If an algorithm were tasked with creating a grand, cinematic spectacle designed for the streaming era, Netflix’s The Electric State might be the result. Helmed by the Russo brothers (Avengers: Endgame), the film boasts a star-studded cast—including Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Stanley Tucci, Giancarlo Esposito, and Ke Huy Quan—an enormous budget reportedly exceeding $300 million, and a premise that blends dystopian science fiction with nostalgic adventure. On paper, it has all the elements of a modern blockbuster. However, despite these assets, the film lacks the emotional core necessary to make it truly memorable.
A Promising Premise, A Hollow Execution
Based on Simon Stålenhag’s 2018 illustrated novel, The Electric State is set in an alternate 1990s America, where sentient service robots waged war against humanity, only to be defeated and exiled to the wastelands. In this bleak world, technology tycoon Ethan Skate (Stanley Tucci) profits off a society addicted to his “Neurocasters,” devices that allow people to escape into digital avatars while their real lives deteriorate.
The story follows Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), a rebellious teenager whose family was killed in a car crash. When a mysterious robot resembling a cartoon character from her childhood appears, she begins to suspect it may hold a connection to her younger brother Christopher (Woody Norman), whom she believed to be dead. Determined to uncover the truth, she embarks on a perilous journey across America’s wastelands, heading toward the forbidden “robot exclusion zone.” Along the way, she teams up with Keats (Chris Pratt), a smuggler and war veteran, and his wisecracking robot sidekick (voiced by Anthony Mackie). Meanwhile, Esposito’s sinister robotic enforcer is hot on their trail.
Stunning Visuals, Repetitive Action
The film does have its merits. The world-building is striking, with stunning visuals that evoke Stålenhag’s original artwork. The derelict landscapes littered with the decaying remains of colossal robots create a hauntingly beautiful backdrop. The design of the robots is intricate and creative, with an impressive voice cast featuring Woody Harrelson, Hank Azaria, Brian Cox, and Jenny Slate. Unfortunately, The Electric State struggles to sustain its momentum. The action sequences, while initially engaging, grow repetitive, making the film’s two-hour runtime feel bloated.
A Mismatch of Performances
Despite the film’s high-profile cast, the chemistry between its leads falls flat. Millie Bobby Brown delivers a solid performance but appears somewhat disengaged in yet another teenage adventure role. Pratt, meanwhile, sticks to his usual action-hero persona, delivering a handful of witty one-liners but little else. The emotional weight of Michelle’s journey—her grief, her desperation to find her brother—is overshadowed by a script that feels more focused on spectacle than storytelling.
A Soulless Spectacle
There are clear influences from other sci-fi films—WALL-E, Ready Player One, The Creator—but The Electric State fails to bring anything fresh to the table. It feels like a film built from recognizable parts yet missing the spark that would make it truly stand out. The nostalgia-heavy aesthetic and the sprawling world should make it an instant classic, yet the film remains emotionally distant and, at times, even dull.
The Electric State, streaming on Netflix, is rated PG-13 for “sci-fi violence/action, language, and some thematic material.” Running time: 128 minutes. Rating: ★½ out of 4.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
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- Paraluman P. Funtanilla#molongui-disabled-link
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla#molongui-disabled-link
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