‘The Creator’ is set in the not-so-distant future. In 2070, humans are at war with artificial intelligence.
Director Gareth Edwards has a knack for crafting inventive sci-fi thrillers that look far more expensive than their actual budgets.
In 2010, he made a film called ‘Monsters’ that was made for under $500,000 using consumer-grade software and edited on a laptop. It didn’t make a lot of money at the box office, but managed to get the attention of Hollywood. It led to him rebooting the Godzilla franchise in 2014 and helming ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ in 2016.
With this latest film, he took $80 million and, yet again, made it look like a film with a much higher budget. There may not be any shots in the final edit that aren’t digitally manipulated. Using an ultra-wide 2.76:1 aspect ratio and shooting in real locations, Edwards has managed to create a wildly original epic with a timeless feel.
The Verdict
Fifteen years after a nuclear bomb wipes out Los Angeles, humanity is left to battle machines. John David Washington is Army Sergeant Joshua Taylor. He’s working undercover to help destroy the AI “Creator” that has been fueling war and destruction. His secret mission goes awry after discovering his pregnant wife Maya (Gemma Chan) has been lying to him.
Allison Janney also stars as an Army Colonel who lost both of her sons in the war against AI, singer Sturgill Simpson is on hand as Joshua’s military buddy Drew, and legendary actor Ken Watanabe portrays a simulant soldier as part of the vibrant supporting cast.
One of the most impressive performances in the dystopian film comes from 7-year-old Madeleine Yuna Voyles. Her screen debut finds her playing Alpha-O, a robot girl who may be the key to taking down AI and saving the human race.
‘The Creator’ is a movie that asks some pretty big questions and leaves the answers down to interpretation. Emotionally resonant and packed with impressive visuals, Edwards has delivered a future cult classic.
Grade: B
How to Watch ‘The Creator’
‘The Creator’ is available now for digital purchase of $19.99. Released on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday, December 12, it will also become available for digital rental. As a 20th Century Studios release, this will eventually stream on Hulu (and possibly Disney+). Look for ‘The Creator’ to appear there in January or February.
Both the physical release and digital purchase contain a nearly hour-long special about the making of ‘The Creator’ with Gareth Edwards and the film’s crew discussing the filming experience and innovative effects work.
Looking for More Movies to Watch?
Check out our December streaming preview for even more recommendations!
About Author
