The Electric State
The Electric State
Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Simon Stålenhag, the story takes place in a reimagined version of 1997. With humans isolated in their VR helmets and a continuing battle against a strange breed of monstruous drones in the wake of a technological meltdown, a teenage girl named Michelle and a robot travel the West Coast of the U.S in search of the girl's missing brother.
RichyE reviewed2d ago
This film feels like someone took E.T., Ready Player One, and Chappie, tossed them in a blender, and poured out a visually stunning, emotionally ambitious sci-fi road trip. Based on Simon Stålenhag’s graphic novel, it’s set in a retro-futuristic 1997 where people are glued to VR helmets and monstrous drones roam the landscape. At the heart of it is Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), a teenage girl traveling across the U.S. with her robot companion to find her missing brother.
🎬 What I Loved
The Visuals Are Gorgeous: The world is hauntingly beautiful decaying tech, vast landscapes, and eerie drones. It’s like watching concept art come to life.
Millie Bobby Brown Carries It: She brings vulnerability and grit to Michelle, making the journey feel personal and grounded.
The Robot Companion: Think WALL-E meets Iron Giant. It’s sweet, loyal, and adds emotional depth.
The Soundtrack Slaps: A killer mix of ‘80s synth and melancholic tones that really sets the mood.
The Message Hits Home: It’s a quiet plea to reconnect with reality, to look up from our screens and engage with the world around us.
🤔 What Fell Flat
The Plot Is Predictable: You can see most twists coming, and some emotional beats feel rushed.
Too Many Voices, Not Enough Depth: With a stacked voice cast (Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate, etc.), some characters feel underused or just quirky filler.
Budget vs. Substance: At $320+ million, expectations were sky-high. While it’s visually rich, some viewers felt the story didn’t match the scale.
⭐ Final Thoughts
The Electric State is a visually stunning, emotionally resonant sci-fi journey that’s imperfect but memorable. It’s not the next Blade Runner, but it doesn’t try to be. It’s a heartfelt road trip through a broken world, and if you let it, it’ll leave you thinking about your own connection to reality.