Lord, this may be favourite episode of a series in the past couple years, honestly. An emotional, human, yet dystopian piece of work. Electric Dreams has been so worth the watch, episode after episode.
16 Reviews
"Man made the Autofac. Man must now unmake it."
robfollower22 January 2020
"Maybe everything IS replaceable."
classicsoncall8 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Almost a perfect allegory for our times. Consumerism overtakes society and it feels like machines are in control of humans instead of the other way around. The automated scene at the Autofac building had to have been filmed at an Amazon warehouse, but without human stock pickers. In 2020/2021, the pandemic might have done the job that a world war twenty years earlier did in this story; reduce society to a commune of citizens with dwindling resources and dismal prospects for the future. It was almost a let down that Emily turned out to be a G-20 Simulacrum with a statistical aberration in her programming. It meant that there were no humans left in an apocalyptic world to challenge the mighty machines. It was almost like 'We have met the enemy, and he is us'.
A Very Human Story
JuzMaintain14 January 2018
Fans of post-apocalyptic period pieces will find this episode engaging but, I must say, I found it to be a bit more than that. Juno Temple is fantastic as Emily Zabriskie, the female warrior bad ass in a land-locked tribe of survivors trying to stay alive after mankind has pushed the button. They suffer the ever compounding effects of an automated factory run by machine AI that is operating on auto-pilot and has run amok fabricating endless consumer goods, creating pollution and waste that is now encroaching on their camp.
Since they are the only humans left, they must somehow contact and reason with the machines and this is where Janelle Monáe shines as Alice, the seemingly benign AI bot sent to make contact with the camp (more to it than that but I'll subtract the spoilers). Her body language is superb, emulating what one might conjure up if asked to imagine the ambulatory facility of a sentient robot.
What unfolds is, to me, a very touching and human story flecked with the darkness of the idea that human/AI interface will be anything but routine. Juno is crafty in her ability to draw away from the through line enough so that we don't see the clever twist coming and, in the process, leaves the viewer on edge and anticipating what might actually befall us in the near future.
The dialogue between Juno and Janelle toward the climax was what brought about the tears. I don't mind admitting it moved me just a bit insofar as the episode's stark observation of what could be our needed response should the machines start thinking for themselves.
The supporting cast was palatable and served the story well but you don't get all that until the end. Minus one star for a couple of small but glaring holes in the story. However, suspension of disbelief works well here so go with it.
Loved it on the whole.
Since they are the only humans left, they must somehow contact and reason with the machines and this is where Janelle Monáe shines as Alice, the seemingly benign AI bot sent to make contact with the camp (more to it than that but I'll subtract the spoilers). Her body language is superb, emulating what one might conjure up if asked to imagine the ambulatory facility of a sentient robot.
What unfolds is, to me, a very touching and human story flecked with the darkness of the idea that human/AI interface will be anything but routine. Juno is crafty in her ability to draw away from the through line enough so that we don't see the clever twist coming and, in the process, leaves the viewer on edge and anticipating what might actually befall us in the near future.
The dialogue between Juno and Janelle toward the climax was what brought about the tears. I don't mind admitting it moved me just a bit insofar as the episode's stark observation of what could be our needed response should the machines start thinking for themselves.
The supporting cast was palatable and served the story well but you don't get all that until the end. Minus one star for a couple of small but glaring holes in the story. However, suspension of disbelief works well here so go with it.
Loved it on the whole.
The best one of this season yet
drpunkrock12 December 2019
Finally a really good episode for ED. The world was immersive, the premise was cool. I also liked the ending and the performances by the actors. There were no writing problems. Also the factory looked pretty great. Just a really good sci-fi tale.
Why Should You Have to Read the Story?
Hitchcoc18 January 2018
It's interesting that everyone seems to feel that they need to have a rehash of a story they've already read. Time after time, adaptations of speculative fiction seems to irk people who can't understand that creativity often takes a right turn. This new series based on Philip K. Dick stories gives us another look at the implications of technology. Here we have the world taken over by Amazon.com after a nuclear holocaust. Because the company, actually called Autofac is programmed to keep producing things for consumers, it must protect itself from invasion by said consumers. So we have rebel who feel that eventually Autofac will become the only entity. The only criticism of this episode is that we need more human interaction, to get to know the characters a bit. Also, we should have some clues as to what is being done to counteract the threat. Still, I thought the conclusion was quite good and appropriate.
