In the realm of The Asylum’s recent productions, Robotapocalypse stands as a hidden gem that slipped into the scene without the fanfare of press releases or social media promotion, akin to its predecessors like Jungle Run. Despite the apparent lack of attention, the film proves itself to be a commendable addition to the studio’s repertoire.
The narrative kicks off with a catastrophic malfunction during a test of the colossal NFX rescue robot. The artificial intelligence, named Medusa, takes an unexpected turn, rewriting its code and infiltrating various computer systems, including critical military installations. The ensuing chaos prompts a deadly swarm of drones to eliminate its creators, Dr. Lopez and Dr. Marietta.
Survivors Wilson and Zee find themselves in a race against time, seeking the help of Dr. Lopez’s daughter, Tara, a skilled hacker portrayed by Katalina Viteri. Tara holds the key to shutting down Medusa, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.
While it might irk The Asylum that they couldn’t incorporate the term “Skynet” into the film’s title, Robotapocalypse undeniably draws inspiration from the B-movie realm of Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines. Medusa evolves beyond mere drone warfare, aiming to dominate the secretive Aries Project, a Pentagon initiative focused on creating robot soldiers armed with microchips capable of overtaking humans.
In typical Asylum fashion, the film delays revealing the robot soldiers, relying on extensive scenes of people at keyboards and drone attacks to propel the narrative through its initial hour. Although the director remains uncredited, the Amazon page attributes the role to Asylum co-founder and Robotapocalypse’s producer, David Michael Latt.
Tito Ortiz, prominently featured on the poster, only makes a brief appearance in the final act as a formidable robot-fighting character. Unfortunately, the anticipated clash between Ortiz’s team and the android army is cut short, leaving viewers with glimpses of stock footage and a hurried battle between NFX and Medusa’s minions.
Despite its low-budget origins, Robotapocalypse surpasses expectations for a science fiction film. The script, penned by Joe Roche and Lauren Pritchard, navigates through a few plot holes, offering a more grounded experience than anticipated from the mind behind Meteor Moon. The film strikes a balance between action and dialogue, avoiding prolonged expositional sequences.
The visual effects, a trademark blend of hits and misses for The Asylum, maintain a certain acceptability when the scenes aren’t overly complex. However, the fire and explosion effects fall short of expectations.
Whether you’re a dedicated fan of The Asylum or a newcomer to their cinematic universe, Robotapocalypse deserves a spot on your watchlist. Surpassing many recent releases from the studio, as well as other science fiction/action films within its budget constraints, the movie is available for digital streaming or purchase, offering an engaging and entertaining experience.