The Creator Movie Review
The Creator would be the scariest thing in the universe if appearances could kill. Even though it falls short of grandeur, Gareth Edwards’ latest sci-fi thriller, which is visually stunning and frequently captivating, is a must-see on the big screen. The world-building that Edwards has brought to the screen is even more amazing than the striking visual effects; minutes into The Creator, I found myself wanting to see more than this planet could provide in a single film. The plot, which follows a fearless soldier who sneaks into enemy territory in search of and destroys a new superweapon but changes his mind when he learns it’s actually an AI-programmed cyborg child, isn’t very novel, but Edwards’ meticulous attention to detail creates a rich and complex picture.
It is a grim but not wholly unbelievable portrayal of the future, a less sleazy Blade Runner that yet has some of the same depressing themes. In this world, hope may still exist, but it has greatly lessened, and the edges of society are where the gloom is seen. Having said that, the world of The screenplay, co-written by Edwards and Weitz, does the trick, but it’s one that lacks nuance and is the one element that holds the film back from immediately establishing itself as a sci-fi classic (anyone writing this movie off right now, however, should probably wait a few years before making any declarations). The dialogue is a little on-the-nose, the protagonist, though well performed by John David Washington (Tenet, another divisive sci-fi thriller), is predictable, and the movie’s climax feels rudimentary compared to its potential.
Actually, the part of The Creator that gives me the most pause to gush about it is the climax, in which (spoiler alert) Madeleine Yuna Voyles’ outstanding performance as young Alphie and Washington’s Joshua attempt to effectively The climax is fine, it’s entertaining, it’s even suspenseful–but it just feels like Edwards took the path of least resistance rather than trying to develop something as imaginative and powerful as the world he’s devised. It’s that disconnect that holds The Creator back, but it’s not insurmountable. The movie may be imperfect, but there is so much great stuff here that you’d be mistaken to not see it in theaters. It’s a visual and creative feat, and if it’s true that it only cost $80 million to make, then it should be the benchmark for all other CGI-driven films that follow.