I was not familiar with the 2023 sci-fi thriller "Ultra Red" from writer and director Michael Fredianelli as I stumbled upon it here in 2025. I have to say that I didn't exactly harbor the biggest of expectations to the movie, given it's somewhat amateurish cover, plus the fact that I am usually not overly keen on the sci-fi genre. But still, since it was a movie that I hadn't already seen, of course I opted to give the movie a fair chance.
Writer Michael Fredianelli put together a rather straightforward, but somewhat generic, sci-fi thriller. Sure, it was watchable for what it was, but it was by no means an outstanding storyline.
The cast in "Ultra Red" was all faces and talents that I wasn't familiar with, and that is actually something I do enjoy whenever I sit down to watch a movie, as the actors and actresses aren't associated with characters portrayed in other movies. The acting performances in the movie were certainly fair.
The effects in the movie were adequate. Sure, you're not in for anything grand or extraordinary in terms of special effects or CGI, but it was adequate enough for a movie of this caliber.
I am sure that diehard sci-fi fans will enjoy "Ultra Red" a lot more than I did as a casual viewer. But then again, I am not much of a sci-fi fan, truth be told.
This is, however, not a movie that I will be returning to watch a second time.
My rating of writer and director Michael Fredianelli's 2023 movie "Ultra Red" lands on a three out of ten stars.
