Set in Lincoln City a dystopian metropolis where only 4% of the population are “powered” (people born with supernatural abilities) Code 8: Part II picks up five years after the events of the first film.
Connor Reed, once a desperate son trying to save his mother through illegal jobs, is now a reformed man working as a janitor at a community outreach center that provides safe spaces for young powered individuals. Still haunted by past choices, Connor keeps his electricity-based powers under tight control and avoids Garrett Kelton, his former partner in crime turned underworld boss.
Read also: TRANSFORMER ONE – ANIMATED MOVIE REVIEW
The story escalates when Pavani “Pav” Gilani, a 14-year-old teenage girl with healing powers, and her older brother Tarak a low-level criminal accidentally steal a large sum of money from Garrett’s drug operation, which traffics in Psyke, a drug made from powered people’s spinal fluid.
Pursued by the Lincoln City Police Department’s elite robotic K9 unit, Pav and Tarak try to flee. During the chase, officers King and Davis execute Tarak in cold blood and frame the crime to avoid accountability.
Pav, traumatized and desperate, reaches out to Connor, who takes her in sparking a chain of events that puts him at odds with the police and Garrett. The law enforcement system is more corrupt than ever, using high-tech drones and robotic enforcers to suppress powered citizens. Connor learns that the police are illegally abducting and draining powered people for Psyke production.
Read also: Inside Out 2 – ANIMATION REVIEW
In the midst of all this, Garrett, who now operates a criminal syndicate but longs for legitimacy, is caught in a moral dilemma. He sees himself in Pav and is slowly pulled back toward the cause of helping his kind but his methods remain ruthless.
The final act explodes into a three-way standoff; Connor and Pav trying to expose police corruption, Garrett executing a risky power-grab, Sergeant King silencing any witnesses to protect his racket
Connor must re-embrace his powers and reunite with Garrett to take down the crooked system. In the end, sacrifices are made, unlikely alliances are formed, and Pav emerges as a symbol of hope for a new generation of powered youth.
Read also: SNEAKS – ADVENTURE ANIMATION REVIEW
Director: Jeff Chan
Starring: Robbie Amell, Stephen Amell, Sirena Gulamgaus, Alex Mallari Jr., Moe Jeudy-Lamour, Jean Yoon.
Runtime: 1h 40mins
Watch trailer here
