Alex Garland
might have presented himself as a director with
Annihilation
, but it was from 2014\’s
Ex Machina
This solidified his status as a prominent science fiction writer and filmmaker. Featuring Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, and Sonoya Mizuno, the movie centers around Caleb, a software engineer dispatched to his employer’s picturesque retreat where he conducts a Turing test on an advanced human-like robot called Ava. The film manages to be both deep and thought-provoking, inspiring numerous fan theories across various platforms. However, one of these widely-discussed hypotheses was recently refuted by the film\’s director.
Alex Garland recently sat down with GQ to look back on his past movies, while
promoting his new film
Warfare
.
While we\’re discussing this subject
Ex Machina
In the interview where the director elaborated on the concept of the film and shared insights into his casting decisions, Garland was prompted to address a prevalent fan speculation. The video’s host mentioned, “There\’s a Reddit theory suggesting that Caleb, played by Domhnall Gleeson, might be an android, making this entire movie function like a Turing Test with the viewers acting as judges.” Despite how intriguing this theory may seem, Alex Garland quickly dismissed it without hesitation.
\”No, no, there isn\’t.\”
Even though Alex Garland dismisses the validity of this theory within the movie’s framework, he expressed satisfaction knowing that viewers considered it seriously, since that was part of what he aimed for when crafting the script. \”It\’s intriguing because there were several movies I paid particularly close attention to—one of these was
2001
, which contains a truly excellent discussion about AI, as well as
Blade Runner
Garland went on. \’I assumed that a savvy viewer would think, \”I understand what’s taking place here.\” Domhnall Gleeson plays Caleb; he is actually the artificial intelligence in this scenario,\’
Alex Garland Refuted the Fan Theory Behind \’Ex Machina\’
When it comes to fan theories, this one is quite intriguing, and the fact that Garland anticipated such speculation while crafting the movie showcases his skill as a screenwriter. However, disappointingly for enthusiasts, this theory doesn’t hold up. This is because Garland included an entire scene explicitly designed to debunk that notion for the audience. As he clarified:
That’s why there’s a moment when he slices his own flesh because afterward, he begins to pose that very question to himself. However, he isn’t an AI; he is human.
Ex Machina
launched into theaters in 2014
to widespread praise from both audiences and reviewers. The film boasts an impressive 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, along with an 86% audience score. It marked one of the early triumphs for A24, which later achieved even greater success through productions and distributions such as major blockbusters.
All at Once Everything Everywhere
, and Alex Garland’s personal work
Civil War
Garland has subsequently reunited with A24 for
Warfare
, which he both wrote and directed alongside Ray Mendoza, a former Navy SEAL who inspired the movie.
Source:
GQ