Quadrant review: A dark and stylish sci-fi slasher

Full Moon Features is a brand known for B-movies like the Puppet Master series, Evil Bong, Demonic Toys, and The Gingerdead Man. With a Full Moon movie, you know what you're getting.

The long-running indie studio's 400th film, Quadrant, marks the debut of Full Moon's new production label, Pulp Noir. The production label will release a slate of films that are described as darker and edgier. Quadrant is a noticeable and interesting shift from Full Moon's typical films. It does indeed address more mature subject matter, specifically the threats posed by AI and VR.

Directed by Full Moon founder, Charles Band, with a script by C. Courtney Joyner, the film stars Shannon Barnes as Erin, who is obsessed with Jack the Ripper and 19th Century London. She agrees to partake in an experiment that allows her to use VR to transport her mind to Jack the Ripper's London. Essentially, the quadrant is meant to allow people to confront their fears and overcome them. This seems like a noble purpose, right?

Well, with any form of new technology, it can be used for nefarious purposes. Initially, Erin's intentions and interest in the project are unclear, but as the film progresses, they become obvious. Without spoiling anything, let's just say there's certainly a reason she's obsessed with Jack the Ripper. Yet, the film also poses an interesting philosophical question: does the machine corrupt its users, playing up their worst impulses, or was the user already ill-intentioned and the machine simply makes horrible desires more possible?

Along with some of the moral quandaries the film grapples with, Quadrant also has quite a sleek look to it. Band uses black and white, creating a film noir aesthetic, whenever Erin puts on the headset and transports her consciousness to 19th Century London. It looks great, especially when this is juxtaposed with some colorful and bloody murder sequences. Further, the film also works well as a sci-fi slasher with a few gruesome kills splattered throughout the lean runtime.

While the cast is rounded out by a few others, specifically Christian Carrigan, who plays Robert, a character Erin seduces and uses, as well as a few scientists, it's really Barnes who carries this film. She makes for a compelling lead, giving Erin nuance and complexity, especially as her character arc evolves and her true intentions are shown quite vividly.

Quadrant is a stylish film with subject matter darker in tone and theme than Full Moon's typical staples. This is a film that addresses AI and VR, all while implementing some of those very technologies in a few sequences. Quadrant is a solid and interesting film to kick off Full Moon's new production label, Pulp Noir.

Quadrant will premiere on August 23 on Amazon Prime, Full Moon Features, and Tubi. It'll also be available to purchase on Blu-ray, DVD, and VHS the same day.