Review of The Machine (2013) by Panta O — 24 May 2014

A little bit different than usual science fiction thrillers, this British film directed and written by Caradog W. James was very entertaining. It stars Caity Lotz and Toby Stephens as computer scientists who create an artificial intelligence for the military.

Story is happening in the future, amid a cold war with China. Above mentioned scientists employed by Britain's Ministry of Defence produce an artificially intelligent, self-aware and conscious android. The lead scientist sees his work as a stepping stone to help his diseased daughter - of course the military is not sympathetic about his cause and sees the technology's potential for war. Unfortunately, one of the scientists is killed, and the two sides clash over their plans for the new intelligence.

It was very smart and thought-provoking thriller with style! The dark atmosphere and future-noir style work to its advantage. There was nothing new in it but the funny part is that felt different than anything else I saw before - it seems that the right combination of different elements contributed to this feel of outstanding quality. I had the problem with the uneven rhythm of the movie - it felt like recently had a by-pass... Still, worth watching.