The Creator: Film Review

Kerry Violet

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This article contains spoilers for The Creator, directed by Gareth Edwards.

The Creator, Gareth Edwards’ newest project, brings the British director to the forefront of blockbuster cinema. Perfect for fans of sci-fi, the threat of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of this movie.

Cinematic Roots

The themes of The Creator (2023) build upon foundations laid by Gareth Edward’s previous directorial effort, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Despite this, The Creator proves Edwards’ ability to flourish without the aid of an already successful franchise. Unlike Rogue One or his other well-received reboot Godzilla (2014), The Creator reflects on both the past and the future.

The audience follows undercover soldier Joshua, who is initially reluctant when tasked with preventing a war between humans and AI, after facing his own personal tragedy. Citing Apocalypse Now (1979) and Akira (1988) as his sources of inspiration, Edwards produces a visually impressive film that is action-led, and steered by the overarching theme of robot rebellion and revolution. 

Brief Synopsis

The dreary, military scenes are akin to the dystopia of District 9 (2009). They highlight the claims made by the American propaganda machine in the movie, that AI is instigating the war instead of humans. Whilst searching for the elusive creator, Nirmata, who is purportedly responsible for producing an unstoppable, lethal weapon, Joshua encounters a child he names Alphie, portrayed (in her screen debut) by Madeleine Yuna Voyles. The talented 9-year-old is truly unforgettable, providing a believable, raw, and tear-jerking performance. In conversation with The Daily Express US, Edwards said, “There were hundreds of tapes sent in. She was the first girl through the door that we did an audition with and she did this performance that made you want to cry.” 

“Voyles’ interpretation is innocent, and yet mature enough to make for an emotionally charged performance”

Voyles’ interpretation is innocent, and yet mature enough to make for an emotionally charged performance. The audience roots for this child who simply wishes “for robots to be free”. The rest of the cast is impressive too, particularly the character of Maya (Gemma Chan). Chan, known for her role as the main robot in Channel 4’s Humans (2015), is the perfect choice for a role shrouded by mystery and contested loyalties.

Production and Release

Dubbed by The Observer as “A rare original in the shape of [a] Sci-Fi blockbuster”, The Creator has helped to secure the future of the action sci-fi genre, independent of the DC and Marvel universes. However, the film does have its links to superhero franchises, with cinematography by Oren Soffer and Greig Fraser, who also worked on The Batman (2022) and Rogue One. 

Driven by spectacle, it is no wonder that their latest work was praised by ARS Technica as “visually stunning”. No doubt the stunning backdrop of “New-Asia”, filmed mainly across Thailand, factored heavily into this praise. Contrasting with the wasteland of what was once LA, the audience must pause to reflect on whether it is indeed the robots, or instead us humans, who are destroying the world’s beauty.

“Not only does The Creator hold its own against its predecessors, but it does so on a fraction of the budget”

Not only does The Creator hold its own against its predecessors, but it does so on a fraction of the budget. Since the rise of streaming services and their ability to buy the rights to franchises before they ever reach the cinema, the death of mid-budget films has become apparent. This was a driving force behind the Hollywood writers’ strikes, which also opposed the threat of AI to the industry. Importantly, The Creator reaffirms the value of original mid-budget productions. 

Stellar Soundtrack

The immensity of the soundtrack makes sense once you know that Hans Zimmer is behind the score. The widely celebrated composer delivers a rather more subtle performance compared to his previous work. The dream-like tracks accompany the film’s progression, rather than leading it.

Whereas ‘A Place in the Sky’ enhances the peaceful atmosphere of the scenes set above the clouds, the memorable ‘She’s Not Real’ and ‘True Love’ stand out as those that best encapsulate the film’s emotions. The soundtrack also features timeless classics, including Radiohead’s Everything In Its Right Place and Debussy’s Clare De Lune. If you’re anything like me, the combination of Yuna Voyles’ performance in the final scenes, paired with gorgeous piano melodies whilst the credits roll is sure to make you shed a tear. 

Warm Reception

Whilst the trailer is what prompted me to watch The Creator initially, it does sadly reveal too much. Giving away that Alphie is the weapon could have remained a mystery for the opening of the film. The reveal comes as no surprise to anyone who has seen the trailer, meaning this scene falls flat in the film. CBC compared Edwards’ work to mainstream titles which made similar mistakes in the past, admonishing that “It‘s evident there’s far less going on under the hood here than The Creator would care for you to consider.”

“The Creator does leave room for doubt in the minds of the audience”

As tense as it is emotionally investing, The Creator does leave room for doubt in the minds of the audience. In the words of Wendy Ide, whether the film will culminate in “a rushed final act” seems like a possibility throughout. The film’s play-like structure is a quirky touch at first but loses its impact when this structure becomes hazy and confusing.

Nevertheless, this genre-defying dystopian action picture has the potential to stand the test of time. Unless AI takes over, of course.

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• TRANSMISSION: FILM REVIEW

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Featured image courtesy of Nathan Duck on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image licence found here.