REVIEW: ‘Code 8: Part II’ Is Lacking In Depth

 Code 8: Part II is a superhero film created for Netflix. The film is directed by Jeff Chan and written by Chan, Chris Pare and Sherren Lee. A sequel to the 2019 film Code 8, the film is produced by and stars Stephen Amell and Robbie Amell, who created the first movie through crowdfunding. Lincoln City is representative of a world where a small percentage of the population has powers, and those people are marginalised, extorted and oppressed. But five years on, it seems that the violence has eased due to a corrupt arrangement between crime syndicate leader Garrett (Stephen Amell) and police Sergeant “King” Kingston (Alex Mallari Jr.). Connor Reed (Robbie Amell) is released from prison just as a young girl, Pavani (Sirena Gulamgaus), witnesses a murder that could change everything.

The plot has the potential to be powerful but struggles with the execution. Much has happened in the five years since the first movie between the powered people and the police. The police have changed their policy on robotics, using a K9 unit that appears to use nonlethal force and serve to disarm instead of harm. The dishonesty and masking of violence becomes one of the driving themes pf the movie, and a quest to uncover that takes up most of the runtime.

The pacing takes time to reach that stride, taking a while to establish the critical elements of the movie. The first action sequence takes a long time, with several false dawns that keep it entertaining and exciting. The obsession with the theme of police brutality and corruption is necessary, and there is never deviation. But it also means there is little to no expansion of the world itself. Conner and Pavani embark on a brief road trip outside Lincoln City, but they learn or discover little.

The movie has multiple opportunities to show bravery and depth. There are numerous showdowns between Garrett and King, or Connor and Garrett, where it could have gone further, but it stops at a point where it becomes predictable. The action sequences are dynamic and intense within close quarters, with the castle superior to Code 8. And the final moment is easily the most influential segment. It contains emotion and rage, searching for a soul to attach to Code 8: Part II. But even at that point, there is then an epilogue that dulled the impact.

The performances and dialogue once again lack the strength that could be utilized. Both Amells, experienced actors capable of leading a project, deserve credit for creating and contributing to the franchise. However, many lines either lack strong writing or are poorly delivered. A slightly better script improves the interchanges between the two because their confrontations felt deflating. What could be tense, cutting, conversations quickly devolve into cursing battles and stray from the point.

Both actors have a restrained, calm tone when they speak, with little to rise above it and claim dominance over a scene. Stephen Amell’s confidence works when he tries to bargain, but attempts at menace fall flat. Robbie Amell’s hushed, exhausted tone only comes into its own in the finals scene after he has been through an ordeal. The duo’s connection on screen is almost painful to watch as it lacks venom and steel. And so much of the movie centres on the relationship between the Amells.

The best performances and plot pieces are those who act around the lead actors. The entire plot focuses on Pavani. She becomes a target and a messiah at the exact moment. The acting of Gulmagaus isn’t revolutionary, but Pavani is enjoyable to watch, and her arc is interesting to follow. The antagonist, King, delivers a fantastic performance. The hypocrisy within him makes him easy to hate. Having concealed his powers throughout his life, he implements policies that inflict harm upon others possessing similar abilities. The direction he has been taking since the first movie is an example of stepping on your own to get ahead, and it’s one of the most fascinating parts of Code 8: Part II.

Despite the production lacking a big budget the movie has many impressive features. The most entertaining visuals are the slow motion segments, which are well done. The K9 units look incredible, as do the Guardian robots. The extended chase scenes highlight the film’s ambition that is missing in other areas. The powers have more elaborate uses in this next chapter and are used effectively. The lighting of those moments shows the reflection of the powers on nearby surfaces and shows excellent attention to detail. But the lack of variety in the abilities can get tiresome in the franchise. There seem to be roughly four on display constantly.

Code 8: Part II never moves beyond a baseline. It is constantly deprived of depth in every area. The visuals may be the only improvement from the first movie, whilst everything else remains the same. A small budget cannot explain poor dialogue and lackluster performances. Any time the story looks like it’s reaching a summit of surprise or bravery, the script resorts to cliches. The theme of police brutality is heavy and well worth being told. But it’s happening in a world that doesn’t feel explored. There is no sense of community. That’s the biggest problem with the Code 8 franchise. It lacks personality, life and vibrancy.

Code 8: Part II is available now on Netflix.