for Ian, so don't draw attention. But Ian wants to live a normal life, and soon gets discovered. So both sides are after him. There are some well choreographed fight scenes, some with a high body count. But things get confusing, who do you trust, and besides, few of the characters are difficult to care about. And that is the real flaw.
Awareness
2023 [SPANISH]
Action / Mystery / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Plot summary
Ian is a teenager who lives with his father on the outskirts by running small scams using Ian's ability to generate visual illusions upon unsuspecting victims. When one of his cons goes awry, his abilities publicly spiral out of control and Ian becomes the target of two rival organizations, each seeking to exploit his powers.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
October 18, 2023 at 06:17 AM
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
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Who do you root for?
Squandered Potential
I knew nothing of this movie until I saw it on Prime and decided to watch it. There are some good elements and effects to the movie but too many fall flat pulling the movie down.
It starts out fast which I like. No waiting 10-15 minutes before the story comes into play. It opens with Ian using his powers, then almost right away the pursuit. There are a number of slow moments in the film but also some good staged action pieces.
The acting is okay for the most part. The two female leads are the better actors or at least have better written characters. Pedraza as Esther is usually good and does the choreographed fight scenes well. Loren as Adriana does her best aloof Noomi Rapace imitation but it works.
There are a few elements that show the potential but they are not followed up with. The most obvious one is if Esther is truly an illusion. If you go back you see that she never interacts with Ian's father when they are together. The father never references her. Ian might have shot past her and not through her in the final battle. If she was an illusion then why did the villain have to hold his gun up and his hand holding air if it was his illusion. If she is an illusion then why was the father, injured from the car crash, sleeping on the coach while Ian had the bed. When Ester gets out of bed, clearly only one person has slept in it. But while it does look like she might be an illusion - clearly Adriana also has an illusion of her own that she talks to. This has great potential for has someone put a more "strict" loop in Adriana's head and why?
Like many movies from Europe, the different locations, cars, houses etc add to the movie as it provides images that are not overused.
The movie falls down through some terrible editing and unexplained plot points such as:
*If Esther is an illusion set in Ian's mind at the arcade then why not make it sympathetic to the villain from the start.
*The father seemed so sincere at keeping Ian safe over all those years so why did he drink so much? Talk about lowering your guard much of the time. I know alcoholism is a disease but in a case like this when you have to hide - you'd think you'd give it up.
*And where do they get their money to live? He won't do anything to draw attention to themselves but live on an abandoned ship. That's never going to raise any flags. And they've done good for themselves as he apparently has at least three monitors with his computer equipment.
*Why didn't Adriana shoot the villain instead of shooting an innocent bystanders who is under the control of the villain in the final battle? The villain had no value any more..
*There's some odd editing. A) At one point Esther and Ian are talking about some scientist and we see a flashback of them getting some information but that was not in the movie. Must have been filmed but deleted. B) Adriana sends in her team to capture them while at the old facility yet suddenly shows up at the boat to talk to the father. This piece of the film moves NOTHING alone. C) Ian goes after Esther after the final battle and the death of his father and then suddenly we are in the midst of some formal party.
Overall I still enjoyed it and it did set itself up for a good sequel which I will watch for.
Wow! Finally a great Sci-fi I knew nothing about...
It's been a while since I've been blown-away from a Sci-fi movie, esp a foreign one, on a streaming platform, that I just randomly picked. This has Jumper qualities that should've been a big Hollywood release as well because it is so much better! So I'm sure since that wasn't the case it was a bit shorter than what it could've been and left unanswered plot hole questions but i would assume too that was in order to leave plenty of room for a sequel and/or even a trilogy which i sure hope happens! It may seem a bit slow at first but once it gets going it doesn't stop. The twists & turns are great!!! I was left guessing who was what and to whom until the very end all while enjoying The Matrix like action. I'm glad Amazon Studios picked it up and can support the other 2 sequels esp since it seems like we are not getting a 2nd season of The Peripheral due to the strikes which is sad but this movie also had similar suspense to that show as well. This movie is one that should eventually be placed on a Top 20 list for sure.