SCI-FI SHORTS: “As You Were”

Some veterans who are seriously injured during war are given prosthetic limbs to cope with life back home. What if instead of fake hands and legs they were given fully functioning robotic limbs?

As You Were tells the story of Johnner (played by Trey Holland), a soldier trying to readjust to civilian life with a robotic arm and leg. Johnner lost them during a war where robots tried to destroy humans. The film addresses his struggle to find a job due to the fear people still have of robots and, by extension, his robotic limbs.

I look at As You Were like the epilogue of a movie like I, Robot or Terminator Salvation. What happens to the characters after all the robots are gone and everyone has to move forward with their lives? The film was a good look at the psychological trauma soldier’s face and it put a sci-fi spin on the concept.

Aside from the beginning of the movie and a few flashbacks, the actual war is never shown. In fact, details of the war such as why it happened are never addressed in the film. But watching it you never really care because you’re so invested in what’s happening to Johnner, like his deteriorating relationship with his wife, Erica (played by Christine Woods), and their children. His children are terrified of him and his wife can’t relate to what he’s going through.

Overall, I found it to be a really good sci-fi movie and a great dramatic one. I especially liked that the film showed how simple things like putting on a tie would be difficult when you have an arm that can punch through a wall effortlessly. As You Were is great for people who like sci-fi and dramatic movies. You can check it out here.

If you enjoyed Manny’s review and would like to read other pieces like it, you can find the rest of his work HERE. You can also follow him on Twitter @KN_Manny.

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