Ex Machina is a 2015 sci-fi/drama directed by Alex Garland in which a young programmer is chosen to take part in an experiment where he will determine weather the A.I (artificial intelligence) possess human qualities, the film displays themes of mystery,loneliness,identity,love and murder as Caleb (the protagonist) attempts to help Ava (the A.I) as his communication with her begins to form a unusual relationship.
I thought the mis en scene used through out the film was very important in reflecting the intelligence which the film revolved around as we see mostly straight geometric shaped corridors giving the house a very modern expensive feel to it. The particular house used also provided the audience with a sinister feeling as the house was extremely spacious and mostly made out of concrete possibly symbolising a prison like environment in which Ava is trapped inside and unable to escape from due to the clear high tech security systems which have been installed. From the outset the audience gets an insight about the experiment as it is clear a lot of money and intelligence has gone into the project in which Caleb will participate in, this almost happens immediately when Caleb arrives at the house and his picture is taken by the hidden camera and he is given a keycard. This use of expensive, eye-catching mis en scene as we proceed to see the interior of the house could possibly foreshadow the ironic plot twist to come as the audience gets an idea of how the house is run by intelligent technology, later on in the film we see the house literally being dominated by the immensely intelligent technology that the house was designed to restrain. Cinematographer Rob Hardy did an excellent job in using various shots in order to accurately portray the tension between Caleb and Nathan throughout the film, but also to create the eery sinister environment contained inside the house. Low angle mid shots were used to reinforce the effect of the enclosed prison like environment, these shots could make the audience emphasise with the trapped situation as the moody grey concrete walls and thin corridors add to this almost claustrophobic like set.
In conclusion I thought Ex Machina uniquely delivered the message of how increasingly advanced technology may be dangerous to humans as the various micro features used emphasised just how intelligent A.I's could possibly be in the future leaving the audience thinking about the film and if such advanced technology is possible in todays current world.
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