SIMULANT
US, 2023, 95 minutes, Colour.
Robbie Amell, Jordana Brewster, Simu Liu, Sam Worthington, Alicia Sanz.
Directed by April Mullen.
Stimulants is in the tradition of films with the pursuit of robots in control, Blade Runner being the archetypal film. It is suggested that this story is a variation on the writings of Isaac Asimov.
This is a Canadian production, an interesting cast including Australian Sam Worthington, set in the near future, the vistas of a vast industrial plant as well as of a thriving city.
The film begins with two stories, the marriage of Evan and Faye, his nightmares, a crash, some alienation between the couple, the wife finally revealing that after the accident he became a simulant. Faye cannot relate well with him and urges him to some treatment, a connection with a hacker, Casey.
The other story is that of Kessler, Sam Worthington, officially pursuing simulants, an opening sequence in pursuing a simulant called Esme who is then taken to the laboratories for research and reconstruction.
There are further emotional complications as Evan discovers more of the truth about himself, the Evan inside him but also the simulant and his affinity with the other AI creatures, working with Casey, confronting Kessler, killing Faye, and a sign of the uprising of AI against the humans.
- The near future? Artificial intelligence? Robotics? Simulants?
- Canadian production, the settings, the overview of the industrial plants, interiors, modern, laboratories, apartments, swimming pool? The musical score?
- Two stories in one, Evan and Faye, Kessler and his pursuits? Combining them? Through Casey?
- Tradition of science-fiction and simulants, Asimov stories, Blade Runner…?
- Evan and Faye, the marriage, life together, his waking from nightmares, the crash? Puzzling about himself? Faye’s treatment of him? Sense of alienation, the question about the accident, the consequences, the revelation that he was a simulant? The consequences, his relationship, Faye not feeling that he was the same person, the revelation, taking him to Casey? The elimination of memories? The effect on Evan, with Casey, learning the truth, becoming embittered, the escape with Casey, the confrontations, his killing Faye?
- Faye, the marriage, the crash, her husband coming a simulant, not being able to relate to him, yet the care and concern, the sexual encounter, her swimming, sending him away, his return and her death?
- Kessler, hunting the simulants, the pursuit of Esme, his powers, the control, capturing her, the laboratory, reworking her, her link with Casey, Kessler and the doctor leaving, Esme ringing, Casey and his escape? Kessler in pursuit? The fight, the shootout?
- The attitude of the humans, making the simulants, the auction sequence, the robots serving in the house?
- Casey, hacker, changing people, with Kessler in the apartment, with Evan, with his double? The escape?
- The change in society, the uprising of AI, the revolution?
