The Electric State

With the ubiquity of AI and augmented reality, Netflix’s The Electric State is a timely exploration of the ethics of robotics. However, the Russo brothers’ new film is not some dystopian nightmare; instead, it’s an anachronistic action adventure that merges nostalgia with sci-fi.

In an alternate 1990s, robots rebel against their human creators, sparking world war. By 1994, there is peace thanks to visionary inventor and entrepreneur Ethan Skate (Stanley Tucci) reconfiguring the robots so they have time for both work and play. Teenager Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown) is living in the aftermath of this war and reeling from the loss of her family, particularly her beloved younger brother, Chris. One day, a robot appears, claiming to be Chris, and takes her on a journey to retrieve his body. Along the way, she encounters Keats (Chris Pratt), an oddball smuggler who also collects kitschy merchandise.

Speaking of kitsch, there are 90s motifs aplenty, complete with Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander as Michelle’s lazy foster dad. Frequent references to throwback tech – in the form of CD-ROMs and AOL – complement the film’s crude robot designs that hark back to the classic sci-fi monster-of-the-week flicks.

The film boasts an impressive cast, including Woody Harrelson, Hank Azaria and the always charming Colman Domingo in robot roles. Brown is a likeable lead, taking a commendable step into more grown-up roles following her iconic performance as Eleven in Stranger Things. She shows considerable promise as a leading lady, and plays well against the grizzled Pratt. Meanwhile, Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan lends the film some gravitas as a doctor playing god with his patients.

However, for a comedy, it’s notably lacking in laughs. Ultimately, the film is a predictable action adventure that could have benefitted from a tighter script and more comedic relief, particularly given Pratt’s history as a funnyman in Parks and Recreation and The Five-Year Engagement. Likewise, Brown showcases her skills as an effortless sardonic sidekick, so it would have been interesting to see more of her comic side.

Though it’s let down by a formulaic script, The Electric State is nevertheless watchable. And, thanks to its charming leads, it’s more than just a nuts-and-bolts sci-fi flick.

Antonia Georgiou

The Electric State is released on Netflix on 14^th March 2025.

Watch the trailer for The Electric State here: