Review of The Machine (2013) by Chris B — 30 Mar 2014

The Machine is part Sci-Fi, part horror, part action, and part social commentary. Asking the question when does Artificial Intelligence become an actual living being. For a low budget film it does a very good job of creating a dark paranoid vision of a future where a war with China has created the need for Super soldiers.

Vincent McCarthy (Toby Stephens) is the scientist locked in a government bunker surrounded by wounded and brain damaged soldiers that have been refurbished with cybernetic parts, unfortunately their attempts to give one a self aware artificial intelligence, fails miserably with devestating results. Than along comes the yung beautiful idealistic Ava ( Caity Lotz ) As the two work together and start to fall in love the Minister of defense Thomson (Denis Lawson) is plotting to take over their technology.

I have to say I liked Caity Lotz performance as Ava and as the child like artificial intelligence of the Machine. She also looks really good while kicking some major ass. Writer/ Director Caradog James and Cinematographer Nicolai Bruel do a good job creating this dark dystopian future. The question of arificial life forms has been addressed in many films and for a low budget film this has enough great special effects, action and real intelligence for me to give it 4 out of 5 robots.

The Machine will be released on DVD March 31.