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Leigh Whannell Talks Killer Machines!

- Bryan Cairns

Leigh Whannell has become a major force in the horror genre. The Australian native kicked things off by penning the intense SAW film and its following two sequels. He subsequently reunited with director James Wan for the chilling ghost story DEAD SILENCE. The duo went on to launch the haunted house franchise INSIDIOUS. Whannell scripted Chapters 2 and 3 and made his directorial debut with the third instalment. Now, Whannell is exploring unfamiliar territory with the sci-fi/horror, UPGRADE, which he wrote and helmed.

Set in the near future, UPGRADE centres on Average Joe, Grey Trace [Logan Marshall-Green], a technophobe who becomes paralysed after a mugging that cost his wife’s life. However, billionaire genius Eron [Harrison Gilbertson] makes Grey an offer he cannot refuse. Let them implant Grey with an experimental computer chip called STEM and he will walk again. Grey quickly discovers STEM has a voice and mind of its own, and can take control of his motor functions, turning him into an unstoppable killing machine. Together, they embark on a mission of vengeance…and bloodshed.

Whannell recently spoke with SCREAM about breaking new ground with UPGRADE, his source of inspiration, the allure of advanced technology and his thoughts on horror remakes.

SCREAM: Where did the idea behind UPGRADE spring from?