Higher Power Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A grieving dad is forcibly zapped by a mad scientist into becoming a glowy, angry superhero just in time to fight space radiation, proving the universe really just wants you to have a bad day before potentially ending it all.

🍿 Higher Power: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Life in Turmoil

Joe Steadman is a former security guard struggling with alcoholism and estrangement from his two daughters, Zoe and Rhea, following the death of his wife. His life is marked by personal failures and a desperate desire to reconnect with his family. Unbeknownst to Joe, a brilliant but rogue scientist named Control has been researching the human population’s DNA profile to find a specific match for a dangerous experiment. Believing Joe is the perfect candidate, Control orchestrates his kidnapping.

An Unwilling Subject

Joe awakens to find a neural implant connected to his optical nerve, allowing Control to communicate directly with him and monitor his actions. Control reveals that Earth is facing imminent destruction from a gamma-ray burst from a dying star. To force Joe’s cooperation, Control threatens the lives of his daughters. Joe is compelled to follow a series of directives, retrieving forbidden research and confronting his past traumas, which appear to be integral to the scientist’s plan.

Building Towards Transformation

As Joe carries out the tasks, his body begins to undergo unusual and painful changes, manifesting in uncontrolled bursts of energy and physical alterations. Control reveals that the experiment is designed to unlock latent human potential, effectively evolving Joe into a being capable of resisting the impending cosmic threat. The forced journey pushes Joe to his physical and emotional limits, confronting not only external dangers but also his internal demons and unresolved issues with his family.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Joe Steadman (Ron Eldard): A former family man struggling with alcoholism and estrangement from his daughters, who is kidnapped and forced into a dangerous experiment.
• Control (Colm Feore): A driven scientist who kidnaps Joe and uses threats against his daughters to force him to be the test subject for a world-saving experiment.
• Zoe Steadman (Jordan Hinson): Joe’s college-aged daughter who is estranged from him but becomes a target used by the scientist to manipulate Joe.
• Rhea Steadman (Marielle Jaffe): Joe’s other daughter, who is a drug addict and whose life is threatened to motivate Joe’s actions.
• Nico Sola (Erik Daniel Cruz): A drug dealer who becomes entangled in the events surrounding Joe and his daughters.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Control: “When the Universe decides what it wants, it’s pointless to resist.” – This line, often used in promotional materials, captures the antagonist’s deterministic view on the coming cosmic event and Joe’s role in it.
• Joe Steadman: “Why are you doing this to me?!” – A recurring line Joe screams in pain and confusion as Control forces him through traumatic and agonizing transformations and tasks.
• Joe Steadman: “Ahhh! Aaaaaaaarrrrrhhhhhh!!” – Frequent vocalizations of extreme pain and anguish as Joe undergoes the physical and mental strain of the experiments.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $500,000
• Domestic Gross: $528
• Worldwide Gross: $528

💥 Higher Power Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into ‘Higher Power’ not expecting much, given the low rating, but man, parts of this movie really got to me! The beginning is definitely a bit of a slog, focusing on the family drama which felt a little generic, and yeah, some of the acting was… intense. But I stuck with it because the premise was intriguing. Then the transformation started happening, and whoa. The visuals were seriously cool and weirdly beautiful for a movie with this budget. Seeing the main character change and react to the powers was wild. It made me feel genuinely curious and a little freaked out about what was possible. The ending sequence was the payoff for me. It felt epic and mind-bending in a way I wasn’t anticipating. Despite the flaws, I appreciated the sheer ambition and creativity on display, especially in the later half. It’s not a perfect movie, but it’s unique and has visuals that will stick with you.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of low-budget, ambitious science fiction”
  • “Viewers interested in unique superhero origin stories”
  • “Those who appreciate creative visual effects despite budget limitations”
  • “Audiences looking for mind-bending or cosmic-scale narratives”
  • “Fans of films like ‘Chronicle’ or concepts similar to Doctor Manhattan”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Alcoholism and addiction themes”
  • “Sci-fi violence and body horror (transformation scenes)”
  • “Threats and manipulation of family members”
  • “Disturbing thematic elements related to control and human experimentation”

