Ex Machina

Narrative:• Caleb Smith a programmer at a huge Internet company, wins a contest that enables him to spend a week at the private estate of Nathan Bateman, his

firm's brilliant CEO. When he arrives, Caleb learns that he has been chosen to be the human component in a Turing test to determine the capabilities and consciousness of Ava, a beautiful robot. Ava represents a human female however there are parts of her skin which are transparent so you can see her inner mechanisms. Caleb becomes very close to Ava as she starts to show emotion and is a support for him. She then wants to go on a date with Caleb. She reveals she can use her battery charging facilities to trigger power outages that temporarily shut down the surveillance system that Nathan uses to monitor their interactions. The power outages also trigger the building's security system, locking all the doors. During one such outage, Ava says Nathan is a liar who cannot be trusted. Caleb later finds out that as Nathan improves his AI any obsolete robots are erased and reprogrammed. Caleb encourages Nathan to drink until he passes out, then steals his security card to access Nathan's room and computer. He alters some of Nathan's code, then discovers footage of Nathan testing earlier robot models, during which the nature of their incarceration causes the robots to damage themselves trying to escape. Caleb fears that Nathan is going to reprogram Ava and essentially kill her, so he promises to help Ava escape. Nathan reveals that he recorded this conversation with a battery-powered camera. He explains that Ava may have merely pretended to like Caleb in an attempt to escape. He then explains to Caleb that Ava, by using a variety of human skills (resourcefulness, charm, etc.), has passed the test. Suddenly, the planned power loss is triggered by Ava. Nathan gloats in the unsuccessful escape attempt, however Caleb reveals that while Nathan was drunk the day before, he reprogrammed the doors. Ava leaves her apartment, and Nathan knocks Caleb unconscious. Nathan confronts Ava and breaks off one of her arms. While he is dragging her back to her confinement, Kyoko stabs Nathan in the back. Nathan smashes Kyoko's face in retaliation, killing her, but Ava then stabs him in the chest and back, killing him. She then locks Caleb in Nathan's room, takes skin and clothing from obsolete robots (making her look completely human) and leaves Caleb trapped in the facility. She boards the helicopter meant for Caleb, and enters society.

Representation:• In Ex Machina the male characters clearly have the power and are quite

sexist towards the female robots; mainly demonstrated through Ava.

• When you think of a robot you think about a machine which is told what to do- like a slave. Whereas a human is usually in control of themselves. With the men the humans and the women the robots its as though the film is showing how women are treated as though their purpose is to be slaves to men.

• Ava’s worth was also measured from a test which analysed how men responded to her- surely women are more than how men view them.

• However as Ava starts to show more control is suggests that actually men become the vulnerable people sending a message of ‘treat others how you wish to be treated’.

• The ending suggests a moral threat of technology overrun. The power of the female robot was so strong that she managed to trick the men who were originally her inventor and controller.

Institution:• Director: Alex Garland• Caleb: Domhnall Gleeson• Nathan: Oscar Isaac• Ava: Alicia Vikander

Budget: $15,000,000Earning: $36,869,414 (Worldwide)Company: DNA films and Film4Release dates:UK- 21st January 2015USA- 14th March 2015Locations: Mainly in Norway however also in UK

Todorovs Theory:• Equilibrium: Caleb in his normal job as a programmer • Disruption: Winning the competition to visit Nathan,taking part in the Turing test and

becoming closer to Ava (the robot being tested)• Recognition: Nathan is actually quite evil and Ava tells Caleb this by saying ‘Nathan is a

liar who cannot be trusted’ during a system lockdown.• Attempt to repair: 1-Caleb encouraged

Nathan to become drunk to the stage were he passed out and then hacked his computer. 2- Caleb then tells Ava that he fears that Nathan will kill her so they run away together.• Disequilibrium: Ava turns completely and sets up caleb, kills Nathan, she leaves on

Calebs plane and enters society.

Propps Theory:• Hero: Caleb as he told Ava that Nathan was going to kill her but essentially Ava

actually saved herself.• Villain: Ava, however only at the end. Throughout the film Ava appears to be

the victim of Nathan yet she ends up killing Nathan. On the other hand people could feel as though she had no choice but to kill him and was actually a hero for doing so as it saved herself and fellow creations.• The donor: Nathan created the robots.• The dispatcher: Caleb as if hadn't ever entered Nathans private estate this most

likely would not have happened.• The princess: Ava in a way as she is being ‘saved’.

Target audience and BBFC rating• Ex Machina is rated 15 on BBFC which in my opinion is a very fair rating considering the

adult themes in the film. I would say that this film is targeted to a ‘niche’. It definitely isn't a mainstream film however that doesn't mean mainstreamers cant watch the film it just means its more likely that the small segment the film is aimed towards will enjoy it. Due to the ‘controversial’ and quite complicated story line it does limit the audience.

Using the rating and the themes I believes the audience demographics are:-Gender: Female (women as the main character showing power)-Age: 15-25-Class:Middle -Interests: Technology-Location: USA and UK(screened)

Psychographic and Uses/Gratifications

• I would say mainly explorers would enjoy the concept of this film as it is very much about the change in society and a whole other view on robots/women and their treatment.• Social climbers again could enjoy this film however I don't think they are the main ‘aim’.

This film could attract social climbers as the idea of artificial intelligence could open up a whole range of investment for materialistic goods.• Uses and gratifications wise I think the film provides information due to the concept of

artificial intelligence and robots taking over humans. (very much my film invisible time). It wouldn't so much fit in with personal identity due to the robotic manners of the females and the lack of emotion to start with however as these characters build emotions then the film could start communication between the whole idea- ‘robots have feelings’.

Utopian solution • I think the film definitely portrays intensity, simply due to the dramatic

unexpected scenes. To start with you would not expect Ava to turn like she does and the film manages to build quite a lot of tension- allowing people to become entertained and engaged (uses and gratifications) with the story.• There is also abundance due to the futuristic approach and extreme

versions of technology in the film.