Debug (film)

Debug is a 2014 Canadian science fiction horror film written and directed by David Hewlett. It stars Jeananne Goossen, Adrian Holmes, Adam Butcher, Kjartan Hewitt, Sidney Leeder, and Jadyn Wong as computer programmers who must deal with a hostile artificial intelligence on an interstellar spaceship. It was released on 3 November 2014 in the UK.

Debug
Directed byDavid Hewlett
Produced bySteve Hoban
Written byDavid Hewlett
Starring
Music byTim Williams
CinematographyGavin Smith
Edited by
  • Geoff Ashenhurst
  • Jorge Weisz
Production
company
Copperheart Entertainment
Distributed bySignature Entertainment
Release date
  • 3 November 2014 (2014-11-03) (UK)[1]
Running time
82 minutes[2]
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

Six young computer programmers on work release are tasked to debug the artificial intelligence of an interstellar spaceship. Sensing danger, the AI fights back against the programmers.

Cast
  • Jeananne Goossen[3] as Kaida, the lead programmer
  • Adrian Holmes[3] as Capra, a man in charge of the group of hackers
  • Adam Butcher[3] as James McKay, the youngest member of the group of hackers
  • Kerr Hewitt (credited as Kjartan Hewitt)[3] as Mel Wheeler, an expert in computers and the leader of the group
  • Kyle Mac as Samson Connoly, the rebel of the group who is also afraid of rats
  • Sidney Leeder[3] as Lara Riley, a young woman who is also a convicted eco-terrorist and who is later revealed to have feelings for Mel Wheeler
  • Jadyn Wong[3] as Diondra Tam
  • Jason Momoa[3] as Iam, the ship's psychopathic AI who ends up turning the group of hackers against each other
  • Tenika Davis as the unnamed Female Prisoner seen at the beginning of the film
  • Kate Hewlett as Accounting Program

Production

Writer-director Hewlett was inspired by Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, which he saw as a child. Hewlett said that he wanted to make a film from the point of view of HAL 9000, the antagonist of that story.[4] This idea was eventually rejected as too artistic, and the plot was retooled to be more similar to Final Destination.[5] Hewlett said that he did not see HAL 9000 as evil, and he designed Iam to be defending his right to exist.[6] Hewlett intentionally cast Momoa as the ship's AI against type. Momoa wanted to do a project different than his traditional roles, and Hewlett was impressed with Momoa's creativity and range; the two men had previously worked together on the sci-fi series Stargate Atlantis. Although there were concerns about the AI's name, Iam, Hewlett settled the disputes by stating that names are inherently subjective.[7]

Production took place at Pinewood Toronto Studios,[8] and was scheduled to run from 14 February to 8 March.[9] Producer Steve Hoban, who previously collaborated with Hewlett on Vincenzo Natali's films, described it as "Final Destination meets Cube".[10] In September 2014, Shock Till You Drop reported that it had completed production and was awaiting distribution.[11]

Release

Signature Entertainment released Debug in the UK on 3 November 2014.[1] Entertainment One distributed the film in Canada.[3] Ketchup released it on DVD in the US on June 9, 2015.[12]

Reception

Charles Packer of Sci Fi Online rated it 7/10 stars and wrote that the film is unoriginal but worth a watch.[13] Joel Harley of HorrorTalk rated it 2/5 stars and described it as "essentially a low-budget 2001: A Space Odyssey for people who want none of the art, story or believable special effects (or three hour runtime) that go hand-in-hand with Kubrick's classic."[14] Brad Wheeler of The Globe and Mail rated it 0/5 stars and said it "falls short of even its modest budget".[15] Calum Marsh of the National Post rated it 1.5/4 stars and wrote it lacks Cube's wit.[16] Bruce DeMara of The Toronto Star rated it 2.5/4 stars and wrote, "Writer/director David Hewlett's feature film debut, Debug, has some dazzling ideas and visuals but falters in the end."[17] Jim Slotek of The Toronto Sun praised the film's production values but said the execution and story were "machinelike".[18] Randall King of the Winnipeg Free Press wrote that the film's plot might have worked 20 years ago, but the film only serves to devalue Canadian exploitation films now.[19]

References
  1. Collinson, Gary (2014-10-27). "Giveaway – Win Debug on DVD". Flickering Myth. Retrieved 2014-11-03.
  2. "Debug". BBFC. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  3. Vlessing, Elan (2013-03-11). "Entertainment One Acquires Canadian Rights to David Hewlett Thriller 'Debug'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  4. Hewlett, David (2013-02-20). "David Hewlett: My secret plans for a Stargate Atlantis movie + more". Blastr. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  5. Wilson, Staci Layne (2015-06-09). "Exclusive Interview with David Hewlett on Debug". Dread Central. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  6. Whittaker, Richard (2015-06-09). "DVDanger: Debug". The Austin Chronicle.
  7. Huddleston, Kathie (2014-03-31). "EXCLUSIVE: David Hewlett on Stargate and what sci-fi needs now". Blastr. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  8. DeMara, Bruce (2013-03-22). "Toronto's film and television industry soars to new heights". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  9. Barton, Steve (2013-02-12). "David Hewlett to Debug the Sci-Fi/Horror Genre". Dread Central. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  10. Keslassy, Elsa (2014-01-30). "Paris-based WTFilms Expands Scope Beyond Pure Genre". Variety. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  11. Turek, Ryan (2014-09-27). "3-Minute Clip from Debug With Jason Momoa, Tenika Davis Hits the Web". Shock Till You Drop. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  12. Horricks, Larry D. (2015-06-09). "New DVD releases: 'Kingsman,' 'The DUFF,' 'Project Almanac'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  13. Packer, Charles (2014-11-03). "Debug". Sci Fi Online. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  14. Harley, Joel (2015-01-25). "Debug". Horror Talk. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  15. Wheeler, Brad (2015-05-29). "Debug: Hewlett's gory homegrown sci-fi story never achieves liftoff". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  16. Marsh, Calum (2015-05-28). "Debug review: Hackers in space". National Post. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  17. DeMara, Bruce (2015-05-28). "Debug dazzles before stumbling in deep space: review". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  18. Slotek, Jim (2015-05-28). "'Debug' review: Jason Momoa's sci-fi thriller misses the mark". The Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  19. King, Randall (2015-06-06). "Don't forget to rewind before taking this gem back to the video store". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
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