The film is definitely trying too hard to "appear" legitimate. The RipSec "administrator" interview sounds scripted and looks fake. Look, we're just like VICE, driving in a car to meet someone in the dark with a flashlight. Sure come on over to my house and film me in front of my monitor scrolling through logs files. If they really got an interview with the RipSec "administrator" they wouldn't need to chop it up into bits by cutting to shots of fake victims on their computers and phones. Scripted. Fake.

I think the real question is WHY.

There were compelling reasons to build aqua-lungs and submarines. There are plenty of other hard but surmountable challenges out there which have actual benefits to humanity.