What happens when technology doesn’t just change the way we live—but takes control of who we are?

In this episode of Score THIS, we dive into Upgrade (2018), Leigh Whannell’s stylish and brutal sci-fi thriller, and the pulse-pounding score by Jed Palmer. From Grey Trace’s transformation after a devastating attack to STEM’s increasingly dominant presence, we explore how the music drives the film’s shifting balance between humanity and machine.

With special guest, Marcus Pinn, we break down Palmer’s electronic textures, aggressive rhythms, unsettling sound design, and recurring musical ideas, examining how the score mirrors Grey’s physical transformation and the growing conflict between man and technology.

It’s Upgrade—a film where the body is the battlefield, the machine is the weapon, and the score keeps the system running.

For more information on Marcus Pinn, check out these links:

PINNLAND EMPIRE

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Available on all streaming platforms.

Editor's Note: This episode was recorded on 6/27/26

Score THIS Scale explanation voiced by: Mia Shilling