Stephen and Robbie Amell, the talented cousin duo, return with a bang to an exciting sci-fi world in Netflix’s Code 8: Part II. The film picks up a few years later from where the original movie left off, showing what happened to the first film’s main characters. Code 8’s ending saw Connor Reed (Robbie Amell) go on the run after having been part of an incident that resulted in the death of cops. Code 8: Part II focuses on what Amell’s character gets up to after spending years in jail.

Code 8: Part II is the sequel to the 2019 sci-fi action film by director Jeff Chan. Connor has been released from prison and intends to turn his life around, but he is dragged back in when a teenager named Pav crosses his path. Running afoul of corrupt police officers, Pav flees with the help of Connor, but to succeed, he’ll have to reach back out to his former criminal partner, Garrett.

Pros

• Stephen Amell has fun with a morally gray character
• Robbie Amell anchors the movie with an emotional performance
• Code 8: Part II improves on the original movie in pretty much every way

Cons

• Connor Reed’s lightning powers’ VFX fail to impress again

The sci-fi sequel sees Connor’s world once again intertwine with that of Garrett Kelton (Stephen Amell), who is doing good for himself after having taken over Lincoln City’s drug trade at the end of the first movie. Code 8: Part II does that by bringing the 14-year-old Pav (Sirena Gulamgaus) into both of their lives, with the teen girl being present for an event that gets the movie running and completely smashes Connor’s intention of staying out of trouble. Code 8: Part II comes after a planned spinoff on Quibi fizzled when the streaming service closed down.

With so many superpowers on display and a relatively small budget, director Jeff Chan and crew knocked it off the park to deliver strong visuals.

Code 8: Part II Improves On The Original In Every Way

The sequel succeeds with intimate moments and energetic action

Code 8 Part 2 Official Trailer (Trailer)

Code 8: Part II thrusts us back into a world where four percent of the population has powers; however, different from other mainstream movies and series, the franchise’s superpowered individuals are closely monitored by the police instead of becoming heroes. With so many superpowers on display and a relatively small budget, director Jeff Chan and crew knocked it off the park to deliver strong visuals. Code 8: Part II added a couple of new powers to the franchise, and they all looked believable and exciting, with Connor’s lightning VFX being the only one to not stick the landing.

Code 8 saw the police use drones and Guardians — humanoid robots — to keep Powers, the franchise’s marginalized superpowered community, in check. Both the robots and the drones looked great in the original film, but Code 8: Part II makes them better in every way, with a side-by-side comparison showing how much the franchise’s sci-fi elements have improved. In the sequel, the Lincoln City police department has replaced the Guardians with new robotic K9s, which look impressive and give the movie kinetic action sequences, with a particular moment filled with suspense early in the film.

While Code 8: Part II manages to outdo the original movie in its sci-fi elements, that is not the only improvement that can be seen in the sequel. Part II hinges on a script co-written by Chris Paré, Sherren Lee, Jesse LaVercombe, and director Jeff Chan. While it presents engaging action, it only hits as hard as it does due to the movie’s slower, character-focused moments. The sequel tells a compelling story that gives plenty of chances for its main stars to shine, adding depth to returning characters and introducing interesting new players.

Robbie & Stephen Amell Anchor Code 8: Part II With Strong Performances

The movie also allows its supporting characters to shine

Stephen Amell led 8 seasons of Arrow, playing Oliver Queen, the DC hero known as Green Arrow. While the actor’s role in starting the successful Arrowverse — DC’s interconnected TV universe — has made Amell one of the most popular superhero actors from the last decade, the Code 8 franchise sees him take on a different role. Amell thrives as Garrett, a villain with a gray moral code, a stark contrast with Amell’s most famous role. Code 8: Part II further develops the character, with Amell delivering an entertaining performance that makes Garrett unpredictable.

Amell is at the top of his game for the movie’s most emotional moments, anchoring the sequel’s energetic action sequences with hard-hitting drama.

Meanwhile, Robbie Amell’s Connor is impossible not to root for. After letting his mom die in order not to take someone else’s life in Code 8, Connor puts himself back in danger when he doesn’t need to so that he can save a scared girl. While Amell does not tap into the humor he excels at in the hit series Upload, the actor makes Connor a kindhearted lead. Amell is at the top of his game for the movie’s most emotional moments, anchoring the sequel’s energetic action sequences with hard-hitting drama.

Code 8: Part II does a great job with the franchise’s returning characters, though they’re not the only ones to shine in the sequel. The movie has an easy-to-hate villain in Alex Mallari Jr.’s Sergeant “King” Kingston. Mallari played a minor role in Code 8, with the actor returning to show his skill set in the sequel, making King charismatic at times and utterly evil when the curtain is pulled back. Sirena Gulamgaus also plays a key role as Pav, who is both charming and fierce. The character, who is crucial to Code 8: Part II‘s story, never disappoints.