Debug (film)

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

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. This idea was eventually rejected as too artistic, and the plot was retooled to be more similar to Final Destination. Hewlett said that he did not see HAL 9000 as evil, and he designed Iam to be defending his right to exist. 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.

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

Release

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

Reception

Charles Packer of Sci Fi Online rated it 7/10 stars and wrote that the film is unoriginal but worth a watch. 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." Brad Wheeler of The Globe and Mail rated it 0/5 stars and said it "falls short of even its modest budget". Calum Marsh of the National Post rated it 1.5/4 stars and wrote it lack's Cube's wit. 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." Jim Slotek of The Toronto Sun praised the film's production values but said the execution and story were "machinelike". 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.