Hackers
Directed by Iain Softley
- action
- crime
- thriller
- drama
The story
Along with his new friends, a teenager who was arrested by the US Secret Service and banned from using a computer for writing a computer virus discovers a plot by a nefarious hacker, but they must use their computer skills to find the evidence while being pursued by the Secret Service and the evil computer genius behind the virus.
What it’s like
Saturated neon and glowing monitor light carry this one, with the city rendered as a blur of night-time streets, fluorescent-lit school corridors and cramped bedrooms lit by screen glow, all shot in fast, restless camera moves and rapid-cut montage. Its sound is a loud, bright mix of techno and electronic rock, with synth pulses pushing the energy and digital bleeps punctuating every keystroke, so the whole picture feels like it is humming. The vibe is playful, stylish and a little giddy, a 90s cyberpunk romp where the hacking looks like a dazzling light show and the pranks keep the mood buoyant. Pacing is brisk and the tone is light-hearted with real tension when the chase tightens; the emotional arc follows a misfit teen and a small crew of outsiders finding belonging and confidence in one another. Violence is minimal, with some peril and a few brief scuffles but no gore; there is mild language and flirtation but nothing explicit. It suits a lively weekend night, a nostalgic rewatch or a playful watch with friends, and is for people who enjoy kinetic, neon-soaked style over quiet realism.
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