In an alternate present, it’s been 65 years since the world almost ended in nuclear war. However, society has since rebuilt, and for some, things are even better than before. Genetically-improved humans live like kings in this new society. Before they are even born, the Genetics have their DNA modified in vitro, and are given physical and mental enhancements. However, this process doesn’t work on all humans, about 10% of the population aren’t susceptible to these genetic modifications, and are labeled the somewhat-derogatory term of Specials. One of these Specials is paraplegic Leon (Tom Felton, Harry Potter franchise, Rise of the Planet of the Apes). Leon’s mother always instilled in him the idea that everyone is equal, and this is how he’s lived his life—being wheelchair-bound has never stopped Leon. After now-12-year-old Chloe’s (Liza Bugulova) parents died, Leon took her in, and they’ve been like brother and sister and partners-in-crime, breaking into labs to steal flowers from the powerful Genesis Tree that helped transform society, and developing black market mechanical modifications to help the Specials get their own enhancements.

Some others also share Leon’s idea that the Specials should be treated more equally in society. One of Chloe’s favorite singers, Mira Jones (Aggy K. Adams, The Witcher), is set to perform a concert in the Special District, and insists on doing a meet-and-greet for her fans, despite cautions from her manager. And Senator Kessler (Richard Brake, 31, Doom, Barbarian, The Last Stop in Yuma County) is campaigning to pass Prop. 42, which would introduce a new drug that would allow Specials (and Genetics) to receive genetic enhancements as adults. However, there are those who don’t want this to happen, such as the extremist Anti-Genetics Squad group, which has been terrorizing the city. Leon & Chloe soon fund themselves in hiding and pursued by the police, framed for the AGS’ latest attack. However, Leon suspects that a corrupt cop (Igor Jijikin) and possibly others in the government are behind all of this, and sets out to prove it. So he dons an experimental mechanical suit loaded with plant-based weapons and technology he has developed, and takes to the street like a vigilante superhero, fighting for justice against corrupt politicians and the oppressive system. Can Leon and Chloe expose the truth and finally get equality for the Specials, or will a secret from Leon’s past derail their mission?

Altered sets up an interesting world and premise, bringing in action and sci-fi, while also keeping things a bit light and fun. Tom Felton is great, and you can tell he’s enjoying being a superhero, and his character’s snarky narration also adds to the humor. The film opens with a heist-like sequence with Leon disguised as a janitor while Chloe (on a school field trip) serves as his comms and distraction as he attempts to infiltrate a government lab to steal some supplies. This sequence does a nice job of introducing this duo, and sets the tone for the rest of the film—there’s going to be some exciting action sequences, but also expect things to take more-comedic turns. The chemistry between Leon and Chloe is entertaining, with Chloe sometimes feeling more like the adult and voice of reason in their partnership. Over the course of the film we learn more about their relationship, and both of their backstories.

While I found the film’s general story, overall concept nd world-building to be quite interesting, parts of the execution felt a little rough and missing some of the finer details to connect the dots. There are times when the picture is kind of jumpy (this feels like it was by design to prevent slowing things down), but the writing also felt a bit jumpy as well at times. While there are some surprising twists and turns to the story, some of the things that happen seem a bit out of nowhere. It was as though a script page went missing here and there, and there were these unexplained and unearned leaps in the narrative that we may have missed. Leon also has these creative plant-based weapons that aren’t really explained in a lot of detail. The film is only 85 minutes, so there was definitely time they could have used to add a scene here or there to help flesh the story out a little better. But that said, I still found the film interesting and entertaining. It kind of reminded me of the short-lived 90s superhero show M.A.N.T.I.S..

Well Go has released Altered on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital. We were sent a copy of the 4K release for review. The video presentation looks excellent, with a clean, crisp picture, and an excellent level of detail throughout. This is especially noticeable in faces and in the textures of Leon’s exoskeleton suit, or the individual fibers on a plush sweater. The Dolby Vision color grading helps give the film a rich and cinematic look. The Atmos audio track provides clear dialogue as well as an immersive experience. This is especially noticeable in one scene in a restaurant where you hear the murmurs of the dining guests all around, or when the viewer is put right in the middle of the action sequences.

Unfortunately the release is barebones, just including the film and no bonus material, not even the film’s trailer. The disc comes packed in a standard 4K keepcase, and doesn’t contain a digital copy, but our review copy did include a shiny cardboard slipcover.

What’s Included:

Film: (1:25:02)

4K UHD:
• 2160p / Widescreen 2.39:1
• Dolby Vision / HDR10
• Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English DTS-HDMA 5.1
• Subtitles: English SDH, French

Extras:

There is no bonus material

Final Thoughts:

Altered feels like an amalgamation of sci-fi films and TV shows we’ve seen before. However, Tom Felton is obviously having a lot of fun in this role, and that translates on screen and to the viewer. Fans of the actor should have a fun time with this film, getting to see him play the good guy. Well Go’s 4K release looks and sounds great, but unfortunately doesn’t include any bonus material. It’s still worth a look for fans of the genre or cast.