The Machine
A grieving AI engineer’s attempt to create sentient technology becomes a dangerous confrontation with military power and machine autonomy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- brooding
- atmospheric
- paranoid
- late night sci-fi viewing
- independent film night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an ambitious, atmospheric British science fiction thriller with thematic heft, while noting derivative or predictable plotting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ava's self-aware development challenges the researchers' assumption that intelligence can be controlled as a tool.
The Ministry of Defence funds the research, takes control of the project, and programs the AI to kill and obey orders.
The film presents a brooding, highly atmospheric near-future thriller centered on secret research and militarized technology.
Vincent's hope of helping his diseased daughter motivates research that is ultimately absorbed into a lethal military program.
Films like The Machine, and why
Ex Machina
shares artificial intelligence, android identity, dystopian technology, and philosophical science fiction thriller elements
The Terminator
shares military artificial intelligence, technological paranoia, and escalating machine violence
Blade Runner
shares bleak future-noir atmosphere, android consciousness, and questions about manufactured humanity
Moon
shares experimental artificial intelligence, emotional identity questions, and a contained science fiction setting
Movie Details
- Director
- Caradog W. James
- Release Date
- 2013-04-25
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (898)
Cast
- Caity Lotz
- Toby Stephens
- Denis Lawson
- Sam Hazeldine
- Pooneh Hajimohammadi
- Jonathan Byrne
- Jade Croot
- John-Paul Macleod
- Helen Griffin
- Siwan Morris
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- XLTV Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Machine about?
- A grieving AI engineer’s attempt to create sentient technology becomes a dangerous confrontation with military power and machine autonomy.
- What is The Machine like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Machine as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Machine violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Machine as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Machine?
- Critics broadly found the film an ambitious, atmospheric British science fiction thriller with thematic heft, while noting derivative or predictable plotting.
- Which films are like The Machine?
- Films with a similar feel include Ex Machina, The Terminator, Blade Runner, and Moon.
- How long is The Machine?
- The Machine runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Machine?
- In United States, The Machine streams on XLTV Amazon Channel .
