Written by Habiba Atta
The Russo Brothers have shown us that they are capable of creating large-scale productions that bring in billions. The brothers’ new sci-fi endeavor, Netflix’s The Electric State, centers abandoned robots filled with heart and soul. However, with a reported $320 million budget, can they prove it wasn’t just a fluke?
The Electric State takes place in the ’90s with a dystopian retro, cyberpunk atmosphere. The film follows iconic actors Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt along with an exciting ensemble that includes, but is not limited to, Ke Huy Quan, Stanley Tucci, Giancarlo Esposito, Anthony Mackie, and Woody Harrelson.
Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things), a teenage orphan, is the protagonist. Michelle sets out on a dangerous journey across an apocalyptic America with an uncanny robot friend. Her goal is to find her long-lost brother while navigating a post-war era. However, it all becomes very difficult as the dangers of a war-torn environment are not something Michelle can handle on her own. She is trying to survive while struggling to get through perilous obstacles to uncover the truth about her brother’s disappearance and its relation to the collapsed society where she resides.
In a day and age where humans coexist with technology, The Electric State explores very interesting themes, such as humanity vs. technology and the kind of world we would be living in if AI were to gain consciousness. Along with loss and the idea of found family, Michelle is driven by her grief and lack of family, and, through her story, we get to witness themes such as the control of power and dictatorship, as we experience what lengths humans will go to to be in control and maintain power. One might easily draw some parallels to our reality, as the film brings up very thought-provoking themes.
While the movie has a lot to offer in terms of the concept, the execution doesn’t seem to completely hit the mark. There is a lack of character development and emotional depth. While there are deep and meaningful ideas that could have aided in that department, the uneven pacing of the film disrupts engagement, and this adds to the considerable amount of missed potential. The film doesn’t let itself dive deeper into themes of family, loss, and humanity vs. technology. At times, the script also lacks substance, which contributes to the lack of depth in the characters.
However, The Electric State has a beautiful aesthetic that is very immersive and feels very real, allowing the watcher to see themselves in the world the Russo brothers have created. The CGI and the details in the environment are incredibly well done. While the movie lacks emotional depth, one cannot deny the connection between Michelle and her robot friend, as well as Chris Pratt’s character Mack and his robot companion. It was heartwarming to witness loving relationships be so strong in a world that is distraught from the aftermath of war. There is a lot of ambition behind this film, and it has a very intriguing concept, different from other releases on the market right now, which makes it an entertaining watch.
The Electric State, while visually appealing and entertaining, falls short of delivering a film that has the nuts and bolts to make it truly worthwhile. The emotional moments were engaging enough but lacked development, and the unique concept ended up being too predictable. Viewers can watch the movie once, but watching it more than that in one lifetime would be too much. Anyone who is a hardcore sci-fi fan will appreciate the visual appeal the movie brings, and individuals who are visual effects enthusiasts would find the CGI and background work immersive and well done. Yours truly would rate the film a solid 2.5/5. Though the film provides visuals, the insufficiency in emotional depth and missed opportunities to fully explore its themes ensures the film falls short of creating a production that would have made it an incredibly memorable experience.
