In Ex Machina, written and directed by Alex Garland, a programmer named Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson) falls in love with a robot named Ava (Alicia Vikander) and learns more about the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence than he ever bargained for. Like Garland's 2022 A24 horror movie Men, Ex Machina can be bleak at times, and it examines some serious and thought-provoking themes like why humans act the way that they do.
Ex Machina grossed over $36 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, and was generally well-received by critics. It's true that sometimes films about robots can miss the mark and feel more corny than intelligent. And there are definitely countless films that examine what artificial intelligence could really mean for the future of humanity. Still, Ex Machina is considered a thoughtful meditation on the difference between robots and humans and what really separates them.
What Is Ex Machina About?
Ex Machina follows the fascinating relationship between Caleb and Ava. The "deus ex machina" trope means "god from the machine" and it's clear why this title was chosen for the film. The movie succeeds in crafting compelling characters and making it easy to root for Caleb. At first, he's just trying to get his job done. But as time goes on, he becomes attached to Ava, and it's possible to understand and empathize with his journey.
Caleb works for a company called Blue Book and spends time at his boss Nathan Bateman's (Oscar Issac) house. When Nathan shows him the humanoid robot Ava that he has created, Caleb is thrilled to learn more. When Ava falls in love with Caleb, he feels the same way, and they can talk without Nathan knowing because she can turn off Nathan's surveillance system.
Similar to great paranormal romance stories, it doesn't matter to Caleb that Ava isn't human. And after a while, he begins to wonder what really makes someone human and what really makes a robot what they are. He meditates on the concept of artificial intelligence and can't believe the connection he has formed with Ava. The movie does a great job showing how genuinely he cares about Ava.
The plot of Ex Machina is brilliant because there are two big twists. It comes out that Nathan was aware of what would happen the entire time and was setting Caleb up. And then it turns out that Ava is as evil as some audience members might have wondered. Both of these revelations are some of the best plot twists in a movie. They work so well because they are unexpected but also feel like a logical and practical part of the story.
How Does Ex Machina End?
The ending of Ex Machina offers up a cruel, dark twist that works perfectly. While Caleb truly trusted Ava and thought that perhaps they could be together, he realizes that she was manipulating him so she could get out of Nathan's house. Ava and the other robot, Kyoko, kill Nathan. Ava runs away, gets into a helicopter that Nathan had ordered for Caleb, and walks through a group of people out in the real world. Because she fixed herself and made sure that she would present herself like a human female, no one has any idea that she is actually a robot.
Perhaps more shocking of all, Ava lets Caleb die, and she doesn't care at all. This is what proves that although she is a great example of how much artificial intelligence can achieve, she's ultimately incapable of truly caring about someone. Even though this is sad, Ex Machina is still a movie with a satisfying ending because it doesn't seem like Caleb could survive this ordeal. He made the mistake of trusting a robot, and that isn't a choice that he can come back from.
While some A24 horror movies can be seen as overrated, Ex Machina is a brilliant and smart sci-fi movie that delivers a satisfying ending that is well-earned. On the one hand, it's possible to say that of course Ava was emotionally manipulating Caleb and using him to get what she wanted. On the other hand, it's possible to be completely surprised and to have believed that perhaps this unconventional couple really could have made it. That's the beauty of the story.
While there are some cheesy 2010s sci-fi movies, Ex Machina is intelligent and interesting. Caleb's dynamic with Ava is endlessly enjoyable to watch as he is so protective of her. And Caleb's interactions with his boss Nathan are also compelling since at first, it seems like Nathan is evil, but that turns out to only be partly true. The Ex Machina ending changes how audiences perceive the three main characters and that makes it a satisfying conclusion.