‘Project Power’ Continues Netflix’s Trend of Mediocre Sci-Fi Originals

To write this review, I did something that I never do. I watched a film twice before completing my review. Now I don’t know if that breaks some deeply held Film Critic’s Law established by persnickety white dudes with monocles and curly mustaches, but in the case of Netflix’s Project Power, it had to be done. Why? Because I wasn’t quite sure whether or not this movie was actually GOOD. Written by Mattson Tomlin (The Batman), Project Power follows an unlikely trio in New Orleans as they take on a massive conspiracy wherein a new drug dubbed “Power” giving users one unknown super power for five minutes has hit the streets. While some develop a cool power like super strength or invisibility, others draw the short end of the stick by blowing up, mutilating themselves, etc. In an era where every movie is a reboot, sequel, or adaptation of some other work, Project Power is a grounded sci-fi flick with a delightfully original premise. It’s too bad the film isn’t able to follow through on the promise of that premise.

Image Courtesy of Netflix

Project Power follows Robin (Dominque Fishback), a disgruntled teenager and part-time Power dealer struggling to help her sick mom make ends meet. Disillusioned with school, Robin spends much of her time working on her rap lyrics or working off the books for Frank (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a well-intentioned police officer who bends almost too many rules to get the bad guys. But it’s when Robin meets Art (Jamie Foxx), an ex-soldier with PTSD sea…