The Creator (2023) | Film Review

Alright, how does the old chestnut go? “Blood is thicker than water.” It’s a popular saying that some people in families like to throw around to elicit a response of circling up the wagons and sticking with your relatives. But what is family, really? If blood is truly thicker than water, it would imply that many family trees go straight up without any branches. Eventually, we form partnerships with people outside of our familial bonds, partnerships that, in many ways, are stronger than any bond that simply being related can create. Over time, we develop friendships. These friendships enrich us, sustain us, give us meaning, support us, and pick us up when we fall. Oh, and by the way, the old chestnut? It’s not even the whole saying. The complete, actual saying that we often butcher is: “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.” The true meaning behind it – and one that resonates within The Creator – is that the choices and promises we make through friendship and loyalty are stronger than the bonds of kinship or birth.

I can get behind that. Well, mostly. I do love my family, and I got lucky in many ways when it comes to the family lottery. But right now, you are probably trying to figure out where I’m going with this or just rolling your eyes because this is another heady introduction to one of my reviews. It seems like a recurring theme I’ve identified from a movie about humans and robots that may or may not be more than that. So, bear with me because here we go: Gareth Edwards’ The Creator.

Let’s cut right to the chase with a big-ticket item – the visual effects. Wow! This film is gorgeous! After an entire summer of movies with visual effects that were less than “good,” The Creator comes in with a smaller budget stacked with visual storytelling and imagination that will leave you leaving the theater believing that Ken Watanabe is an actual simulant (the AI droids in this film with people’s faces). Immediately, you are grounded in the reality of this world while being whisked away to a future that seems light years away. The buildings, the various androids and simulant styles, the cityscapes, and the countryside all feel distinct yet part of the same world with the same design language.

I could go on, but suffice it to say that Gareth Edwards, the man who took a crew of 5 people and two actors, drove through Mexico, pushed the actors out of a van, and said, “Go make movie magic,” and then did all the visual work himself on the fly with a humble laptop, might indeed have a keen eye and imagination for this style of filmmaking. By the way, if you haven’t checked it out, the movie he made is called Monsters, and it’s quite good.

Looking at the rest of this director’s films, I see Godzilla (I’m biased, but I loved it), Rogue One (my most enjoyed Star Wars movie in a long time), and now The Creator – a simple story with effects that will absolutely blow you away.

Alright, that’s enough about the visuals and how great they are. Now, let’s talk about the story. Well, it follows your typical plotline: a guy discovers a weapon, which turns out to be more than just a weapon. He uses the weapon to achieve his goals, but eventually realizes that it’s more than he initially thought. Throughout the story, they are pursued by those who want to destroy the aforementioned weapon and those who want to protect it. The film was executed well, and the entire cast does a fantastic job of selling it. With the amazing visuals, it’s easy to forget that we’ve seen this type of story in one form or another multiple times before.

Ultimately, it’s a tried-and-true formula, and it only really deviates from the usual at the very end. We don’t get the resolution we might expect, and honestly, that is quite refreshing.

Now, let’s talk about the cast. Ken Watanabe, who plays the simulant Harun, is hard not to appreciate and leaves you wanting to see more of him on screen. Madeleine Yuna Voyles delivers a very sweet and adorable performance as Alphie, the object of destruction throughout the film, often overshadowing her co-star in many of their scenes. Alphie is caught between two worlds, and her journey is what fuels much of The Creator’s direction. Allison Janney, in the role of Colonel Howell, portrays the best kind of mustache-twirling villain – one who makes you forget that they are technically the antagonist as we might not agree with her pursuits, we understand her intentions.

As for John David Washington’s Joshua, it’s a bit challenging to describe his performance. On one hand, I sometimes wish I didn’t know who his father is, as he doesn’t possess the same intensity, charisma, and skill as Denzel Washington. I often find myself hoping to see those qualities shine through in nearly every role he takes. On the other hand, he brings his unique flair and personality to his performances, making him feel like a more relatable character on screen, someone you can see yourself as, put yourself in the shoes of, and understand better.

Now, onto a few minor complaints. There is a scene involving a dog that will certainly raise your stress levels. There is another with a monkey that might make you roll your eyes. And then, there are the robots enjoying stripper robots – yes, a huge eyeroll moment indeed.

Ultimately, The Creator will take you on a journey, challenge your comprehension of friendship and family, and demonstrate that we are greater than the mere sum of our individual components. We form a family, a combination of blood ties and commitments that accompany us through life from start to finish. Though much of what we see we have witnessed before in other forms, The Creator remains an engrossing tale of our own struggle with artificial intelligence.

Listen to our full review of The Creator on this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast: