Echoes of "Frankenstein", Cronenberg, Crichton and The Twilight Zone's 'The Lonely

Rating: 9/10 (10 April 2015)

EX MACHINA (2015) *** Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander, Sonoya Mizuno. Echoes of "Frankenstein", Cronenberg, Crichton and The Twilight Zone's 'The Lonely' ricochet thru out this sci-fi psychological thriller with Gleeson as a data processor who is handpicked by an Internet magnate cum inventor (Isaac in an oddball gusto turn) whose unique artificial intelligence in the form of comely Vikander sets in motion a game of lies and seduction. Screenwriter Alex Garland - making his directorial debut in a vivid blend of off-the-reservation humor and skeet spooky intrigue - bests himself in envisioning a robotic femme looking past her creator's vision for the simple life of love and existing while his odd coupling of mentor and employee balances out the darker waters of manifest destiny. What only falters is its "Blade Runner" underpinnings of familiarity by its end game final act.