The Machine (2013)
Low-budget filmmakers avoid high-concept science fiction, especially pitches borrowing heavily from Blade Runner, The Terminator and Robocop. Caradog W. James must like mixing it up; his feature debut was a Welsh comedy about racism. James wrote, directed and produced The Machine, a gritty sci-fi thriller that impressed audiences and critics alike at the Raindance Film Festival.
In the not-so-distant future, Britain - still gripped by recession - is embroiled in a cold war with China. The Ministry of Defence has been working on a mechanized soldier--an intelligent robot with skills to battle and keep the peace, like Robocop, only prettier. Lead scientist Vincent McCarthy (Toby Stephens) has his agenda; he plans to use the new technology to aid his sick daughter, Mary. Early tests end in disaster, so Vincent pairs with another scientist, an attractive young American called Ava (Caity Lotz). Her software could hold the key to unlocking conscious machines' secrets.
Meanwhile, Thomson (Denis Lawson), Vincent's scheming boss, is playing along to harness the power of this 'super soldier'; when Thomson's henchmen kill Ava, it is up to Vincent to finish their work and bring The Machine to life. As The Machine shows increasing signs of consciousness, not to mention fancy footwork on the dance floor, Vincent's daughter slowly slips away. The Machine's intelligence threatens them, and Thomson plots to modify her program and dehumanize her. Moreover, we all know how that worked out for Omni Consumer Products.
Caity Lotz has been a busy girl, notably in 2012's horror hit The Pact, MTV mockumentary Death Valley, and TV smashes Mad Men and Arrow. She plays two roles here, though one of the characters only lasts for a short time. Playing a robot will be challenging. However, Lotz brings vulnerability, innocence and - when called upon - kick-ass sensibilities to a character that may make or break the movie. Casting Lotz was a smart move, though. While we run the risk of selling her short, looks alone should ensure The Machine has an audience within a particular demographic.
Vincent McCarthy, played by Die Another Day's Toby Stephens, is not your typical male lead, made all the more apparent by his lack of fighting skills. That has been left to Lotz' Machine; her dance background and martial arts training give her the physical edge required for the film's closing stages. Vincent is a morally conflicted scientist driven by his sick daughter. Stephens underplays the role at every turn, perhaps too sombre for some but affecting nonetheless. On the other hand, Lawson becomes increasingly a villain as the film goes on, relishing the change in direction as Thomson reveals his true nature, no matter how clichéd his motives might be.
At times, The Machine is a visually stunning piece of work. Caradog W. James has achieved the unthinkable, infusing his low-budget offering with Hollywood special effects. Most of the movie is in darkness, hidden in secret bunkers and science laboratories. The money shots, however, are striking and stunningly captured by James and his crew. Lotz might look great dressed in skin-tight latex, but the dreamlike imagery impresses most, no matter how infrequent.
With familiar plot twists, the occasional smash and grab, and a final third that amounts to little more than a feisty heroine pick off a bunch of hapless goons one by one,' The Machine loses its way from time to time. It is not like we have not been here before. However, one has to admire James for pulling the wool over our eyes with his exquisite box of tricks. If nothing else, The Machine shows signs of great promise, and we cannot wait to see what he achieves with more significant financial backing. Caradog W. James certainly has our attention now.
As a sci-fi thriller, the Machine is greater than the sum of its parts, but what parts?