Millie Bobby Brown in Netflix’s sci-fi actioner “The Electric State.” Netflix
Netflix's latest sci-fi adventure, The Electric State, brings a visually stunning yet predictable experience. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the film borrows elements from various pop culture classics but fails to capture the eerie brilliance of its source material—Simon Stålenhag’s illustrated novel. With a massive $300 million budget, the movie blends action, nostalgia, and humor, but its emotional depth gets lost in the process.
A Dystopian Journey with a Predictable Twist
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, The Electric State follows Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), a rebellious teen searching for her missing brother. Accompanied by Kid Cosmo, a robot with a limited vocabulary of pre-recorded phrases, she embarks on a road trip across a wasteland filled with mechanical remnants of a war-torn past. Along the way, she encounters Keats (Chris Pratt), a smooth-talking scavenger, and his wisecracking robotic companion, voiced by Anthony Mackie.
Despite its dystopian setting, the film leans heavily on humor and nostalgic callbacks rather than exploring deeper themes. The robots, instead of being menacing, serve as comic relief, cracking jokes in a style reminiscent of the Russo brothers’ Marvel blockbusters.
Stripped-Down Adaptation
While the film is based on Stålenhag’s book, it barely resembles its source material. The novel painted a haunting picture of an alternate 1990s, blending eerie Americana with abandoned cybernetic giants and brain-rotting VR addiction. In contrast, the movie trims down its eerie solitude, replacing it with quippy dialogue and action-packed sequences.
Visual nods to the book exist—such as glowing red server towers looming in the background—but the adaptation sacrifices its original introspection for a fast-paced adventure. What was once a melancholic exploration of a broken world becomes a high-energy, crowd-pleasing spectacle.
A Formulaic Sci-Fi Blockbuster
With a script penned by Marvel veterans Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, the movie follows a standard hero’s journey. The villain, played by Stanley Tucci, seeks to keep people trapped in a digital illusion, while Giancarlo Esposito’s character hunts down our protagonists. Their interactions mostly unfold via video screens, making the antagonists feel disconnected from the real action—perhaps a fitting metaphor for the film’s approach to storytelling.
Even the film’s grand finale—a battle sequence featuring a ragtag group of robots—feels like a watered-down version of Marvel’s signature climactic fights. Woody Harrelson’s Mr. Peanut, a battle-worn animatronic mascot, leads the charge in a scene that feels more like a parody than a gripping moment of sci-fi storytelling.
Visually Stunning but Emotionally Hollow
If nothing else, The Electric State boasts impressive CGI. The robotic designs are polished, and the post-war landscapes are striking. Yet, for all its visual splendor, the movie lacks a soul. It presents an anti-technology message while asking the audience to root for machines with human-like qualities.
Ultimately, the film serves as another high-budget Netflix spectacle—entertaining enough for casual viewing but lacking the depth that made its source material so compelling. It’s a movie designed to be watched with half an eye, offering familiar thrills but little lasting impact.
