I AM MOTHER - Asimov meets Darwin

Of the many reasons I mostly enjoy science fiction, few are as prominent as this: it makes you ask important (if occasionally uncomfortable) questions. Be they about humanity, society, or the Universe as a whole, a decent sci-fi yarn will cause you to contemplate the human condition in one way or another. Today's Netflix original film, I AM MOTHER, is such a story. Aside from one or two somewhat annoying plot holes here and there, this movie is loaded with symbolism and character beats that provide a robust and intellectually satisfying narrative. How good is this film? Well, it makes subtle nods to Blade Runner. That should give you a clue.

Taking place sometime after a massive extinction-level event, the story follows a Robot dubbed MOTHER (Luke Hawker & Rose Byrne), who is in charge of an enormous facility meant to re-populate Earth. Housing thousands of embryos to be grown and shaped into good human beings. MOTHER starts with one child, a little girl named Daughter (Clara Rugaard), who has been raised into a loving environment by MOTHER, who says the world outside is dangerous due to lethal contagions. Life seems pretty stable until a stranger from the outside, only referred to as Woman (Hilary Swank), makes her way inside the compound. According to this stranger, Robots are the cause of human extinction and attempts to persuade Daughter to escape with her. So begins the journey to uncover the mystery, and to determine who is the real enemy.

This is a well-crafted piece of science fiction cinema. Without spoiling anything, the narrative goes into tight places about morality, nature vs. nurture, and what it might take to renew the world as we know it. While some may find its ideas a little uncomfortable for understandable reasons, I personally found myself engrossed in the ideas it presented. Not necessarily because I agreed with them, but it was all presented in a way that made me contemplate its philosophy. Which is precisely what good science fiction should do. This is not the kind of story that provides clear answers. Instead, it makes you look more inward and think.

The MVP award for the film goes to, without questions, MOTHER herself. The robot suit was built by the WETA Workshop, the special effects team behind Lord of the Rings, and the new Planet of the Apes films. Because of the movie's small budget, the team was only able to build a single suit for the whole production. Designer and physical performer Luke Hawker wore the costume for shooting while actress Rose Byrne provided the voice of the robot. The results are not only a beautifully crafted piece of practical effects but also perfect chemistry between the robot, and the other characters that would never have been accomplished had the robot been CGI. Not to mention a much-desired new case for the defense and superiority of practical effects. Not to say that CGI is horrible, far from it. Instead, CGI is a great tool that has become far too overutilized.

I AM MOTHER is a rare gem of science fiction cinema. It strikes the right balance between being intellectually stimulating and viscerally thrilling. Sci-fi fans will love it, and casual movie buffs will appreciate it. If you need something a little deeper than an excellent brainless action movie to tide you over and give your brain a jolt, this is the movie for you. Check it out.

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm, thank you all for reading.