Ex Machina

Year: 2015
Genre: Sci-fi
Director: Alex Garland


Plot: A young programmer is selected by his boss to participate in a test where he must evaluate a robot equipped with artificial intelligence.


The gist: Most sci-fi films tend to be flashy and loud, save for a select few. Ex Machina is one of those few that opts for a quieter approach in order to educate and astound its audience.

Caleb is a young programmer selected by his boss Nathan, to visit his home in the middle of nowhere, to participate in an experiment. Nathan has created a robot named Ava, and programmed her with very sophisticated A.I. capabilities. Nathan wants Caleb to engage Ava in a handful of sessions to see how human Ava can be. Caleb discovers that Ava is a truly amazing individual, both physically and emotionally, but soon learns she is much more than that, and even Nathan himself isn't simply a boss asking his employee to take a test.

Alex Garland, who makes his directorial debut, has written a great screenplay which will no doubt keep the audience guessing on which direction it is heading. As you watch, you get the feeling that the three main characters are all playing each other, but guessing who wins is the fun part.


The good: Alicia Vikander is impressive as Ava, balancing between the smooth robotic movements and tics of a machine and her attempted human facial expressions very well. Oscar Isaac is also great as the slightly eccentric Nathan while Domhnall Gleeson puts in a quiet but convincing performance as Caleb. Credit also goes to set design, visual effects and cinematography, which are all top notch.

The bad: The music score is quite disappointing, especially when it's almost non-existent in the film's climax, thereby dampening all the suspense that Garland had built up to that point. In fact, the film overall is too quiet, save for one dance sequence. The ending itself seems cold, but Garland went for the unexpected so he deserves some credit for that.


Verdict: Alex Garland's first attempt at directing is fascinating yet imperfect. Ex Machina could use a bit more noise, but at the very least it's an eye-opening film which will educate and amaze you. (7/10)