Based on Scott Westerfeld’s novel, “Uglies” (2024) is supposed to usher in a new sci-fi dystopian world that will captivate the Netflix audience for the foreseeable future. Exploring the same world, the Young-adult-themed movie is intended to be the first of many. With Westerfeld having written three more books following “Uglies,” one can safely assume Netflix wants to follow suit while adapting it. Directed by McG (Charlie’s Angels) and starring an enthusiastic young cast that includes Joey King (“The Kissing Booth”), “Uglies” seems to have the winning formula. However, it appears to be a half-hearted effort that often falls back to the genre’s tropes to save itself.
Uglies (2024) ‘Netflix’ Plot Summary and Movie Synopsis
“Uglies” is a dystopian adventure film, so the movie starts with the dystopia. We are transported to the plunging future. Human beings have used up all non-renewable energy sources, and it is up to the best of the scientific minds to save humanity, and the scientists are successful at that. They create a new world where renewable sources of energy thwart the struggle for natural resources. For some reason, they have also created a mechanism where all the citizens get free cosmetic surgeries when they reach the age of sixteen. Thus, the ‘uglies’ become ‘pretties.’
Tally (Joey King) and Peris (Chase Stokes) are best friends, living in the dormitories outside the main city. The ‘uglies’ live there and receive education till they become eligible to transform. They can enter the City only when they become ‘pretty’ through the procedure. Peris and Tally promise each other that they will not forget their life before the surgery. They promise they will let one common scar (on their palms) remain. A mutual reminder of their memorable times together. The day comes, and Peris leaves Tally for his surgery, promising to meet Tally after a month.
Tally still has three more months to go before her surgery. She counts the days before she can meet Peris. A month passes, and Tally excitedly sneaks out of her room to go to the bridge. But Peris does not come to the rendezvous point. So Tally goes farther. She sneaks into the City. After overcoming the amazement, she truly sees the glitz and glamour of that world, and Tally manages to find Peris. But it appears that Peris is not that excited to see her. Tally is then chased by the guards and saved by Shay (Brianne Tju), a girl from the dormitories.
Soon, Shay becomes Tally’s new best friend. From Shay, she learns about the old ways. Or the ‘Rusties’ ways, as they liked to call the old humankind that lived before the division of ‘uglies’ and ‘pretties.’ Shay and Tally’s friendship strengthens, and Shay reveals her deepest secret to Tally. She confesses that she has no desire to go through the procedure. Instead, she shows Tally how to go to ‘The Smoke,’ a place outside the City. It’s a place the City’s authority figure, Dr. Cable (Laverne Cox), denies the existence of. Shay also confirms that she has been in touch with the mystical figure known as David (Keith Powers). David is known to be the leader of a terrorist group.
Shay, however, tells Tally that David’s group is the rebel group. David helps people accept the natural process of aging. The City’s mandatory cosmetic procedure does more harm than good, and Tally cannot believe that. Seeing how Tally is too adamant to be persuaded, Shay leaves her. But she gives her coded directions to come to her. Then, Shay leaves to join David’s group.
Uglies (2024) ‘Netflix’ Movie Review:
One can see “Uglies” having its heart in the right place. YA sci-fi tropes aside, the story tries to infuse the usual rebel-against-the-machine with a chirpy commentary about human’s rapidly increasing penchant for achieving ‘perfection’ in their physical appearances through cosmetic surgeries. However, McG’s interpretation of the societal message is blunt, and the story’s ‘dystopian rebellion’ part just rolls itself out as if it is AI-written.
The terrifying part of “Uglies” is that it is ‘pretty.’ Template ‘pretty.’ So much so that it is hard to distinguish it from any other generic YA sci-fi movie that has the word ‘dystopia’ in its synopsis. The over-reliance on CGI, eager actors regurgitating generic lines, and a serious lack of interest in standing out are a few of the film’s favorite things. And that is ugly. When it comes to producing an enjoyable young-rebels-taking-down-fascists sci-fi movie, a la “The Hunger Games,” “Uglies” doesn’t appear to have any plans for it. It seems to have a concept of those plans, though.
Uglies (2024) ‘Netflix’ Movie Ending Explained:
Why Does Dr. Cable Turn People ‘Pretty’?
