The Machine (2013) Review

01.01.2015 à 17:25

Low budget filmmakers tend to avoid high-concept science fiction, especially pitches that borrow heavily from the likes of Blade Runner, The Terminator and Robocop. Caradog W. James must like to mix it up a little, his feature debut was a Welsh comedy about racism. James wrote, directed and produced The Machine, a gritty sci-fi thriller that impressed audiences and critics alike at the Raindance Film Festival.

In the not so distant future, Britain – still gripped by recession – is embroiled in a cold war with China. The Ministry of Defence has been working on a mechanised soldier, an intelligent robot with both the skills to do battle and the ability to keep the peace. Kind of like Robocop, only far, far prettier. Lead scientist Vincent McCarthy (Toby Stephens) has his own agenda; he plans to use the new technology to aid his sick daughter, Mary. Early tests end in disaster, so Vincent pairs with another scientist, a beautiful young American called Ava (Caity Lotz), whose software could hold the key to unlocking the secrets of a conscious machine.

Meanwhile Thomson (Denis Lawson), Vincent’s scheming boss, is playing along so that he can harness the power of this ‘super soldier’ for his own financial gain. When Thomson’s henchmen kill Ava, it’s up to Vincent to finish their work and bring The Machine to life. As The Machine shows increasing signs of consciousness, not to mention fancy footwork on the dance floor, Vincent’s daughter slowly slips away. Threatened by The Machine’s intelligence, Thomson plots to modify her program and dehumanise her. And we all know how that worked out for Omni Consumer Products.

Read the rest of the review here: The Machine (2013) Review