Gareth Edwards builds a war between humans and artificial intelligence, then hands the whole thing to a child. The Creator, released by 20th Century Studios on September 29, 2023, runs 134 minutes and costs its premise dearly.
Trailer, via 20th Century Studios.
A Nuclear Detonation Over Los Angeles
In 2055, an artificial intelligence created by the U.S. government detonates a nuclear warhead over Los Angeles, California. The Western world pledges to wipe out AI. New Asia — East, South and Southeast Asia — keeps embracing it. That is the film’s cleanest idea, and Edwards states it fast.
Sergeant Joshua Taylor Goes Undercover
John David Washington plays Sergeant Joshua Taylor, a U.S. Army sergeant and former special forces agent with an artificial right arm and leg, injuries from the blast that also killed his parents and brother. He hides in New Asia with his pregnant wife Maya, played by Gemma Chan. U.S. forces attack their home. A strike from the orbital station NOMAD leaves Maya presumed dead.
The Weapon Is a Girl Called Alphie
Five years on, General Andrews and Colonel Howell recruit Taylor for a mission against Alpha O, a weapon built by Nirmata that could destroy NOMAD. They show him evidence Maya survived. The weapon turns out to be a simulant child who controls technology. Madeleine Yuna Voyles plays her. Taylor names her Alphie and disobeys Howell to protect her.
Ken Watanabe and Sturgill Simpson
Watanabe appears as Harun, a simulant soldier and former enemy. Simpson plays Drew, Taylor’s old comrade. New Asia police attack while trying to recover Alphie; Drew is fatally wounded and dies confessing that the military knew Maya was Nirmata and hid it from Taylor. The film spends both actors quickly.
Allison Janney’s Colonel Howell
Janney gives Howell a hard prejudice against AI. Howell lost both sons in the war, one tortured after a simulant seduced and tricked him. It is the script’s one attempt to explain its villain, and it lands better than most of the plot.
NOMAD Over New Asia
The orbital station is the film’s best machine. It hangs above the world and can strike anywhere, and Edwards shoots its attacks with real weight. That design work earned two nominations at the 96th Academy Awards, for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound. It was also nominated for Best Science Fiction Film and Best Film Visual / Special Effects at the 51st Saturn Awards. It won neither.
What the Runtime Costs
The Creator grossed $104.3 million worldwide on an $80 million budget and drew generally positive reviews. The ambition is real. So is the thinning.
A 134-minute film races through its own ideas.
Release Schedule
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 2019 | Edwards signs on to direct and write |
| February 2020 | Project officially announced |
| January 2022 | Filming begins in Thailand on an $80 million budget |
| May 2022 | Filming wraps |
| September 29, 2023 | North American release |
The Creator wants to ask whether a machine can be a child. It never sits still long enough to answer. Voyles is the reason to watch; the war around her is noise. 6.3/10.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
