The Electric State Movie Review 2025 – A Visually Stunning but Emotionally Shallow Sci-Fi Journey

Introduction of The Electric State Movie Review 2025

The Electric State movie review explores one of the most ambitious science-fiction films of recent years. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the creators behind some of the most successful modern blockbusters, The Electric State arrives as a high-budget Netflix original that promised emotional depth, imaginative world-building, and a powerful human story wrapped in a dystopian sci-fi shell.

Set in an alternate version of the 1990s, the film imagines a world where robots once lived alongside humans—until a devastating war changed everything. With Millie Bobby Brown leading the cast and a massive production budget backing the project, expectations were sky-high. While the film delivers impressive visuals and an intriguing setting, it struggles to translate its potential into a deeply satisfying narrative.

This The Electric State movie review breaks down every major aspect of the film, including story, performances, visuals, themes, strengths, weaknesses, and overall impact.

Story Overview of The Electric State Movie

At its heart, The Electric State tells the story of Michelle, a teenage girl living in a post-robot-war America. She has lost her family, including her younger brother, in what she believes was a tragic accident. Her life changes when she encounters a mysterious robot that seems to be connected to her missing brother.

Driven by hope and unresolved grief, Michelle embarks on a dangerous cross-country journey through a desolate yet visually fascinating America. Along the way, she teams up with Keats, a rogue smuggler with a cynical outlook, and his robot companion Herman. Together, they navigate abandoned cities, robot graveyards, and a society addicted to virtual reality escapism.

While the premise is emotionally promising, The Electric State movie review highlights that the film often settles for predictable storytelling rather than fully exploring its emotional and philosophical possibilities.

Character Development and Performances

Millie Bobby Brown as Michelle

Millie Bobby Brown is positioned as the emotional anchor of the film. She delivers a sincere performance, portraying Michelle as resilient, curious, and quietly broken. However, the script limits her range. Despite Brown’s talent, Michelle’s character arc feels underdeveloped, relying more on exposition than genuine emotional evolution.

In this Electric State movie review, it’s clear that while Brown does her best, the writing prevents her performance from reaching its full potential.

Chris Pratt as Keats

Chris Pratt plays Keats, a familiar archetype: the sarcastic, morally flexible survivor with a hidden soft side. His performance is entertaining but predictable. Pratt brings charm and humor, but his character never truly surprises.

The chemistry between Pratt and Brown is serviceable, though not particularly memorable.

Supporting Cast

The film features several respected actors in supporting roles. While their performances are competent, they suffer from limited screen time and thin character writing. These characters feel more like narrative tools than fully realized individuals, which weakens the emotional impact of their involvement.

Visual Effects and Production Design

One area where The Electric State movie review gives strong praise is visual presentation.

The film’s world is stunning. From rusted robot corpses scattered across deserts to neon-lit virtual reality hubs, the movie creates a hauntingly beautiful version of America. The robots are especially well-designed, balancing retro charm with unsettling realism.

The cinematography captures both scale and intimacy, often allowing the environment to speak louder than the dialogue. Visually, The Electric State is one of the most impressive sci-fi films Netflix has ever produced.

World-Building: Big Ideas, Limited Exploration

The alternate-history 1990s setting is rich with potential. Humans are emotionally disconnected, relying heavily on advanced virtual reality technology to escape the consequences of the robot war. The robots themselves are outlawed, discarded, or destroyed—symbols of a past humanity wants to forget.

However, this Electric State movie review points out that the film rarely dives deep into these concepts. The world feels lived-in, but the story doesn’t fully explore its political, social, or emotional consequences. Instead, the setting often becomes background decoration rather than an active narrative force.

Themes and Symbolism

Technology and Isolation

One of the film’s strongest themes is humanity’s dependence on technology as a form of escapism. People prefer simulated happiness over confronting reality, a theme that feels especially relevant today.

Loss and Hope

Michelle’s journey represents the universal struggle of dealing with grief while holding onto hope. Unfortunately, the emotional weight of this theme is unevenly handled, with some moments resonating deeply and others feeling rushed or superficial.

Humanity vs. Machines

The film hints at philosophical questions regarding consciousness, empathy, and what truly makes someone “human.” While intriguing, these ideas are never explored deeply enough to leave a lasting impact.

Pacing and Narrative Structure

A recurring criticism in this The Electric State movie review is pacing. The film alternates between slow, atmospheric scenes and sudden action sequences, often without smooth transitions.

Some emotional beats are rushed, while other scenes linger too long without adding meaningful development. This imbalance affects the overall flow, making the film feel longer than it needs to be.

Adaptation Issues of The Electric State Movie

The film is based on a visually iconic illustrated novel known for its subtle storytelling and melancholic tone. The adaptation significantly alters the source material’s quiet introspection, opting instead for a more mainstream adventure style.

Fans of the original work may find this disappointing, as the film sacrifices emotional subtlety for broader appeal. This creative choice plays a major role in the divided reactions surrounding the movie.

Audience vs. Critical Response

One of the most interesting aspects of The Electric State movie review discussion is the contrast between audience and critic reactions.

Critics largely point out the film’s weak narrative, generic character arcs, and missed thematic opportunities. Many describe it as visually impressive but emotionally hollow.

Audience reactions are more mixed. Casual viewers often enjoy the film for its visuals, action, and light emotional moments, while more analytical viewers echo the critics’ concerns.

Strengths of The Electric State

• Stunning visual effects and production design
• Strong sci-fi atmosphere
• High production value
• Solid performances despite weak writing
• Interesting dystopian premise

Weaknesses of The Electric State Movie

• Underdeveloped characters
• Predictable storytelling
• Inconsistent pacing
• Shallow exploration of deep themes
• Missed emotional opportunities

Final Verdict

This The Electric State movie review concludes that the film is a beautifully crafted but emotionally restrained sci-fi adventure. It succeeds as visual entertainment but falls short of becoming a truly memorable or meaningful cinematic experience.

If you enjoy futuristic worlds, robot-centric stories, and polished visual storytelling, The Electric State is worth watching. However, viewers seeking deep emotional storytelling or philosophical depth may feel unsatisfied.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)

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