What you’ll learn:
- What is The Electric State about?
- Behind the scenes look at the film-making process.
- What I thought about the film.
An abandoned, decaying, retro-futurism is the vibe of Netflix's film The Electric State, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, presenting audiences with an adaptation of the awe-inspiring graphic novel by Simon Stålenhag. The film centers on Michelle, portrayed by Millie Bobby Brown, who embarks on a journey across a transformed American landscape to locate her missing brother.
Michelle’s companions include Cosmo, a robot character, and Keats, a war veteran played by Chris Pratt. This adaptation maintains a strong connection to Stålenhag's original illustrated novel, translating his distinctive visual style and themes of technology's integration into everyday life onto the screen.
Graphic Novel Brought to “Realistic” Life
The filmmaking process behind The Electric State features next-level motion-capture technology and visual effects. Their recreation of Stålenhag's detailed robotic and technological designs was spot on.
Typically, CGI is obvious, especially on the "small screen" that displays at 30 frames per second (fps). That wasn’t the case with this film. I was shocked by how real it felt and how much of the original feel of the graphic novel it was able to exude. This includes small details in the character designs, such as, for example, a face produced by what looks like a low-resolution LED matrix under a dusty cover. It looks like they actually made that robot's face (Fig. 1). After the initial shock of realism, the rest of the film made me forget it was almost all CGI. An outstanding achievement these days.
The film's relationship to Stålenhag's original material is further strengthened by the careful attention paid to faithfully recreating iconic imagery and scenes from the graphic novel (Fig. 2). Through a blend of practical and digital effects, The Electric State remains true to the essence of the source material, providing viewers with an immersive experience that reflects the contemplative, technology-driven world envisioned by Stålenhag.
One key technological approach utilized in the film's production is on-set virtual production (OSVP), employing LED backdrops to generate realistic, real-time environments. This innovative filmmaking method, known for its prior application in productions like The Mandalorian, lets actors experience interactive, responsive settings.
Talking with Production Designer Dennis Gassner
I spoke with Dennis Gassner, production designer on The Electric State. Gassner was the production designer behind Bladerunner 2049, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Big Fish, Skyfall, and Waterworld, to name a few. He and his team applied their talents, bringing this world to life. They created the world alongside the robotic characters. He said, "This film started with nothing but the book."
An excerpt from my interview:
What was the most challenging part in creating this movie?
"Creating over 175 robots that no one has seen before."
175 real ones?
“Did they look real to you?”
I thought they were. Only a few instances where I said, “ok, that can’t be real.”
“Why is that?”
It was so big, a giant robot.
“Why not?”
Because it would be so expensive.
“Why not?”
Ok, it was really hard to tell the difference between what was real and what was not.
“Thank you very much. You answered your own question.”
In retrospect, even the giant robot had weight to it; it felt real. If it’s real in your mind, does it matter if it “was real” in the world?
All of those robotic characters were so endearing and visceral that it's hard to believe they had an all-out war with humanity at some point before the film's story began (Fig. 3). Apparently, it was something like the first few episodes of The Animatrix. In this case, the machines lost.
I also asked how much AI was used in the creation of this movie. Gassner had a different perspective on AI. He talked about how he started making film even before computers were used, but he called computers "a good pencil" as he embraced its use throughout his career. In reference to AI, he said, "AI is a really good pencil. I used a lot of really good pencils."
My Review of The Electric State
Ultimately, The Electric State serves as a visual extension of Simon Stålenhag's celebrated work, using advanced digital filmmaking techniques to authentically realize the intricate details and atmospheric qualities of the graphic novel. The books leave you with so many questions, but I think that’s part of the fun. The movie does, too. You want to see more; you want to know what happened.
The only issue I have with the film was its limited explanation of past events. I say, don't even elaborate at all. It's like Star Wars (episode 4 from 1977). Did they explain anything from the past? No. "You fought with my father in the clone wars?" We loved speculating on what it all could have been. The mystery is part of the fun.
If you like this "used and abandoned future" created by Simon Stålenhag, I suggest the series called Tales from the Loop. It's the same kind of world. I would like to believe that The Electric State and Tales from the Loop are in a shared universe, the connecting tissue being Stålenhag. Alternatively, seek out his books of the same titles. Based completely on his artwork, I’m sure we'll be seeing more from these stories. Hopefully, a sequel to The Electric State.
I give it a 3.14159 out of 4. Well worth watching for the Stålenhag feel, the visuals, inspiration, and, of course, Shortround (actor Ke Huy Quan) (Fig. 4).
The Electric State is now streaming on Netflix. Check out the trailer:
