The Machine Movie Review

Director: Caradog W. James

UK Release Date: 21st March 2014

Running Time: 91 minutes 

Starring: Caity Lotz, Toby Stephens, Sam Hazeldine, Dennis Lawson

From director Caradog W. James comes "The Machine", a science-fiction movie that is filled with drama and action which also connects with the audience mentally.  This British film stars Caity Lotz and Toby Stephens in the main roles and is very dark and secretive, portraying a mood that is very eerie throughout. 

"The Machine" is set in a future world that is in the midst of a cold war that causes Britains Ministry of Defence to try and develop a war changing weapon.  The man they rely on for this is Vincent (Stephens) however his early attempts fail.  He acquires the help of another scientist, Ava (Lotz), as he tries to create 'The Machine' - an android that has processing skills that have not yet been seen before.  Vincent's ultimate aim is to harness this and implant it into his sick daughter however, his creation is more than what he could imagine.  

This film is really one for the sci-fi lovers.  Robots, artificial intelligence, secret laboratories, human experiments - what more could you want?  The whole film has a dark and creepy feel about it which helps build tension and the mood of the film.  However, this also becomes one criticism of the film - the actual lighting is too dark.  It is difficult to make sense of everything that is going on and some details feel hazy as you cannot see everything. 

The storyline is decent. It is very relateable in this day and age where technology has come so far in that the events portrayed in the film are not a mile away from reality.  This is one factor that keeps the audience gripped throughout.  The film is good in keeping the audience involved and the constant thought of 'this could be true' will run through your mind many times.  However, the film does lack a certain quality that ultimately prevents it from becoming an excellent film. 

The acting in the film is okay, with some parts feeling forced and not natural. This was slightly disappointing but overall for a relatively unknown cast compared to the big names of Hollywood, the acting in "The Machine" was quite good.  The science-fiction themed backing soundtrack was perfect yet is spoilt by the excessive overuse of it.  It really becomes frustrating and adds a jerkiness to the film that was at times, unbearable. 

"The Machine" is a good science-fiction film. It has a few drawbacks but all in all is a film that is better than average and connects with the audience.  It creates a dark atmosphere which sets the movie in motion.  The characters within the movie could have been developed further to give an extra layer to the film as it does feel like it only scratches the surface. If you like sci-fi then you will no doubt enjoy watching "The Machine".

M+F Rating: 6/10

Reviewd by M+F Reviews.