Code 8

Code 8 is a Sci-fi movie that takes place in an alternate future in Lincoln city where a minority of people are born with powers, much like the movie “X-Men”. Though the movie focuses on one main character with a sick mother who is forced into crime to find enough money to cure her, I want to focus on the minority as a whole. 4% of the population are born with a multitude of different powers from telepathy to healing to super strength. At the start those with such powers were praised and valued in society because they were practically the builders of Lincoln city (they used their powers to build the city). However, the introduction of machines has led to their replacement but this time it wasn’t a matter of efficiency and cost, normal humans simply didn’t want those with powers to become part of their society anymore. Not only have they been actively replaced but they’ve also been banned from using their powers as people fear they might exploit their powers to take control. To make matters worse, people with powers are used to create a highly addictive drug called “psyke” and it is created from tapping into their spinal fluid. Ironically this movie takes a similar approach as the movie “X-men” in which society deems those with powers as evil and unwanted. It’s weird because we would think those with extra abilities would become unique and special, rendering normal humans as less capable. Yet, those two movies do the opposite of that, portraying them as a “lesser” human. it brings up the question will the human norm ever become outdated?

Honestly I think its simply fear of change, it seems like we become less human as we stray further away from the human norm, its like a spectrum the more you add (superpowers for example) the less human u become, the more you remove (amputate an arm and have a bionic arm) the less human you are as well.

I’ve linked the trailer for anyone interested in seeing the movie.