Cyborg

There’s often a temptation to spice up a dull story with something wild. Something like a cyborg from the 23rd century.

It’s a common trick in movies. As the tension fades midway through, they put in a really nasty bad guy or monster. Drop in a hideous plot twist. Or a new piece of background information. Anything to shake things up and make it interesting. But it rarely works.

Think about all the superhero films with the huge CGI battle scenes. It’s like watching a video game that someone else is playing. Yawn.

What they really need is better characterisation. Protagonists we really care about. Ones that feel real. Like us but in difficult circumstances. Challenging but believable situations. But that means fewer bangs and booms. Less action and more good writing. Things that don’t look good on a trailer. It’s about being real and keeping it simple.

So think about a little boy who’s lost in a railway station. Looking for his Mum, frightened and alone.

That’s much more scary than any cyborg.