After Shay’s departure, Tally reports for her scheduled procedure. However, she is greeted by Dr. Cable herself. Cable informs her that Shay has been missing, and she suspects that Tally knows about her whereabouts. Cable manages to convince Tally that David is going to harm Shay. With that, she tasks Tally to infiltrate David’s camp. Only then will she be able to save Shay, and Cable will allow Tally to become ‘pretty.’ Following Shay’s instructions, Tally manages to find David and his band of rebel fighters. She is ecstatic to find Shay living happily.
David allows Tally to tag along with their group. Tally proves her loyalty by risking her life to save Shay’s when a group of the City’s attackers attack the rebels. In the classic ‘Are we the baddies?’ way, Tally realizes that Dr. Cable has lied to people. The fact that Tally has started to fall for David only increases the rebellion in her heart. Finally, David pulls the big move. He takes her to meet his parents. And Maddy (Charmie Lee) and Az (Jay DeVon Johnson) reveal the big secret.
Maddy and Az were the cosmetic doctors who pioneered transformation surgery. Dr. Cable was their colleague. Maddy and Az found the city’s ulterior motives regarding those cosmetic surgeries. Their research showed that the procedure numbs brain power and limits emotional quotient. It is a brainwashing machine in the guise of cosmetic surgery. That is why they left and had David grow up avoiding the prying eyes of Dr. Cable.
Does Tally Betray David and Shay?
A thoroughly convinced Tally throws her necklace, a gift from Cable, to the fire. The necklace is the tracking device, and Tally is supposed to trigger a warning once she finds David’s weapon. Unbeknownst to Tally, the necklace’s tracking device triggers automatically once it is subjected to destruction via fire. Cable’s team, which features a super-soldier like Peris, swoops down The Smoke and captures everyone. Peris kills Az.
Tally manages to create a diversion. She and David escape. Although Shay and David become convinced that Tally betrayed them by calling Cable, Tally did not do that intentionally. She pleads to David. He does not trust her but realizes she is the only one who can help him sneak into the City to rescue his mother and his people.
Did Maddy Get the Cure?
So, Tally helps David sneak into the City. She seeks help from a few of her ‘classmates’ from the dormitories. With their help, she and David manage to rescue everyone. Well, almost everyone. They are too late to save Shay. Shay gets transformed into a ‘prettier’ version of herself. Cable captures David, Tally, and Maddy. She starts the procedure to transform and brainwash the three of them.
But David’s lieutenant, Croy, saves them while raining fire on the room. Using the commotion, Maddy gets the one crucial ingredient she has been missing in her cure. She takes it from Cable’s collection. With that, she can develop a cure to revert the ‘pretties.’ But Shay, in her current state, does not want to return to being ‘ugly.’
Did Peris Die?
As David and Tally try to escape, Peris blocks their road. A fight ensues. For a moment, Tally seems to overcome Peris’ mental barrier. He seems to recognize her. But David, remembering how Peris killed his father, intervenes. A fight between them pushes Peris off a cliff. Before Peris perishes, he calls Tally ‘Squint’ — the name he used before his transformation. Now, we do not see Peris’ body. It must be remembered that he now has the strength of a super-soldier. He has already shown to be relatively immune to fire. He may just survive a fall.
Did Tally Fully Turn ‘Pretty’?
Maddy discards the idea of forcibly pushing her experimental cure on Shay. She rightly points out that it would mean they are no different from Dr. Cable if they inject Shay with the cure against her will. Then, Tally asks David and Maddy to experiment on her. She permits them to do so then and there so they will not do anything against her will.
However, for that to work, Tally must first turn into ‘pretty.’ She tells David that she will show signs to let him know if her real self survived or not after the surgery. David promises to come back for her. So, she sacrifices herself. She allows Cable to capture her and transform her. We see a ‘pretty’ version of Tally enjoying the grand view of the city from her plush home. But she has a scar. The tell-tale sign that she has not allowed her old self to completely disappear.
Will There Be an ‘Uglies 2’?
It does seem the likely path. There are still three more books in the “Uglies” series. The movie ends with the promise of David coming back to rescue Tally. Although it appears that Tally has not fully gone ‘pretty,’ there are going to be some changes in her. We also do not see Peris die, even if it is implied. Netflix ends “Uglies” with the intention of coming back to this world. Hope the next outing is significantly better than this.
