Netflix‘s newest sci-fi flick, The Electric State, is an exploration of a sinister world. In this universe, humans are too reliant on technology, to the point where individuals live their ‘lives’ through a helmet that provides an escape from reality. Sound familiar? If so, it could just be a warning for what’s to come.
Hold up! This article contains spoilers for The Electric State. You’ve been warned.
The Electric State, directed by Avengers: End Game GOATS the Russo Brothers — Anthony and Joe Russo — is a light-hearted, vivid, and humourous film adaptation of Simon Stålenhag‘s graphic novel of the same name.
In the movie, we learn that society once lived peacefully alongside adorable mascot-esque robots who once served humans. But after a failed uprising, those fun-loving robots were exiled to a place called The Exclusion Zone.
We then meet Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), an orphaned teenager who traverses a dystopian 1990s California in hopes of finding her brother Christopher (Woody Norman) alongside Cosmo, a mysterious robot who appears to be controlled by her sibling.
While I don’t want to give too much away about the plot and all its fun, little moments, I can say that The Electric State is a movie that touches upon something that is very real, and very now: society’s damming and at times toxic relationship with technology.
But of course, with the Russo Bros pulling the strings, the distressing warning message was handed to us with some stellar comedy and star lord (Chris Pratt) power.
Speaking to PEDESTRIAN.TV, the Russo brothers shared that they wanted to create a film that commented on society’s fascination with technology that could still be kid-friendly.
“I think it’s important we made the movie for our kids because they’re growing up in a very technologically immersed generation. They struggle with addiction issues, just like everyone else,” Joe dished.
“We wanted to package it in a fun movie so it doesn’t feel like you’re taking your medicine, but certainly ideas in there that are worth talking about.
“There’s a speech in the movie that’s very important, that talks about keeping [connected] and being kind, and staying connected to people in your life that love you, and that stuff is really important to us.”
Chris Pratt echoed the Russo Brothers’ perspective and stressed the importance of making movies that touch on these topics with a side of finesse.
“I was really grateful that they had such poignant themes in this film about tech and about our humanity in our interconnected world, and why and how we’re kind of like moving away from that to our own detriment and I thought that’s kind of preachy stuff,” Pratt shared.
“So to put it into a film that’s fun and exciting and irreverent and epic in every way, it was really cool.”
Millie Bobby Brown also added that she loved how the message wasn’t just “screaming” in the audiences’ faces, but allowed them to walk away from the theatre with a new perspective on how we interact with technology.
“It’s not screaming this message at you, but it’s very thoughtful,” Millie shared.
“You go away asking yourself, ‘What does my relationship look like with technology?’ And I think it’s just think it’s just a cool messaging and it’s done in a really beautiful way.”
Reflecting on those key themes, Giancarlo Esposito, who portrays Colonel Bradbury AKA The Butcher, said it amazes him that writers and directors can be so ahead of their time when it comes to their craft.
“I think when we’re making a movie, we’re thinking about making the best film we can from the script that’s provided. I think when the movies are made, you have to understand and realise this is a year ago, a year and a half ago,” the Breaking Bad actor dished to PEDESTRIAN.TV.
“So it always amazes me that some directors and writers could be so ahead of their time in telling a story that, sadly, is more and more reminiscent of the story that’s happening now.”
Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan, who plays Dr Amherst in The Electric State, expressed that he loved themes of the sci-fi flick and questioned how society now perceives human connection with the evolution of technology and AI.
“Every time I go out I see young people — if they’re with their friends, but they’re not connecting, they’re just on their phone,” Quan shared.
“I think this movie touches upon that, you know. Are we even human? If we’re not [connecting with each other.] What makes us human is to have that interaction, to be able to touch him and to look at you in the eyes.
“I just hope that people can walk away from this movie, thinking, ‘You know, what? I can put away my device for just a little bit and be in the present and enjoy that moment together.’ That’s what I that’s what I really love about this movie.’”
While The Electric State does touch on technology and society’s toxic AF relationship with tech, I also found spookiness in how it relates to the current political climate we’re in, specifically with what’s going on in the US with Donald Trump.
You know, isolating a group, sending them to “an exclusion zone”? Doesn’t that feel like something… happening right now?
But hey, I guess that’s the beauty of films. As they say, art is subjective, and I believe that The Electric State isn’t as simple as technology equals bad things — rather, it is what you make it. There’s definitely something deep in there that I hope the Russo’s get to explore more if the movie manifests into some ‘yuge Marvel universe 2.0.
We’ll have to wait and see.
The Electric State drops on March 14 on Netflix.
