Review of Ex Machina (2015) by Fungusgnat — 12 May 2015

This film is a great example of how to make an SF thriller without loading it with a bunch of crap—extra climaxes, extra chases, extra explosions, superheroes, etc. Garland’s plot has its twists but the movie’s overall impression, bolstered by its sleek production design, is one of simplicity and abstraction—appropriate, because although AI seeks to reproduce the functionality of life’s most complex organ, the Turing test is simple: Can a tester conversing with an AI recognize that it’s artificial? After that, things get a bit messy: Who’s in control? What of freedom? Garland addresses quintessentially human issues while economically driving this powerful, visionary film toward a resolution consistent with its chilling, darkly comic tone.

Standout performances by Gleeson and, more subtly, Vikander, lit in various degrees of dimness—conveying an impression that there may be more there than meets our eye.