Advantageous

Generic presentation, with an "authentic"-constantly-moving-camera and variable acting. Somewhat more interesting than it appears: rather than the usual account of children suddenly becoming monstrous adolescents, this suggests the real change might be with parents who become so fixated on success within an increasingly confining system that they in effect kill themselves or become inhuman, wreaking unintended havoc on the lives of their children. Low budget but subtle and really quite downbeat.

I feel some pity about it not being better because the base of the story deserves better. There are many good ideas, many aspects treated and they all fit in this simple story quite well (feminism going back when took as granted, age, "subtle" racism, physical appearance and risks, failure role models, motherhood, inequality), but I think it lacks a bit more deepness and some emotion. Still, really expecting to see next projects by Jennifer Phang.

It's thought-provoking, and has a number of pretty great performances. And the way societal dystopia pokes in everywhere, but never feels like something anyone is shocked or upset by is probably closer to reality than the majority of oppressive sci-fi worlds. But the writing just isn't there, and it ends up feeling like a movie of half-finished ideas that never truly come together to make anything. The weird "neo-modernist" style of its future is visually interesting, when it gets to show up.

This is a movie that is sure to engender different reactions from different demographics. It's not BAD but I don't think I can characterize it as good, either. At least, good in the conventional sense of Sci-Fi. Which is maybe an unfair metric. This is more of a Drama with a dystopian Sci-Fi glaze. Written "by feminists, for feminists", which is fine, and it expresses a number of interesting ideas in visually-interesting ways. Performances just aren't there for me. Ditto for the wonky dialogue.

A thin veneer of sci-fi masks a drama about family, feminism and unemployment marked by rigid, inexpressive acting and a slow pace.

Appreciate the heavy involvement of Asian-Americans in the film. Decent premise and story, but I thought the storytelling and direction were a little too subdued and also kind of unintuitive -- like the whole watching experience just felt a tiny bit off in a way that didn't seem intentional on the part of the creators.

An interesting and pretty smart sci fi movie brought down by horribly clunky dialogue.

Dozy female sci-fi, which means the maternal instinct is strong. Well acted, though a more quiet then it needed to be.

An okay science fiction film, set in a near future dystopia that looks just like our own (apart from the occasional CGI city scape or drone shot). What the super-privileged will do to keep their jobs, eh? First World Problems, folks. No sympathy here.

A unique and imaginative dystopian vision, with underplayed and plausible technological advance, where in the future still exists a gender-inequal economic gap, and a mother must essentially sell her soul to secure her daughter's prospects. One may call it feminist, and certainly it is, but when the narrative phases into a tale of transferred-consciousness dysphoria, it becomes smart, just plain humanist science fiction. I wish it took a bit more time to flesh out its rather heady themes.

Not a terrible film, but not perfect. Will stick to your ribs, make you think.

touching.

What would you sacrifice to ensure a good future for your child? Be glad you don't have all the options that the future might bring.

Quietly disturbing

I mean, I guess. This "Dystopia" from 2015 imagines a world were AI replaces a lot of people at their jobs, school is expensive, water is rationed, and the middle class is diminishing to destitution through steady attrition. Oh and you might get canned just because you're old. So like, the fantasy dystopia is just Urban California around or after 2023. The twist is the brain transfer isn't 100% legit. But they never go into the hosts. Or anything interesting.