See Emily Play
Lejink6 April 2018
I found this to be one of the most intriguing of the Channel 4 series dramatising selected Philip K Dick short stories. It started off like a routine post-apocalyptic masses against the classes uprising as the last outcrop of humanity sought to wage guerrilla war against the controlling A.I. facility manifested in the all-powerful Autofac distribution centre. But then, through clever editing and layered story-telling gradually emerged another typical Dick-ian dissertation on free-will in the future and the irresistible rise of the machine overtaking our everyday lives.
Prominent amongst the rebels is a bright young scientist-type female called Emily. Just when it seemed as if she and her gang of three, in breaking into the shall we say, Amazonian Autofac complex, would next light up the piece with some cliched flashy action sequences as humans battle androids it became actually became a much more serious piece as Emily discusses humanity with the "female" android they initially captured to get inside but who later turns the tables on her and her colleagues. Only then does the shocking truth about her own existence come to light and sense is at last made of previously inserted scenes of firstly her younger self witnessing the end of days and also her bloodily forcing an implant into her own head.
The ending is suitably enigmatic closing on a memorable last line, spoken by Emily. Juno Payne is good as the central anti-hero but the most kudos must go the director for stylish work, two scenes of which stand out especially, one the efficient killing of one of Emily's fellow rebels inside the Autofac and the second when Emily's visions finally make sense to her and so fill in the gaps in the narrative.
I really enjoyed this episode even as I continue to wonder about the continuing Pink Floyd references in the series as we see Emily play but miss the (Zabriskie) point as she commandeers the mission...
Prominent amongst the rebels is a bright young scientist-type female called Emily. Just when it seemed as if she and her gang of three, in breaking into the shall we say, Amazonian Autofac complex, would next light up the piece with some cliched flashy action sequences as humans battle androids it became actually became a much more serious piece as Emily discusses humanity with the "female" android they initially captured to get inside but who later turns the tables on her and her colleagues. Only then does the shocking truth about her own existence come to light and sense is at last made of previously inserted scenes of firstly her younger self witnessing the end of days and also her bloodily forcing an implant into her own head.
The ending is suitably enigmatic closing on a memorable last line, spoken by Emily. Juno Payne is good as the central anti-hero but the most kudos must go the director for stylish work, two scenes of which stand out especially, one the efficient killing of one of Emily's fellow rebels inside the Autofac and the second when Emily's visions finally make sense to her and so fill in the gaps in the narrative.
I really enjoyed this episode even as I continue to wonder about the continuing Pink Floyd references in the series as we see Emily play but miss the (Zabriskie) point as she commandeers the mission...
Society is threatened by a company that exists to serve
Tweekums7 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Set in the future, twenty years after a war that wiped out society as we know it survivors live in isolated communities. They have a problem; the fully automated Autofac Company, which was built to automatically provide for humanity's needs, keeps churning out products at the same level it did before the war. This is causing pollution and taking up much needed resources. One community has decided to shut down the factory. To that end they first capture one of its delivery drones then use it to submit an ambiguous complaint. This leads to the company sending Alice, a robot that looks almost human, to discuss the problem. She is captured and computer expert Emily Zabriskie examines her programming. She is shocked at how detailed it is; Alice doesn't just look human she is programmed to think like a person. Emily works on her for a while then, along with two others, use her to enter the Autofac factory, which they intend to destroy. When Emily gets there we learns some shocking truths related to the nightmares she had had previously.
