ETERNAL CODE

Directed by: Harley Wallen

Starring: Richard Tyson, Billy Wurth, Damien Chinappi, Scout-Taylor Compton, Yan Birch, Mel Novak, Erika Hoveland, Katy Wallen, Angelina Danielle Cama

Corey, a down-and-out, suicidal ex-soldier, feels he has just about hit rock bottom when he unexpectedly becomes involved in the lives of two people. This turns out to be fortuitous for one, Miranda, as her parents are kidnapped from their home and she barely avoided the same fate. Together they discover a sinister corporate conspiracy linked to Miranda's mother's tech company, which is on the verge of an amazing breakthrough in enhancing lifespans.

Let's get this out of the way straight away - this is a low budget movie and as such its going to lack polish in a lot of areas. However it does have a very good script and a very timely concept to hang its plot on.

In today's climate the USA, one of the richest nations in the world, has one of the worst healthcare plans for its populace. Prescription drugs have been allowed to sell at exorbitant prices and pre-existing conditions excluded from healthcare insurance policies. If someone were to come up with a way of transferring your mind from one body to another, who is most likely to gain? The film posits that it would be the super-rich only, and I have to agree with its sentiments.

 So too does Brigette Pellegrini, the current CEO of the company behind this research. The board of directors are currently split on the opportunity to merge their research with another company which is looking to place a person's consciousness into a cadaver and bring it back to life. Brigette is concerned with both the moral and political implications. Her deputy, Oliver, however is only concerned with how rich the deal is going to make them. Oliver is so entrenched in this corporate deal that he is willing to go to extreme lengths to see it go through. Brigette is naïve enough not to see how far he will go, until its too late.

Outside of the boardroom and away from the corporate politics we meet Corey, a down-and-out ex-soldier who is considering killing himself. What stops him is the opportunity to save another life, iin this case Stephanie, a prostitute being attacked on the street. Stephanie takes a shine to Corey and wants to get to know her saviour more, despite his stoic and prickly nature.

 When Miranda gives Corey some money for food as she passes by, her friend berates her saying that the vagrant is only going to go spend it on drugs or booze. Miranda is a bit more altruistic than her friend so they decide to spy on Corey to see what he does with the money. They are both surprised and chagrined by what they witness, motivating them into showing more charity.

This connection could be seen as fate, because its not long before Miranda finds herself fleeing masked intruders who have invaded her home and kidnapped her parents. Corey's combat experience and street-smarts helps pivot the situation.

As mentioned, this is a low budget movie. There is nothing flashy going on, everything is performed in a very workmanlike and efficient manner. The sets are detailed enough, the acting good enough to convey the story. This is certainly going to rankle some people but really there is nothing to complain about here.

Director Harley Wallen also directed BETRAYED, which I reviewed a while back. That was another film which had disparate plot threads slowly joining together. Although this is a less gritty film, I think of the two I prefer Eternal Code simply because it doesn't look as murky as the previous film and isn't so dependent on fight scenes.

Richard Tyson makes a great bad-guy, just as he did back in Kindergarten Cop, and more recently in 2015's BOUND VENGEANCE. Here he gives the right amount of desperation and menace. Mel Novak's career started back in 1967 and isn't showing any signs of slowing down. Here he plays a board member and mentor to Bridget. Billy Wirth, who plays Bridget's husband, makes me feel old because I still remember him from the likes of Lost Boys and Abel Ferrara's Bodysnatchers. Damien Chinappi plays Corey, a deliberately difficult character to empathise with at first but whose personality slowly comes to light thanks to the help and support of those around him.

THE VERDICT

This isn't going to be for everyone - some people will be too hung up on the lack of budget/production values and a cast of actors they will (mostly) be unfamiliar with. However if you can get into the central conceit of the story and its implications you can understand why these people are willing to stand up for their beliefs.

6 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)