Today’s quick review: Black Road. In 2029, ex-soldier Dylan (Sam Daly) and his personal AI Clyde (Andrew Wilson) travel to the Free State of Jefferson in search of freelance work. There Dylan is rebuffed by Sarah (Michelle Lombardo), his old flame, but finds a job helping Lisa Clark (Leilani Sarelle) negotiate a divorce with her husband Sterling (Simon Templeman), a cult leader-turned-weapons manufacturer who’s willing to kill to get what he wants.
Black Road is a budget sci-fi crime drama. Set in a near future where several states have seceded from the United States, Black Road follows Dylan as he struggles to get back on his feet. The movie features a noir-style plot with a number of moving parts and takes place in a well-constructed setting that paints a clear picture of the future without breaking the bank. However, limits to its budget and storytelling keep it from going farther.
Black Road fares the best when it comes to its speculation. The movie hits a sci-fi sweet spot: distinct from the present wihtout feeling arbitrary. Nothing about the setting is groundbreaking, but Black Road develops it well in the time it has available. Dylan’s personal AI, omnipresent biometric tracking, and the near-lawless state of Jefferson are some of the movie’s more fruitful ideas, though the details of the setting are sketchy.
Black Road also has a serviceable plot. Dylan is tasked with brokering a peace between a desparate woman and he dangerous husband, with millions of dollars on the line. The question of who Dylan can trust gives the investigation a bit of flavor. However, Black Road’s execution of its story is inexpert. The film never builds up the tension it’s meant to, and neither the acting nor the writing are enough to sell the story well.
More generally, Black Road lacks the resources or the ambition to take its ideas as far as they should go. Clyde is an interesting concept, and the film toys with Dylan’s reliance on him without following through. Similarly, Sterling is a character with an elaborate backstory and real villain potential, but the plot simply doesn’t have much for him to do. Black Road puts in a decent effort, but it has plenty of untapped potential.
Give Black Road a try if you’re a science fiction fan who doesn’t mind a film with a modest scope and a few rough edges. Black Road doesn’t have the spectacle or dramatic weight to draw in skeptical viewers, and only dedicated fans of the genre will get much out of it. But as far as budget sci-fi goes, Black Road’s setting and plot make it an interesting, if niche, pick. Those looking for a tense investigation or polish should look elsewhere.
For a similar picture of the future with higher highs and lower lows, try Mute. For a deeper mystery and a more atmospheric, fully realized future, try Blade Runner or Blade Runner 2049. For a bleaker portrait of the near future, try Automata or The Humanity Bureau.
3.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for solid ideas and mixed execution.