This exciting and very cool science fiction film Hover, takes you into the not too distant future and uses a lot of technology from today’s high tech manufacturers. Mixing in a crime thriller audiences will get some unexpected twists and leave with a bit of wonder to boot. While you may get the impression that Hover is shot on a low budget, it probably was as the production quality may not be as upscale as you are accustomed.
It’s in an era where electric cars can be driven with automatic guidance systems that take you to your destination without much effort. Things like Suri are commonplace, money is only in the form of credits, house keys are electronic and drones are used for many purposes including crime watch and currently for working with farm crops. Drought has encompassed 62% of the planet and countries have been trying to bring farming back. Vastgrow, a leader in drone leasing and repair, has been getting most of their business and have been using their drones to aid in crop growth. All drones have cameras and are monitored by Vastgrow and have been an increasing nuisance.
John (Craig muMs Grant) and Claudia (Cleopatra Coleman) are partners that work for Transitions, a company that handles accounts that need their services of assisted suicide. Kindly administered, they end the life of the subjects who are near death in a caring and loving manner. They have been working together for quite a while, but John, who is a long time employee, has seniority over their partnership. Most of their jobs lately have been on farms with a noticeable increase where drones are being used.
John suspiciously dies following an appointment and Claudia gets told he transitioned himself. When a son of one of her clients feels Vasgrow has been causing illness to farmers who have resisted interference by some of the drones on their property, she starts to ask questions. Director Matt Osterman works his tale well showing the vast dead croplands, farmers not able to get profitable turnovers and doubt about Vasgrow’s cameras intruding in their lives.
His main cast does a good job of defining their characters and making the movie look like what they are going through may really be the future. The film was written by Cleopatra Coleman (TV’s “The Last Man on Earth” as Erica) and the story works nicely for the big screen. As Claudia she finds herself in a predicament being an employee of a euthanasia company that seems to be killing off witnesses to a crime involving greed and corruption. She realizes if she investigates the wrong doing brought up by the families of the victims, that it certainly cause the loss of her job and maybe even make her a target. It’s a good role for Coleman, even though it looks like she wrote the script seeing herself in the role.
Hover has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains language, sexual inferences and graphic violence, disturbing images, and assisted suicide. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the film as it does have some scenes that are gross and very inappropriate for youngsters under 13.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A vision of the future? (3 out of 5 stars)
Additional Film Information
Cast: Cleopatra Coleman, Shane Coffey, Craig muMs Grant, Beth Grant, Fabianne Therese, and Rhoda Griffis
Directed by: Matt Osterman
Screenwriting by: Cleopatra Coleman
Genre: Sci-fi
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, contains language, violence, disturbing images
Running Time: TBD
Release Date: June 29, 2018
Distributed by: SYFY Films
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
