Code 8 (2019 film)

Code 8 is a 2019 Canadian science fiction superhero action film written and directed by Jeff Chan, and starring the cousins Stephen and Robbie Amell.

It is a feature-length version of the 2016 short film of the same name about a man with superhuman abilities who works with a group of criminals to raise money to help his sick mother.

A crime syndicate known as the Trust has flooded the streets with an addictive drug called Psyke, made from the spinal fluid of trafficked Powers.

Police departments begin using drone-deployed robots, called Guardians, and facial recognition software to combat Power-related crime while a citywide Powers ban is debated.

Connor Reed, a 26-year-old Electric ("electrokinetic") looks after his mother, Mary, a Cryo ("cryokinetic"), whose ailment impedes her from controlling her powers.

Garrett recruits Connor for more jobs while training him to maximize his abilities and agrees to help him earn enough money to get Mary's treatment.

Nia reveals to Connor that she is a Healer, and only remains with Marcus to ease the effects of his Psyke addiction and pay off her imprisoned father's debt.

On the day of the heist, the crew blocks the transport inside a no-fly zone, preventing backup by drones carrying Guardians.

[3] Fundraising closed with $3.4 million on December 31, 2019, with the continued campaign helping recover costs of DVD pressings and the distribution to contributors of perks, wardrobe, and props from the production.

[9] Dennis Harvey of Variety found the crowdfunded Code 8 a "solid genre effort" that "is resourceful and polished on a tight budget".

He noted a few limitations, for example a screenplay that "packs in a lot of characters and complications without much time to lend them distinguishing personality", not enough humor to transcend the "sentimental cliché" of a mother needing medical treatment, and a "lack of stylistically bold elements in the competent action sequences".

[12] In December 2019, a short-form spin-off series was announced to be in development at Quibi, starring Robbie and Stephen Amell, written by Chris Pare, and directed by Jeff Chan.