Intriguing and Beautiful but Somewhat Unfulfilled

Rating: 7/10 (18 September 2015)

Reviewed by: Dare Devil Kid (DDK)
Rating: 3/5 stars
"Ex Machina" has an intriguing setup that's graced by three terrific performances, and it gets to harness the duplicity and suspense of humanoid robot stories, but it never explores its full potential, and ends up coming down to the very familiar binary question of every other humanoid robot story.
Yes, it presents us with gorgeous special effects and some of the best-looking androids you'll ever see, but it also features the indie quality of a low-budget 3-person play whose dialogue isn't going to blow you away. Also, are we supposed to believe that a hyper-intelligent guy who loves alcohol and has created his own humanoids hasn't found a way to prevent hangovers?
Still, for what it's worth, "Ex Machina" showcases some stimulating ideas coupled with minimalist yet striking effects, and has an overall visually polished quality about it, making it more than an engaging sci-fi flick.