In The Creator, robots and artificial intelligence (AI) have become integrated into society. AI is everywhere, performing almost every job, and humanity has learned to benefit from advanced tech becoming a part of everyday life.
However, in 2055, AI becomes responsible for the detonatation of a nuclear warhead over Los Angeles, causing mass death and destruction. As a result, the West promptly abandons the use of all AI tech and attempts to destroy every trace of it, to prevent any further attacks which could cause the human race to become extinct.
But while the Western world is opposed to any use of this technology, New Asia (a collection of countries in the East) continues to utilise it. This places the two sides of the world at odds with each other, with AI continuing to develop in the meantime.
Fifteen years later, a team of operatives are sent on a mission to destroy a new weapon which has been engineered by Nirmata – the mysterious chief architect behind the AI technology. Joining this team is US Army sergeant Joshua Taylor, who has previously experienced a tragedy of his own, and who may be conflicted about his mission to destroy the AI tech.
Directed and co-written by Gareth Edwards, and starring John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, and Allison Janney, The Creator is a sci-fi action war movie, which is new to home video in the UK. The film was released in cinemas back in September, but if you wish to view The Creator from the comfort of your own sofa, you can buy it through all major digital platforms now.
Produced on a budget of $80 million (far less than the cost of most blockbusters these days), The Creator is a visual wonder, which brings imagination and spectacle to the screen. However, unlike a lot of films which look good but lack any real substance, The Creator packs a punch in the script department too.
The film takes the very timely theme of artificial intelligence, imbeds it into a story which has shades of the Vietnam War about it, then wraps everything up in a futuristic aesthetic. The movie takes inspiration from the likes of Blade Runner, The Terminator, Akira, Star Wars, and Apocalypse Now (to name but a few), then funnels all of these influences into something new, and something very likeable.
From start to finish, The Creator is clearly a special film. Every inch of the movie, from the visual effects through to the lighting, costuming, and setting has been meticulously pieced together and designed with expert precision.
John David Washington leads The Creator in the role of Joshua Taylor and he plays the part perfectly. Taylor is a man who is dealing with past trauma and who is continually trying to make sense of his surroundings, and Washington ensures he blends his character into this world seamlessly.
Joining him on screen is a superb cast of some familiar and some not-so familiar faces. Some will be recognisable, others not so much, but irrespective of each actors’ status, everyone slots into the story without any pomp or circumstance, and no one takes the sheen off the film.
The Creator feels very much like a movie which has been built from the ground up, with a cast who are fully on board. The end result, is a credible, convincing world that is easy to get lost in.
And I believe audiences will get lost in this world; now and for years to come. Whether The Creator remains a one-off, or it spawns endless sequels and spin-offs, at the very least I can see this film becoming the catalyst for fan fiction, expanded universe stories, and much more from a loyal fanbase.
Not everything about The Creator is perfect, there are a few moments where the story dips here and there, and it’s never quite clear if it the central message is to be wary of AI or not, but for the most part this is great stuff. The Creator dazzles on many fronts, it offers a never-ending array of special effects, and it delivers a compelling journey for its lead star.
Perhaps most important of all, it arrives as a fully formed classic. Similar to this year’s Barbie, I expect this film will be talked about in years to come and will be widely regarded as a highlight of 2023’s movie releases.
If you are in anyway interested in sci-fi, or you’re simply curious, be sure to check out The Creator. The film has struggled at the box-office, largely due to being an original property released during a writers and actors strike, but it is most certainly worth a couple of hours of your time, so do take a look now it is available on home video.
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