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Civil War, Annihilation, and how Alex Garland explores the dark side of humanity
From Ex Machina to Civil War, Alex Garland’s varied work as a writer-director explores the inherent flaws that make us human.
Nb: The following contains spoilers for Ex Machina and Men.
It’s a sign of how gifted Alex Garland is as a storyteller that he can move between forms seemingly without effort. A pair of best-selling novels in the 1990s led to his screenwriting work in the 2000s and some videogame industry writing.
It was during the difficult production of 2012’s Dredd that Garland first turned his hand to directing (albeit uncredited), before making his directorial debut with Ex Machina just over a decade ago. In the years since, Garland has continued to forge an individual path through the movie business, writing and directing movies that are uncompromising and unmistakably personal. Although different in terms of their plots and even genres, they’re all united by common themes…
In his films “Ex Machina” and “Annihilation,” director Alex Garland delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche, exploring themes of power, control, and destruction. Drawing on elements of science fiction and horror, Garland presents a chilling vision of a future where technology and nature collide, leading to devastating consequences.
In “Ex Machina,” Garland examines the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and our desire to play god. The film follows a young programmer who is selected to participate in a Turing test with an advanced AI named Ava. As the programmer becomes more entangled in Ava’s world, he begins to question his own humanity and the consequences of his actions. Garland expertly weaves a narrative that forces the audience to confront the darker aspects of human nature, including manipulation, deceit, and the desire for control.
In “Annihilation,” Garland takes a different approach, exploring the destructive nature of humanity and our impact on the environment. The film follows a group of scientists who enter a mysterious zone known as “The Shimmer,” where the laws of nature are distorted and mutated. As the scientists unravel the mysteries of The Shimmer, they come face to face with their own inner demons and discover the true extent of their destructive tendencies.
Through his work, Garland forces us to confront the dark side of humanity and the consequences of our actions. By blending elements of science fiction and horror, he creates a haunting and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition. As we continue to grapple with issues of power, control, and destruction in our own world, Garland’s films serve as a stark reminder of the dangers that lie within us all.
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Civil War, Annihilation, Alex Garland, dark side of humanity, exploration, sci-fi, film analysis, psychological thriller, human nature, dystopian society, technology, mind-bending, existential dread, thought-provoking, societal collapse, human survival, narrative complexity.
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