Written and directed by Kelsey Egan (Glasshouse 2021), The Fix is a South African Sci-Fi/Action/Body Horror/Superhero origin story. Whilst that may sound like one genre too many, the film is surprisingly watchable and the story is linear and easy to follow.
Available digitally as of November 22, 2024 through Gravitas Ventures, The Fix is set in a dystopian future where, due to pollution, the earth’s air has been rendered unbreathable. To be able to go outside, people must wear special masks. The only other option is to take a special drug called Airem, however only the richest (or most corrupt) can access the drug. Meanwhile, Model Ella (Grace Van Dien: Stranger Things series, The Binge 2020) has just starred in Airem’s latest commercial and has landed the lucrative position of being the drug’s newest spokesmodel.
However, far from being pleased, Ella is miserable. Having lost her mother recently and having a difficult relationship with her distant father, Ella is further devastated to discover that her boyfriend is cheating on her with her best friend. Wanting to forget her troubles, Ella goes to a party and takes what she thinks is a recreational drug. However, it turns out that she has taken a stolen experimental drug and soon she is experiencing terrifying symptoms. If that was not bad enough, Ella finds herself caught between the drug’s creator and her employers who want the drug for themselves.
The Fix has a much lower budget than many films of a similar ilk and yet it still manages to be highly as effective as a Sci-Fi. There is some strong world-building here and the story feels realistic and relatable – at least in regards to the environmental and social aspects. It is not too hard to imagine a future world that has been devastated by pollution. Or a world where the wearing of masks has become commonplace.
Ella is a good central character because, although she is often rude or moody, her emotions are extremely relatable. She is suffering from grief and then betrayal, on top of living in an uncertain and dangerous world, and so when the drug also begins to ruin her life, the audience roots for her. Furthermore, The Fix also makes good use of makeup and practical effects, and the action sequences are great.
With all of this in mind, The Fix is by no means flawless, there is enough about it that these issues feel more than forgivable. The film certainly leaves space for a potential sequel. Could The Fix be the inception of a new superhero franchise? Time will tell, but Cryptic Rock gives it 4 out of 5 stars.
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