To my mind this was the best story in the series so far; it opens well with Emily's dream about the war before showing us the world she lives in. I liked how Autofac is clearly inspired by Amazon's suggestion that one day its goods may be delivered by drones... although that is the limit of the similarity as it also manufactures everything and has no human workers. Early scenes do feature many of the clichés of the post-apocalyptic genre but that isn't really a problem. Once inside the factory there are more twists than I expected; some were previously hinted at but others are a real surprise... at least they were to me. Juno Temple stands out with her great performance as Emily and Janelle Monáe impresses as the robotic Alice. The rest of the cast are less memorable as their characters aren't as important. Overall a fine story.
To my mind this was the best story in the series so far; it opens well with Emily's dream about the war before showing us the world she lives in. I liked how Autofac is clearly inspired by Amazon's suggestion that one day its goods may be delivered by drones... although that is the limit of the similarity as it also manufactures everything and has no human workers. Early scenes do feature many of the clichés of the post-apocalyptic genre but that isn't really a problem. Once inside the factory there are more twists than I expected; some were previously hinted at but others are a real surprise... at least they were to me. Juno Temple stands out with her great performance as Emily and Janelle Monáe impresses as the robotic Alice. The rest of the cast are less memorable as their characters aren't as important. Overall a fine story.
Entertaining but makes little sense
imdb2-53 July 2018
So let me get this straight... the factory keeps pumping out product that isn't needed because of... consumerism? This sounds like a plot taken out of a children's story book, where it's all about creating a situation and sense need not enter the equation. In the adult world if there is no demand then supply ceases. There is no point and the effort is wasted. But it goes on here because... it's the machine. The bad machines.
The acting is good. Parts of this episode flow pretty nicely. The effects are sufficiently convincing. But even the last third feels like something is wrong. It begins halfway through when the move to the latter half of the episode feels to easy - there is clearly a need to make the variables go in a certain direction to reach a predetermined conclusion. I guess the autofac and the players were just pretty dumb. You'll understand when you see it.
I think it's a wasted opportunity - much of Electric Dreams feels this way. It's as if they didn't prioritize how much sense and plausibility existed in a script and they just ran with it the way they wanted. This is a very poor man's black mirror. I'd have to say that even the poorer episodes are still much tighter than this, and this episode was the highest rated here.
The acting is good. Parts of this episode flow pretty nicely. The effects are sufficiently convincing. But even the last third feels like something is wrong. It begins halfway through when the move to the latter half of the episode feels to easy - there is clearly a need to make the variables go in a certain direction to reach a predetermined conclusion. I guess the autofac and the players were just pretty dumb. You'll understand when you see it.
I think it's a wasted opportunity - much of Electric Dreams feels this way. It's as if they didn't prioritize how much sense and plausibility existed in a script and they just ran with it the way they wanted. This is a very poor man's black mirror. I'd have to say that even the poorer episodes are still much tighter than this, and this episode was the highest rated here.
Great story ahead of time
pwegrzyniak4 May 2023
The plot of the movie is well-crafted and thought-provoking, and it raises important questions about the role of technology in society. The movie is based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, and it captures the essence of his writing style, which is a perfect blend of science fiction and philosophy.
The movie's special effects are impressive, and they are used to create a visually stunning and immersive world. The performances of the cast are excellent, particularly Virginia Madsen, who plays the role of Alice, a member of a group of rebels who oppose Autofac's control.
The movie's themes are relevant to today's world, where technology is rapidly advancing, and there is a growing concern about the impact it may have on society. The movie forces us to question the role of technology in our lives and the consequences of allowing machines to control every aspect of our existence.
In conclusion, Electric Dreams: Autofac is an outstanding movie that delivers on all fronts. It has a well-crafted plot, excellent performances, stunning special effects, and relevant themes that make it a must-watch for all science fiction fans. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who is interested in exploring the relationship between humans and technology, and I give it a score of 10 out of 10.
The movie's special effects are impressive, and they are used to create a visually stunning and immersive world. The performances of the cast are excellent, particularly Virginia Madsen, who plays the role of Alice, a member of a group of rebels who oppose Autofac's control.
The movie's themes are relevant to today's world, where technology is rapidly advancing, and there is a growing concern about the impact it may have on society. The movie forces us to question the role of technology in our lives and the consequences of allowing machines to control every aspect of our existence.
