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Electrum is a 2025 American science fiction action thriller film written and directed by Cal Bennett in his feature-length directorial debut. It stars Christopher Abbott, Vincent Piazza, Patrick Fischler, Leah Lewis, Jeremy Allen White, and Aimee Carrero. The plot follows a contract killer who discovers he can weaponize the city's power while hunting down the crime bosses after surviving the ambush that leaves his body hypersensitive to electricity.
Electrum premiered on September 12, 2025, at the Toronto International Film Festival, and received a limited release in the United States on March 20, 2026. The film received mixed reviews from critics.
Synopsis[]
"In the rain-slicked streets of Philadelphia, contract killer Evan Kearney is at the top of his game, executing jobs with precision and methodical calm. He works alongside his trusted partner, Jade Nguyen, navigating the shadows of the city’s industrial corridors and neon-lit backstreets. But the underworld of Philadelphia is treacherous, and betrayal lurks in unexpected places."
"Evan and Jade are ambushed by a team orchestrated by the city’s most powerful crime boss, Salvatore “Sal” Moretti. The attack leaves Jade dead and Evan critically injured. He survives, but the near-fatal encounter alters his body: Evan becomes hyper-sensitive to electricity, able to feel, manipulate, and weaponize the currents that run through the city itself."
"Recovering in the solitude of his apartment, Evan discovers the frightening potential—and peril—of his new abilities. Every exposed wire, flickering streetlight, and hum of a transformer becomes a conduit for his rage. With his body now a living electrical network, Evan begins to rebuild himself for vengeance, each encounter with the city’s infrastructure a test of control and endurance."
"Electrum is a tense, stylish, and gritty exploration of betrayal, survival, and the extraordinary power that lies within a man pushed to his limits, blending urban realism with a grounded, sci-fi twist."
Plot[]
TBA.
Cast[]
- Christopher Abbott as Evan Kearney, a professional hitman who seeks vengeance towards the underworld
- Vincent Piazza as Salvatore "Sal" Moretti, a crime boss who ordered the hit
- Patrick Fischler as Marco "Wire" Luciani, an enforcer who is tasked to eliminate Evan
- Leah Lewis as Jade Nguyenm, Evan's associate/partner who was killed during the ambush
- Jeremy Allen White as Toby, a mob operative who betrays Evan
- Aimee Carrero as Rosa "Ro", Evan's informant who aids him to locate his targets
- David Oyelowo as Det. Samuel Crowley, an police officer who tracks Evan's every movement
- Scoot McNairy as Mike Kearney, Evan's brother
- Clifton Collins Jr. as Victor Salgado, a high-profile drug dealer who was assassinated by Evan
Production[]
Up-and-coming director Cal Bennett began writing the screenplay about a hitman who gains superhuman-alike abilities after becoming dangerously hypersensitive to electricity during the ambush. Bennett cited Drive (2011), Chronicle (2012), John Wick (2014) and Hardcore Henry (2015) as his inspirations.
Bennett pitches his script to multiple film studios but was turned down due to financial issues at the time. The screenplay receives feedback from producers Aaron B. Koontz and Cameron Burns after they feel "impressive" by its story as they contacted Bennett for their first-look deal, to which the latter agrees while ensuring its fast-pacing. Jake Lacy was approached to portray the role of Evan Kearney, though Lacy passed on the role to focus on other projects. Christopher Abbott joins the role after his work in successful independent films.
Principal photography began on March 12, 2025, in Philadelphia for its exterior sequences while controlling night shoots for electrical effect-heavy scenes. Stand-in locations were also filmed in Toronto, Ontario.
Release[]
Electrum was theatrically released in the United States on March 20, 2026, by XYZ Films.
The film was released on home media (Blu-ray and DVD) on June 21, 2026.
Reception[]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 68% based on 206 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads: “Electrum delivers inventive, street-level sci-fi action with a tense, atmospheric city as a character, though some viewers may find its pacing uneven and PG-13 restraint limits the impact of its violent premise.” On Metacritic, the film has a score of 61 out of 100 based on 52 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews." CinemaScore polls gave the film an average grade of "B / B-" on an A+ to F scale.