Review of Ex Machina (2015) by Dave C — 22 Dec 2015

It would be difficult to speak of this film's spiritual, moral and philosophical backbone without referencing the twists and turns that make Ex Machina so haunting. I don't mean this in the traditional sense of a horror film, rather, Ex Machina is hauntingly beautiful in it's patient and methodical approach to it's sci-fi premise that digs it's way under your skin.

The film is not a big budget production, but the attention to detail in each scene is delivered with perfection. For a film that boasts little in the way of action, it certainly moves forward with a sense of urgency. As a sci-fi film it brings a ton of questions to the surface, some more immediate and others that are intended to sit and ponder. At it's heart is the question of what it means to be human, and to that end, the expanse and limitations of the art of compassion that makes us human. While the film tells a story, it is clearly interested in making a commentary on the much larger relationship between humankind and technology as it continues to develop at a much faster pace then ever before. There are so many great moments here, and it is fascinating to watch the relationships develop along the way, with the character of Nathan and Caleb pulling us back and forth between the simple and the complex.

The three central characters are fully dimensional, and much of this is a testament to the outstanding and captivating performances of Vikander, Gleeson and Isaac. Each one is invested in the role, and the script gives each role it's own interesting dynamic that sits far from any stereotype. For as much as the film talks about our common humanity, the characters are entirely unique.

The story itself has a poetic edge that pushes towards an ending that is more symbolic and open ended than resolute. This edge helps build the film around it's ideas rather than simply a story, although it tells a good story along the way.