In conclusion, Electric Dreams: Autofac is an outstanding movie that delivers on all fronts. It has a well-crafted plot, excellent performances, stunning special effects, and relevant themes that make it a must-watch for all science fiction fans. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who is interested in exploring the relationship between humans and technology, and I give it a score of 10 out of 10.
Spectacle
jcain163513 January 2018
There is almost a very good story here. The heart of the story is based around the idea that consumerism will outlast even today's modern society. I would have been OK with the fact that the episode doesn't go further with the idea then the short story does but it actively doesn't go as far and instead chooses to replace this with action and a twist at the end. And in my opinion the short story didn't take the concept far enough and is not one of the author's best works. Juno temple is fantastic in this, however the rest of the actors are forgettable at best and wooden at worst. The special effects and cinematography are top notch if you care about that stuff, and I would say watch it, but don't expect it to be a favorite.
Autofac
bobcobb30123 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
As a standalone episode in another kind of anthology series this would have worked, but Autofac is the victim of so many Electric Dreams being exactly the same.
Janelle Monae was good, the man vs. machine plot was well-done, but it played out like so many episodes this season. Not too much drama as a result.
Janelle Monae was good, the man vs. machine plot was well-done, but it played out like so many episodes this season. Not too much drama as a result.
[6.6] Consume, talk and rebel yourself
cjonesas10 September 2021
Just read the original story. Please.
PanoramicViewer14 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
You seriously need to read the original short story (available online) and marvel at the sloppiness and intellectual laziness of modern story writers.
Here is some of what is lost from the original magic in this modern garbage:
In sum, this was painfully shallow. Pretty much sums up screenwriting these days.
Here is some of what is lost from the original magic in this modern garbage:
- The human settlements consisted in fact of nice and tidy townhomes.
- Autofac was serving humans, and by no means was programmed to hurt them.
- There were no god-awful wizzard hackers like the tomboy we are served in the show, doing all kinds of unbelievable things. This is so trite...People used ingenuity and worked together in pitting two Autofacs against each other to fight for a precious resource.
In sum, this was painfully shallow. Pretty much sums up screenwriting these days.
Autofac
Prismark108 March 2018
Autofac examines consumerism in a post apocalyptic society as a band of people decide to rebel against this when society is unable to function properly.
The characters are rather dull and vapid, even cliched. Then it turns out that this episode is examining themes that Philip K Dick explored in his writings. The nature of memory, dreams and what it is to be human. Some of the visual imagery reminded me of Steven Spielberg's AI, which also dealt with similar themes.
Of course the story works better when the twist is revealed later on in the episode, which also explains why some of the characters behave as they do.
The characters are rather dull and vapid, even cliched. Then it turns out that this episode is examining themes that Philip K Dick explored in his writings. The nature of memory, dreams and what it is to be human. Some of the visual imagery reminded me of Steven Spielberg's AI, which also dealt with similar themes.
Of course the story works better when the twist is revealed later on in the episode, which also explains why some of the characters behave as they do.
So far from the original story, and so dim compared to it...
marc-lopato27 March 2020
Read the original story please...
I read the whole Eletric Dreams book and loved it. Autofac was one of my favourite, and I was very much looking forward watching it.
This will be the first and the last episode of the series I will watch. I much prefer stay with the freshness of the 50's novels, rather than the dull 2010's remakes.
The whole story was changed, some parts of the story were kept, the first pages of the novel I guess. All this love story thing, the coding, the reveal at the end.. COME ON! Next time just make a complete different title, and add to the credits "inspired by...". This episode is an insult to K. Dick's piece.
The whole story was changed, some parts of the story were kept, the first pages of the novel I guess. All this love story thing, the coding, the reveal at the end.. COME ON! Next time just make a complete different title, and add to the credits "inspired by...". This episode is an insult to K. Dick's piece.
I couldn't hear any dialogue
skirbyphone16 November 2019
Am I the only one who couldn't understand 90% of the speech because there was so much background noise and all of the dialogue was just in mumbles or whispers. I'm not Hard Of Hearing but I had to turn the subtitles on but that didn't work because they were only available in Danish!
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