On a spur-of-the-moment cinema trip, Alex and I saw Ex Machina on its opening night. I knew nothing about it beyond hearing a short radio interview with Domhnall Gleeson that made me curious enough to suggest we try it (plus it was starting in, like, 2 minutes). I loved it. You should watch it.
The plot follows a young programmer at Blue Book (a Google-like search engine) as he tests a revolutionary new robotic A.I. after winning a competition to visit with the company's CEO. Everything goes perfectly.
Ex Machina reminded me of Moon - both are small, satisfying character-based sci-fi films with twists and turns. Both are very good. The tech speculations are well illustrated, regardless of plausibility. It's easy to imagine how the near future could be, um, unimaginable thanks to one or two developments. Remember how the Tamagotchi changed everything?
Under The Skin and Her also make perfect boxed-set companions, though even after a single watch I reckon I prefer Ex Machina. It's not so bleak as the former and it's not trying as hard as the latter to have cool trousers.
Anyway, if you're in the UK, go see it now. Give it love. It'd be great if Alex Garland got to direct more films. If you're in the US, you gotta wait until the 10th of April.
Oh, and don't watch the trailer if you possibly can. It doesn't spoil much but, like with lots of things, it's better to know nothing.