If revenge is a dish best served cold, Ex Machina is glacial.
The sci-fi flick follows Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), a cog in the wheel at a tech company, who is invited by his reclusive boss Nathan (Oscar Isaac) to visit his estate and meet Ava (Alicia Vikander), the android he’s created. His plan is for Caleb to determine whether Ava is self-aware. Needless to say, the plan does not go off without a hitch and as a sense of isolation and claustrophobia set in, the film takes us to a place that is engrossing yet very uncomfortable.
It’s worth noting that writer/director Alex Garland began his career as a novelist and screenwriter, as there are endless literary parallels and quotable exchanges. With the script being the film’s prime strength, the rest falls into place with ease, including impressive, theater-like turns from its cast.
In his review of the film, our very own Liam Dunn concluded the following:
Ex Machina is smart, sexy and thrilling sci-fi filmmaking at its most fascinating.
Recently, during the NYC press day for Ex Machina, we had the chance to sit down with both Isaac and Vikander to discuss their new project. We spoke about where the inspiration from their characters came from, how they related to the material and much more.
Check it all out in the video above and be sure to catch Ex Machina as it’s now in theatres!
