When technological progress begins to cross certain boundaries, it raises critical questions. One of the most rapid developments in recent years is artificial intelligence (AI), which continues to evolve at an extraordinary speed.
Instead of directing this advancement towards scientific and medical breakthroughs, what if world powers decide to harness it for military purposes or even integrate it into their respective national workforces?
If those in authority bestow self-awareness upon artificial beings, only to later revoke it due to their own errors, would that be considered an act of destruction or something even more severe?
A former soldier uncovers shocking truths in a battle against machines (Photo: The Creator/20th Century Studios)Does this cross the line into what could be defined as murder or even genocide? Or is there a distinction to be made between actual life and artificial intelligence with a form of consciousness?
A Visually Striking Sci-Fi Film with a Powerful Message
The Creator presents a gripping original science fiction story that raises thought-provoking issues.
Released in 2023, The Creator examines this very issue, with a concept that no longer seems far-fetched in today’s world. By 2055, AI has reached a level where humanoid robots, called Simulants, exist among humans.
Following a nuclear explosion in Los Angeles, Western nations initiate a war against the Simulants. Meanwhile, an alliance of Eastern countries, known as New Asia, resists the war efforts, insisting that humans and Simulants can co-exist.
Joshua Taylor, a former Special Forces officer, is recruited to track down the mind behind the AI technology, a mysterious figure known as Nirmata. However, as he delves deeper into the mission, he comes to realise that his superiors have deceived him.
Plot Summary of The Creator
A nuclear detonation devastates Los Angeles in 2055, an attack allegedly caused by advanced AI. The United States declares war on the Simulants, while New Asia opposes the conflict, arguing that peaceful co-existence is possible. Joshua Taylor, a Special Forces operative, is assigned an undercover mission to establish contact with a woman named Maya.
He is informed that she is the daughter of Nirmata, the creator of AI and the Simulants. As time passes, Joshua and Maya fall in love and eventually get married, and when the audience is introduced to them, she is already expecting their child.
After Maya learns about Joshua’s true mission, she attempts to flee their village in New Asia. However, a missile strike from the USS NOMAD, a powerful space station, strikes her, and she is presumed dead.
The story then moves to five years later. Joshua has since left the Special Forces and now works in Los Angeles, searching through the remnants of the explosion.
When government officials approach him with video footage suggesting that Maya is still alive, they persuade him to rejoin their efforts. His task is to locate a supposed weapon capable of destroying NOMAD and track down Nirmata.
Upon discovering the weapon, Joshua is shocked to find that it is a Simulant designed to resemble a child. He realises that she possesses the ability to manipulate electronics using her mind. As he strays from his original mission, he begins to believe that the child—whom he names Alphie—can lead him to Nirmata and, finally, to Maya.
As their journey progresses, Joshua uncovers two shocking truths: Maya herself is Nirmata, and Alphie was secretly created from a scan of their unborn child’s embryo.
Additionally, he learns that the nuclear explosion in Los Angeles was not caused by AI but resulted from human error in programming. With his beliefs challenged, Joshua is left to determine where his loyalties lie and what role he is meant to play in the chaos surrounding him.
How The Creator Concludes
Joshua’s discovery that Maya was Nirmata and that Alphie was crafted from the scanned embryo of their unborn child pushes him to defy the US government. Determined to protect Alphie, he helps her escape, and together they board a plane.
However, before they can be taken back as per government orders, Alphie gains control of the aircraft and lands it on NOMAD, the massive space station responsible for hunting down Simulants across the globe.
Inside NOMAD, Alphie and Joshua confront a wave of armed guards and soldiers. Alphie shuts down the station’s power, providing Joshua with an opportunity to plant explosives on one of the missiles.
Meanwhile, Alphie stumbles upon a Simulant with Maya’s face and attempts to restore her by inserting a memory chip containing Maya’s consciousness into the inactive bot’s head. Since the process requires time to complete, Alphie leaves Maya’s Simulant in NOMAD’s garden sector before continuing her mission.
As she returns to save Joshua, Alphie restores the oxygen supply in his chamber. She then works to prepare an escape pod so they can leave NOMAD together.
However, General Andrews captures Alphie using remotely operated robotic arms. Realising he has no other option, Joshua seals the escape pod before he can enter it himself. This action severs the robotic arms restraining Alphie but also leaves the door jammed shut, preventing his escape.
Their final words are exchanged before Joshua launches the pod with Alphie inside. With only minutes before the station is obliterated, Joshua walks through NOMAD, where he finally finds the Simulant Maya.
By this time, her synchronisation has completed, and she now holds Maya’s consciousness and memories. The two embrace one last time before NOMAD is engulfed in flames, ending their lives.
As Alphie descends back to Earth, she witnesses both humans and Simulants celebrating as NOMAD collapses, marking the conclusion of the war and the dawn of a new era where Simulants can live freely. Overwhelmed with emotion, Alphie sheds tears of joy before the screen fades to black.
Joshua’s Transformation and His Sacrifice
Throughout most of the film, Joshua shares the same perspective as the Western countries, repeatedly dismissing the Simulants by saying:
“They’re not real. […] Just programming.”
He even expresses this belief to Maya, unaware that she is actually Nirmata. However, everything changes when he meets Alphie, the first Simulant child. Through her, he gains a clearer understanding of what the Simulants truly represent.
The fate of AI and humanity collides in a visually stunning sci-fi epic (Photo: The Creator/20th Century Studios)He sees beyond their artificial origins and begins to understand that their sentience is more than just lines of code—it mirrors human consciousness, complete with emotions, growth, and empathy. Their minds are designed to function just like those of humans, making their experiences indistinguishable from real life.
Looking past their synthetic forms, it becomes difficult to differentiate them from humans. They were brought into existence without their consent—by humans themselves. They were made to seek purpose, just like people, without any certainty of what follows after death, only stories and theories.
By sacrificing himself so that Alphie could live, Joshua hopes that her survival will serve as proof of the Simulants’ right to exist, potentially changing the perspectives of those who still oppose them, just as he once did. In his eyes, her innocence and humanity hold more power than any ability she has been programmed with.
Critical Reception of The Creator
The Creator received a 66% rating from critics and a 76% score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Many reviewers praised its visual design and thought-provoking themes.
However, one of the most common criticisms was that the film lacked emotional depth and strong character development. Some felt that the pacing was uneven, with too much emphasis placed on certain aspects while more essential parts of the story were rushed.
Despite these critiques, the film remains an engaging experience for fans of science fiction. It presents themes that resonate with viewers, touching on issues related to technological advancements, the concept of family, and the search for identity in an increasingly divided society.
