Futuristic Thriller: When Prosthetics Blur Human Limits

Nicolas Bary's English-language futuristic thriller, "Increase," is scheduled for production in Canada in 2027. The film stars Matilda Lutz as Genie, a runner whose life is dramatically altered after losing both legs and subsequently receiving advanced, brain-connected prosthetic limbs.

Genie's recovery sees her not only walking but excelling as a Paralympic athlete, pushing the boundaries of human capability. This extraordinary rise sparks suspicion about the true nature of her amputation, hinting it might have been intentional rather than accidental.

The screenplay, penned by Sheila Erdmann, Mary Noelle Dana, and Bary, blends psychological thrills with transhumanist ideas and body horror. Bary stated his intention to explore the extreme pursuit of human performance, where passion can morph into dangerous obsession.

The filmmaker drew inspiration from anxieties about modern technology and humanity's increasing reliance on digital tools and AI. He noted how advancements meant to save time might disconnect us from our essential humanity, including acknowledging our limits.

Inspired partly by conversations with French Paralympic champion Marie-Amélie Le Fur, the film delves into transhumanist ideology. Le Fur, who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident, once considered removing her remaining leg to enhance prosthetic efficiency.

Bary cited influences such as "Gattaca," David Cronenberg's body horror films, and psychologically intense thrillers like "Black Swan." Visually, the film aims for a "Cronenbergian" aesthetic, exploring the body, transformation, and hybrid identities, with present-day scenes depicted as clinical and childhood flashbacks as warmer and more tender.