Nicolas Bary is set to direct 'Increase,' a futuristic thriller starring Matilda Lutz, Suzanne Clément, Holt McCallany, and Fernanda Urrejola. The film, which will shoot in Canada in 2027, marks a significant entry in the transhumanist genre.
Genie's Transformative Journey
Lutz will play Genie, a professional runner whose life changes drastically after an unwanted pregnancy and an accident that results in the loss of her legs. Equipped with advanced prosthetics linked to her brain, Genie excels beyond human limits as a Paralympic athlete. Her rise sparks suspicion about whether her accident was truly unintentional.
Screenplay and Themes
The screenplay, penned by Sheila Erdmann, Mary Noelle Dana, and Bary, weaves psychological thriller elements with transhumanist and body horror influences. Bary notes, "I wanted to explore the pursuit of human performance pushed to the extreme — how a passionate athlete can see that passion evolve into obsession."
Bary's concept stemmed from concerns about humanity's growing reliance on technology and AI. He comments, "While the promise was to save time and yield contentment, we are losing touch with an essential part of what makes us human: acknowledging our limits and imperfections."
Inspiration and Influence
Conversations with French Paralympic champion Marie-Amélie Le Fur inspired Bary. Le Fur, a technical advisor on the film, imagined removing her remaining leg to optimize prosthetic efficiency. Bary says, "The dream of freeing oneself from the flesh and thereby overcoming suffering, sickness, and death is at the core of transhumanist ideology."
Influences include "Gattaca," David Cronenberg's body horror films, and emotionally driven thrillers like "Black Swan" and "I, Tonya." Bary describes the film's visuals as "Cronenbergian," with present-day scenes being "cold, clear-cut, and clinical," contrasting with warmer flashbacks of Genie's childhood.
Production Team
Amélie Melkonian serves as executive producer, with Valérie d’Auteuil of Caramel Films and Annabella Nezri of Kwassa Films as co-producers. Axel Cosnefroy is the cinematographer, and Nicolas Tescari will compose the score.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/global/matilda-lutz-suzanne-clement-mccallany-nicolas-bary-increase-1236749831/