Professional Reviews

• Flick Digest: “Higher Power presents a fascinating sci-fi concept on a shoestring budget. While the ambitious visuals in the final act are genuinely impressive and creative, the journey there is often hampered by clunky dialogue and uneven performances. It’s a film that swings for the fences thematically but trips over its own feet structurally. Worth a watch for sci-fi fans who appreciate bold ideas over polished execution.
• Indie Film Weekly: “This low-budget sci-fi thriller has moments of inspired visual flair, particularly as our protagonist undergoes his ‘transformation’. Unfortunately, these highlights are surrounded by a slow burn that often feels more like a standstill. The core dramatic beats feel forced, and the central performance leans heavily into shouting rather than nuanced emotion. An interesting, if flawed, attempt at cosmic horror and superhero origin.

Audience Reactions

Viewers were divided but many praised the ambitious special effects, especially towards the end.: The movie’s visuals and the core sci-fi concept were often highlighted as surprisingly good for a low-budget film.

The ‘transformation’ sequence was a major talking point for those who enjoyed the film.: Many found the pacing slow in the first half but felt the latter part of the movie made it worthwhile.

Overall Consensus: A highly divisive low-budget sci-fi film praised for its ambitious concept and surprisingly effective visuals, particularly in its final act, but criticized for uneven acting, dialogue, and pacing.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The movie’s concept is heavily influenced by the story of DC Comics character Dr. Manhattan.”
• “Director Matthew Charles Santoro has a background in visual effects, having worked on films like ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ (which featured the Silver Surfer visual effects he mentioned), which explains the film’s focus on unique CGI despite a low budget.”
• “The reported budget for the film was around $500,000.”

🖥️ How to Watch Higher Power?

Discover where to watch the sci-fi thriller ‘Higher Power’ (2018). While availability can vary by region and platform, the film has previously been available for streaming on services like Amazon Prime Video. You may also find ‘Higher Power’ available for rent or purchase on major digital storefronts such as Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube Movies. Always check the latest listings on your preferred platform for current availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Higher Power, you might like these similar films:

• Chronicle (2012): Features young people gaining extraordinary powers, exploring the implications and emotional toll of such abilities, similar to Joe’s transformation and struggle.
• Upgrade (2018): Involves a protagonist who is enhanced against his will through technology, leading to new abilities and a quest for revenge/control, released the same year with a similar sci-fi action vibe.
• Primer (2004): A complex, low-budget indie sci-fi film that focuses heavily on the scientific concepts and consequences of extraordinary events, appealing to fans interested in the ‘idea’ behind ‘Higher Power’.
• Lucy (2014): Explores the concept of unleashing human potential and evolution to an extreme, cosmic scale, which resonates with the latter parts of ‘Higher Power’ where Joe’s abilities expand dramatically.

🛒 Higher Power Related Products

• Cosmic Evolution: The Art of Sci-Fi Film FX Book: Explore the incredible world of visual effects in independent science fiction cinema. This book features interviews with VFX artists and directors who achieved stunning visuals on limited budgets, including case studies reminiscent of ‘Higher Power’.
• Universal Power Orb Replica Prop: A detailed replica of a cosmic energy source, inspired by the themes of transhumanism and immense power explored in the film. Features internal LED lighting for a captivating display.
• Existential Threat: Galactic Strategy Game (Digital Code): A deep space strategy game where you must unite humanity to face an impending cosmic-level threat, similar to the gamma ray burst in ‘Higher Power’. Make difficult choices about sacrifice and survival.
• Higher Power Movie Poster (Limited Edition Print): A high-quality, limited edition art print featuring the unique and abstract visuals from the movie’s transformative sequences. Perfect for framing.

🎧 Soundtrack

Higher Power features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Cosmic Genesis” – performed by Matthew Charles Santoro
• “Forced Evolution” – performed by Unknown Artist
• “Gamma Ray Arrival” – performed by Unknown Artist
• “Industrial Conduit” – performed by Placeholder Music Group
• “The Final Wave” – performed by Matthew Charles Santoro

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Disappointed By God, Mad Scientist Creates His Own Demigod

Okay, so this movie’s story gets pretty intense with a crazy scientist and a whole demigod situation. If you’re curious (or maybe a little confused) about everything that went down, check out this breakdown – it really helps connect the dots!

✨ Rate