Source: BBC Culture Film Review

In 1968 B.F Skinner stated in his book, The Man and His Ideas, “The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.” This quote resonates with the essence of Ex Machina, and the message that is at the heart of the movie. Where Nathan is successful in creating machines that embody humanistic traits and qualities, he is able to maintain his sanity and a distance from the fictitious world he has created for himself. On the contrary, as Caleb’s “sessions” with Eva progress, he begins to sympathize with her and questions his own sanity. As the days advance in Nathan’s repulsive and secluded home, Caleb begins to see the reality of Nathan’s world, and has to ensure that he is not one of Nathan’s artificially created machines- he begins to question his own humanity. By the end of the movie, Eva has not only secured Caleb’s trust but is also successful in escaping Nathan’s artificial world and leaves Caleb behind to suffer in the same way she once had. I think it is imperative to note that earlier in the movie Eva tells Caleb not to trust Nathan; however, Nathan also tells Caleb not to become attached to Eva. When the time comes, Caleb chooses to support Eva over Nathan, and this illustrates that the interaction between two humans was eventually destroyed by a complex machine. The fact that Eva was able to manipulate Caleb in such a way not only brings to light the seemingly complex nature of machines and their human-like attributes but the worsening communication of humans amongst each other as they become increasingly dependent on technology.