The Electric State Review: A Genre Mash-Up That Loses Its Spark.Moviesgod

The Electric State Review: A Sci-Fi Journey That Looks Great But Feels Hollow

A Beautiful World, But an Empty Ride
Watching The Electric State feels like stepping into a dream world—rich in visuals, loaded with atmosphere, and full of intriguing ideas. And yet, as the minutes pass, it becomes clear that something’s missing. The story doesn’t move with purpose. Characters feel like passengers, not drivers, of the plot. Despite its big-budget spectacle and a solid cast, the film struggles to give us a reason to care.

Based on Simon Stålenhag’s graphic novel, The Electric State follows Michelle (Milly Bobby Brown), a teenager on a post-apocalyptic road trip to find her missing brother. She’s joined by a clunky robot named Skip and a smuggler named Keats (Chris Pratt). Together, they navigate a retro-futuristic America scarred by a war between humans and machines.

Directors Anthony and Joe Russo—famous for Marvel’s Avengers films—bring technical flair to the film. But what they deliver in visual wow-factor, they lose in emotional connection.

A Retro-Future That’s Strangely Familiar
Visually, The Electric State is impressive. The filmmakers opt for a 1950s-meets-future aesthetic, giving the film a nostalgic tone rather than the usual dark and metallic sci-fi setting. The world is filled with rusting machines, wide-open landscapes, and eerie silence—a mix that often feels like a moving painting.

This setting allows for subtle social commentary. The aftermath of war, government control, and the reliance on artificial intelligence echo real-world issues. But instead of being sharp or bold in its messaging, the film seems content to just hint at deeper meaning. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this approach, but the lack of urgency or depth in exploring these themes leaves the viewer detached. It’s a beautiful world, yes—but one we never fully connect with.

Characters That Don’t Go the Distance
The cast is stacked with talent. Milly Bobby Brown carries the emotional weight of the story and does so with natural ease. Her character Michelle is rebellious, determined, and quietly grieving. Brown brings heart to the role, even when the script gives her little to work with beyond generic teenage angst and bursts of courage.

Chris Pratt, as Keats, leans into his usual goofy charm, making for some lighter moments in an otherwise melancholic movie. But again, the character is underwritten—more a type than a person. Giancarlo Esposito plays a cold antagonist with finesse, but it feels like a role we’ve seen him do many times before. Stanley Tucci is the corporate villain with vague motives, and Anthony Mackie has little to do beyond occasional screen time.

There’s a robot sidekick, Skip, who offers a few touching moments, but even he is more concept than character. The human-robot relationship, which should be the emotional center of the film, is barely explored.

A Story That Plays It Too Safe
With Russo brothers at the helm and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (also from the Marvel universe), expectations were understandably high. Unfortunately, the film follows a very familiar path: tragedy sets off the journey, shady organizations pursue the heroes, secrets are revealed, and a final showdown takes place. It’s a checklist approach to storytelling, lacking surprise or personal stakes.

There are flashes of emotional intensity—especially in scenes between Michelle and memories of her brother—but these moments are too few and far between. The script hints at big questions about grief, purpose, and what it means to be human, but it never stays with these themes long enough for them to matter.

The pacing doesn’t help either. Long stretches of slow travel are followed by sudden bursts of exposition or action, making it feel like two different films trying to blend into one. It’s part sci-fi epic, part coming-of-age road trip, and part family drama—but it doesn’t commit fully to any of them.

When Style Can’t Save the Story
There’s no denying that The Electric State looks and sounds great. The cinematography is often breathtaking, the world-building is immersive, and the soundtrack adds a melancholic charm. But all that style can’t make up for the film’s lack of soul.

This is a movie that wants to say something meaningful but never quite figures out what that is. It’s polished and well-crafted, but emotionally, it feels distant. You can admire it, but it’s hard to love it. It leaves you thinking, not about the film’s ideas, but about what could’ve been if the storytelling had matched the visuals.

Even fans of the original book might walk away feeling underwhelmed. The emotional weight, the quiet introspection, and the subtle horror of Stålenhag’s illustrations don’t fully translate to the screen. Instead, we get something that looks like a blend of The Road, E.T., and Blade Runner, but without the heart of any of them.

Final Thoughts: A Scenic Journey to Nowhere
The Electric State is a classic case of style over substance. It’s visually ambitious and full of potential, but it stumbles in its execution. With a stronger emotional core, deeper character arcs, and tighter storytelling, it could’ve been something truly special.

Instead, it ends up being a beautiful but empty ride—a movie that looks like it’s going somewhere but never quite arrives. It might hold your attention for a while, but by the time the credits roll, it’s hard to shake the feeling that you’ve seen this all before, only done better elsewhere.

If you’re in the mood for a visually rich, quiet sci-fi film, it might be worth a watch. Just don’t expect to be deeply moved or surprised. For a film about memory, emotion, and connection, The Electric State oddly forgets to connect with us.