The Tron franchise is defined as much by its sound as its visuals. From Wendy Carlos’ original synthesisers to Daft Punk’s iconic, Grammy-nominated score for Tron: Legacy, the music of the Grid is a crucial part of its identity. It is with this weight of expectation that Tron: Ares, the long-awaited third film in the series, boots up, swapping French house for industrial rock with a new score from Nine Inch Nails.
Directed by Joachim Rønning, Tron: Ares bravely unplugs from the digital world, bringing its AI protagonist into our own. The premise—a digital being, Ares (Jared Leto), manifesting in the real world—sparked pre-release concerns of a recycled Terminator plot. Fortunately, the film is more sophisticated than a simple human-versus-machine hunt. It’s a narrative that engages with contemporary anxieties around big tech and AI, even finding moments to poke fun at the tiresome hype cycle surrounding the technology without shying away from the ethical questions it poses.
Despite this, the film’s reception has been decidedly mixed, and it’s easy to see why. While it avoids the most obvious plot pitfalls, it struggles to find a compelling emotional core. The story offers a passable way to spend an evening but lacks the spark to be truly exciting or the dread to be genuinely thought-provoking. It lands squarely in the middle of the road, a technically proficient spectacle that hints at the potential for a better use of technology without making a strong case for it.
Visually, Tron: Ares is undeniably impressive. Rønning delivers the stunning light cycle sequences and neon-drenched aesthetic fans expect. There are welcome, if slightly muted, nods to the previous films, including a nostalgic cameo from Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, which thankfully avoids leaning too heavily on fan service.
The cast delivers solid performances across the board. Jared Leto is perfectly adequate as the titular Ares, and Greta Lee brings a capable presence to the role of Eve Kim. Evan Peters is effective as the film’s antagonist, Julian Dillinger. However, the standout is Jodie Turner-Smith as Athena, a cracking performance that makes her one of the most memorable characters. Conversely, the formidable Gillian Anderson feels wasted in a role that doesn’t give her nearly enough to do.
Many critics have pointed to the Nine Inch Nails soundtrack as the film’s highlight. While some viewers have found the score surprisingly subtle between the opening and closing credits, the industrial hum created by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross provides a fittingly menacing and melancholic sonic texture for this new chapter.
As the credits roll, a final nod suggests a potential sequel, though whether this story will continue on the big screen or find a new life on a streaming service remains to be seen. For dedicated fans of the franchise willing to approach it with optimism, Tron: Ares is worth a look. For everyone else, it’s a visually striking sci-fi adventure that, while enjoyable, ultimately fails to innovate.
