Push
Icon Films
R4 DVD
Push
is a science fiction film about people born with various psychic abilities set
within the spy and thriller genre. It is a mixture of “X-Men” with a tale of government intrigue, military action and cover-ups.
It
seems that the Nazis pioneered the use of Psychics as a weapon of war and since
WWII the US government has run a secret military facility continuing their
research, hoping to transform psychics into the ultimate military weapon, this
facility is known as Division. Thus far their success has been limited as the
drugs they try to use to stimulate and control the psychic abilities of their
subjects have long term effects leading to their early death.
Division
has its share of critics and many psychics work outside the system, there are
also many other governments and criminal organisations using individuals with
such abilities. Set in the future where psychic development has reached a new
level there are many different forms the abilities can take. Pushers are the
most common and can influence (to a lesser or greater extent) the minds of
others while Movers can manipulate matter; Watchers can see different aspects
of the future while Sniffers can decode the scent of an individual and
literally track them across the globe. There are also Shadows who can block the
power of Watchers and Sniffers as long as they are within a few metres and
there are the dangerous Bleeders who can shatter objects and people with the
sound of their scream. There are new abilities being regularly uncovered.
The
film opens as a father allows himself to be captured and killed to protect his
young son who has prodigious psychic abilities. The film then cuts to many
years later when that boy is now a man Nick Grant, trying to survive “off the
grid” with little success. It seems every time he settles down Division finds
him again. This time, however, things are very different, it seems a variant of
the drug Division has been using has proved successful but has been stolen by
Nicks ex-lover, Kira with the assistance of Cassie’s mother, who is held
captive deep within Division.
Nick
now meets Cassie, a young Watcher and together they try and find the missing drug
and bring down Division. Of course this is easier said than done and a complex
plot unfold of cross and double cross, mind control, psychic warfare and lots
of action.
Push
is a fascinating film which brings together impressive special effects, a
complex and intriguing plot and strange and quirky characters. Chris Evans as
Nick is likable and a credible lead, while Dakota Fanning as the 13 year old
Watcher who acts more like an adult is eccentric to say the least.
I
really enjoyed Push and felt that the mixture of what is essentially a spy
story with psychic themes works well, the one-on-one battles are very well done
with lots of Matrix like action with
the Bleeders adding an unusual element. The complexity of the plot keeps you on
your toes and it ends up being a very innovative science fiction thriller.
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