Eyeborgs

Introduction

The surveillance state has always been a concern, making it's mark in both literature such as George Orwell's 1984 and film with the likes of Blue Thunder and Enemy of the State. We know that as technology has evolved, that both keeping and uncovering secrets has become ever more sophisticated. We're aware of things such as key loggers, key word checks (both written and oral) as well as increasing visual surveillance such as CCTV camera networks and satellites. At the moment, despite the use of large computer networks and processing power, the majority of surveillance analysis is still done by humans. But what if it wasn't?

In the wake of yet another devasting terrorist attack that leaves a woman dead and a young boy kidnapped, the United State Government passes the Freedom of Observation Act, a law requiring that all communications and surveillance camera are constantly monitored for national security. Helping to enforce the law are the Eyeborgs, mobile surveillance cameras that can track suspicious people wherever they are or try to hide. The Eyeborgs are an integral part of ODIN, the Optical Defence Intelligence Network, an all-seeing computer-driven surveillance system that never sleeps and in the words of the US President "never stops looking out for you".

Few people, however, realise that the Eyeborgs are authorised to do more than passively watch as events unfold. Buried deep in the legislation is a clause that allows an Eyeborg to take whatever action is necessary to stop a crime if an Eyeborg witnesses it in progress where no other law enforcement agent is present. Also unknown to just about everyone is that the Eyeborg aren't quite the passive camera drones that they're supposed to be.

Homeland Security agent RJ "Gunner" Reynolds (Adrian Paul) is credited with allowing the legislation to bring in the Eyeborgs, his wife being the one killed and his son the one kidnapped. Reynolds is investigating a series of suspicious deaths and finds a link to the all-seeing Eyeborgs when he realises that some of the security footage that everyone takes for granted has been changed, although no one else believes him other than a TV reporter and her cameraman. Reynolds takes this security breach as evidence that someone has taken control of the Eyeborgs in order to assassinate the US President in the upcoming Presidential debates.

The truth, however, is much more sinister...

Extras

Deleted scenes - more extended scenes than deleted and some showing signs of wear and tear by being pre-production shots.

Behind The Scenes featurette

Stunts

Visual Effects

How To Make A Robot In 3 Minutes

Blooper Reel

Overall

This is clearly a lowish budget film that you might just see on the SyFy channel, but I tell you what, it's pretty impressive. The acting isn't Oscar worthy but the script is relatively sharp in places and in overall outlook with some very smart observations. The expected twist is pretty good, and unexpected, but also had various unrelated hints dropped into place throughout. Adrian Paul was apparently the script writers first choice for this role, it takes all sorts I guess, but he does his job reasonably well and his acting shows signs of improvement over his old Highlander TV series. The rest of the cast are pretty much there to make up the numbers and it shows, with some quite wooden acting. Despite this, I really enjoyed this film and may just watch it again tonight.

The central premise is an excellent one, a vast and mobile surveillance network from which no one can hide and used for hidden motivations against its own people. This isn't the first time we've seen robots rebel but again, it's executed so well. There are also tons of special effects that just look natural and part of the not too futuristic environment. For the budget and scale of the film, it's quite ambitious and pays off quite nicely. Not once did I grimace in disbelief at what I was seeing, and this is testament to the work of the SFX artists. There are touches of Robocop, Terminator and some film from the 80's that starred Tom Selleck but whose name escapes me, amongst others. That said it has its own message and delivers it in a most believable way. Oh, and there's a guest appearance from Danny Trejo - what more could you want?

Rather superb...