The Human Equation

The Human Equation is a bleak portrait of the future where AI robots have taken control of all the world’s nuclear weapons. The narrative takes place entirely in a single location, following one scientist, Dr. Lacan (Rowan Polonski), as he is summoned to hear an ASI Android’s (Cassie Clare) verdict on the future of the human race.

While the narrative isn't the most original in its themes and messaging, the film’s execution is incredibly provocative and unsettling. The single location allows each performance to shine, while the dialogue-driven approach effectively conveys the film’s central themes. What's most impressive is how the filmmakers immediately build tension through unique blocking choices and by keeping both characters at the centre of the frame. Despite the film's brisk runtime, the world-building is astounding and establishes the stakes and state of the world the characters live in. Many themes around AI taking over the world have been rehashed in science fiction media for years; however, the film’s take on our relationship with AI is incredibly thought-provoking. It's a largely original approach that still draws on the science fiction films that came before it.

Despite the film's evident budget constraints, its single-location set is incredible, boasting a futuristic aesthetic. It also makes the experience claustrophobic and unsettling throughout. The film's narrative and performances feel heavily influenced by Ex Machina (2014), with its depiction of androids sharing intimacy with humans. Thematically, the film is also politically charged, with eye-opening dialogue that explores the ramifications of political discourse and its impact on humans' relationship with technology.

Technically, The Human Equation fires on all cylinders with unique framing and musical choices. Jose Chica serves as the film’s cinematographer and uses wider framing to establish the location's confinement. The camera also shifts to extreme close-ups during dialogue-heavy moments, an apt choice to anchor the tension growing between the two central characters. Another stylistic choice that pays off profoundly is the shift to surveillance footage, as this expands on the film's themes of technology taking over. The music, though infrequent, fits the narrative and creates unease as Dr. Lacan tries to get answers about the future from the ASI Android. That said, some baffling editing choices occasionally detract from the otherwise seamless experience.

Both Cassie Clare and Rowan Polonski’s portrayals of the ASI Android and Dr. Lacan, respectively, are sensational. Cassie Clare delivers a remarkably convincing portrayal of the ASI Android, making the character feel entirely believable within the film’s briefly established world. Rowan Polonski’s turn as Dr. Lacan is engaging as he conveys the sheer anxiety caused by the future he’s living in and attempts to gather answers from the ASI Android. Their enticing chemistry also helps during the more intimate moments, and it makes for an incredibly unsettling exchange.

The Human Equation is an incredibly provocative and unnerving piece of science fiction that raises thought-provoking questions about the human relationship with AI. It leaves the audience wanting more while providing them with enough payoff for discussion after the credits roll. Assisted by two compelling central performances, The Human Equation is a cerebral experience that feels particularly vital in the current moment we’re living in.