Big brother is watching you. That seems to be the common theme amongst science fiction films that take place in the near future; a totalitarian society where the government believes it is in your best interest to monitor you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Eyeborgs can be categorized into that genre, but it does provide a fresh concept that for a low budget film is executed quite well.
After another terrorist attack on United States soil, the Department of Homeland Security has decided to eliminate the people’s right to privacy by taking all security cameras and putting them onto one network. Also monitoring the streets and homes are the title, looking like mechanical spiders with a huge roving eye at its center, which is used simply in helping catch suspected criminals. Federal agent Gunner Reynolds (Adrian Paul of Highlander fame) relies on these “eyeborgs” to successfully catch these criminals, but he soon begins to suspect that the robots are enacting their own brand of justice in their own bloody way.
The plot does loosely resemble “I, Robot” on a much lower budget but it has enough going on its own to recommend. The eyeborgs are complete CGI (and it does show in High Definition at spots) and don’t look completely original, however I love the name of the system they are on (it’s acronym is O.D.I.N.) . The story however is interesting and holds up well, especially in this time of paranoia. The theme of man against machine is a common one in film and it’s not more apparent than in this film. What does work best is since the eyeborgs are all in the same security system, they can manipulate any image to make it appear like they haven’t done anything, plus they make all murders look like an accident. There are some bonus points for adding a subplot involving the president of the United States and his nephew, who is a punk rocker.
Adrian Paul carries the lead well. As a fan of Highlander, he does have a good presence and brings a charm to Agent Reynolds that carries you through the film. The female lead is of course the intrepid reporter/possible love interest by Megan Blake who is alright in her role. The only other star in the film is Danny Trejo who only shows up for a few scenes but brings his usual badass presence as a music store owner. The real star of the film are the eyeborgs themselves and if you can get past the CGI (and let’s be honest, most of you won’t), you can get through the film.
The Blu-Ray brings a nice quality transfer at 1080p, and the film looks sharply made. Image Entertainment has done a fine job with the disc. There’s six deleted and extended scenes, four behind the scenes futurities (including one funny one called “How To Make Robots In Three Minutes” and a blooper reel.
Eyeborgs isn’t great. It isn’t totally original. However it packs enough for it to recommend for a cheesy fun time. The theme and premise will entice the conspiracy theorists and it’s just plain entertaining.
– Alan G. Richter
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
