Code 8 is better than a mere calling-card film, though one senses a desire to check all the boxes of fan expectation and professional packaging rated higher than the kinds of personal expression that might have lent it a more memorable idiosyncrasy.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
The Hollywood Reporter by John DeFore
Though this clearly isn't meant to be a lighthearted story, a glimmer of wit here and there would've helped keep viewers engaged in the action and endeared us to a cast that is competent but hardly charismatic.
Los Angeles Times by Noel Murray
The ideas outpace the action in a movie that’s clearly been made with passion and intelligence, but without the kind of zip that this kind of story demands.
The bad guys are more interesting than the good ones, the heists — including an armored car — are generic.
While the Code 8 movie's premise is more interesting than its other elements, it's handled well enough to warrant further exploration. Code 8 works better as a proof of concept than a standalone sci-fi thriller, serving up fascinating world-building with a fairly basic story.