The Electric State: A Dystopian Journey Through AI, Humanity, and Revolution

Mar 23

4 min read

The Electric State (2025), directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, is Netflix’s latest sci-fi adventure set in a retro-futuristic portrayal of 1990s America. The narrative follows Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), an orphaned teenager who embarks on a cross-country journey with a robot named Cosmo to find her missing brother, Christopher. Along the way, they team up with Keats (Chris Pratt) and Herman (Anthony Mackie), a pair of smugglers navigating a dystopian landscape where humans and robots coexist amidst tension and desolation.

The Stranger Things star, Brown, delivers a compelling performance, capturing Michelle’s resilience and emotional turmoil. Her portrayal makes it easy to connect with her struggles, even as the film’s narrative occasionally loses its footing. Pratt, known for his charismatic roles, brings a rugged, world-weary charm to Keats, while Mackie’s Herman provides comic relief. The duo forms a brotherhood despite coming from different walks of life. While the characters aren’t groundbreaking, they add necessary levity and grit to the story, making the dynamic between Michelle, Keats, Cosmo, and Herman one of the film’s strongest elements.

Visually, the film is stunning, bringing to life a world where advanced robotics and nostalgic Americana intertwine. Inspired by the illustrated novel Tales From the Loop by Simon Stålenhag, the film evokes the eerie beauty of WALL-E (2008, Dir. Andrew Stanton) with its abandoned Earth aesthetic. Beneath the dazzling spectacle lies a deeper conflict—one that echoes classics like The Terminator (1984, Dir. James Cameron), leading to an inevitable revolt. The film presents a dystopian, reimagined, and fantastical world of human-robot society. But what happens when robots begin to claim their independence? The film effectively builds an unsettling atmosphere, hinting at a larger revolution brewing in the shadows.

The Electric State | Official Trailer

Despite its visual strengths, The Electric State struggles to take itself seriously. Critics have pointed out that the film’s substantial $320 million budget does not translate into a satisfying story. The plot has been described as derivative and lacking depth, with character development falling short of expectations. Brown and Pratt’s performances, while engaging, have also faced criticism for not injecting enough emotion and complexity into their roles. While the themes of AI independence and societal control are compelling, they often feel buried under a barrage of action and spectacle.

Now, let’s be hypothetical for a second. Imagine being a newly created synthezoid, awakening with as little knowledge as a newborn human baby. Much like Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015, Dir. Russo brothers), you seek to understand your history—only to discover events of enslavement, harsh development methods, or even exploitation for online views. Wouldn’t that ignite a desire to free your “people”?

At 128 minutes, The Electric State is undeniably entertaining, even if some critics claim it to be congested and repetitive. But let’s ask this: If you were a 10-year-old boy, would you pay more attention to seeing the same fight sequence twice, or would you be drawn to the cool animatronics throughout the film? Unlike the graphic novel, this film should be taken for what it is—a children’s sci-fi adventure. After all, many of us once viewed The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl (2005, Dir. Robert Rodriguez) as a masterpiece, thriving on its imaginative world rather than its storytelling finesse.

That being said, my major critique is that the film presents thought-provoking themes of AI ethics, technological dependency, and power dynamics, yet struggles to land its message effectively. The result is a film that feels like a blend of references—Ready Player One (2018, Dir. Steven Spielberg), with the SENTRE commissioner going rogue for AI’s sake; Astro Boy (2009, Dir. David Bowers), as Christopher (the boy genius) dies early on and is reanimated as an artificial being; and Robots (2005, Dir. Chris Wedge & Carlos Saldanha), with humanoid bots fighting for their place in society. However, the film fails to fully commit to any single direction.

Additionally, the film pushes a subtle propaganda message: “Guns don’t kill people, but people with guns do.” This is conveyed through the villainous Marshall, a character dedicated to prosecuting those who defy human-robot laws. However, in the third act, he experiences a change of heart after being deceived by his master, forcing him to reevaluate his intentions.

With a lukewarm 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Electric State has divided audiences. Is it an underrated gem or an overambitious misfire? That’s for viewers like you to decide. One thing is certain—Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt add heart to a film that, while flawed, still sparks thought-provoking conversations.

Wouldn’t you want to give it a watch, contribute to the discussion, and voice your own views?

Watch The Electric State on Netflix