49 reviews
This is just a cheap, weak british doll horror story, of no proportions at all. its a jumping jack that leaps back and forth 300 years to tell the story about an automatic doll made sometime back in the 1700's, a doll who will obey and sooth your wishes beyond death if so...
the grumpy old man havent got anything rewarding to say about this, you can try and turn it of after a while if you dont find it interesting, from me therell be no recommends
the grumpy old man havent got anything rewarding to say about this, you can try and turn it of after a while if you dont find it interesting, from me therell be no recommends
- nogodnomasters
- Jan 16, 2020
- Permalink
I had been following Hex Studios social media for awhile and was intrigued by this film's story and concept. I donated to the cause and received my BluRay in a timely fashion. The packaging and contents are great and well designed; the disk had no problems on playback. They do a really good job on marketing and packaging.
The film is a good example for anyone wanting to see moody lighting in a cool baroque location. Unfortunately that is the only thing this film offers; it feels like the team's main focus was creating cool shots with Dario Argento colors in Ridley Scott smoke. The initial advertised story, of a haunted automata, is lost in a series of odd scenes between every other character but the automata.
I feel they realized too late in the game that the amazing Alexandra Hulme could expertly mimic the movements of the automata but her beautiful skin would never come across as a doll. They would need CG to flatten her skin to complete the illusion. A strong script would have allowed the audience to suspend disbelief and buy this amazing actress as a doll. Unfortunately they did not believe in the script so we see very little of the automata. (Her "turning scene" is amazing.)
So we are left with scene after scene of confusing conflicts between characters with no through line or satisfying conclusion. (Hex Studios has released scathing reviews of Ari Aster's work recently - they would do well to learn basic story structure from his films.). Even the mysterious backstory is overly confusing. Honestly it is hard not to fast forward this movie. There is zero tension or scares.
A for effort, D for execution. I will not be supporting another campaign from Hex Studios. I will check out their offerings on my streaming services if they come out hoping for more growth and tighter stories. Good luck, writing is rewriting - you can't fix a bad story in post.
The film is a good example for anyone wanting to see moody lighting in a cool baroque location. Unfortunately that is the only thing this film offers; it feels like the team's main focus was creating cool shots with Dario Argento colors in Ridley Scott smoke. The initial advertised story, of a haunted automata, is lost in a series of odd scenes between every other character but the automata.
I feel they realized too late in the game that the amazing Alexandra Hulme could expertly mimic the movements of the automata but her beautiful skin would never come across as a doll. They would need CG to flatten her skin to complete the illusion. A strong script would have allowed the audience to suspend disbelief and buy this amazing actress as a doll. Unfortunately they did not believe in the script so we see very little of the automata. (Her "turning scene" is amazing.)
So we are left with scene after scene of confusing conflicts between characters with no through line or satisfying conclusion. (Hex Studios has released scathing reviews of Ari Aster's work recently - they would do well to learn basic story structure from his films.). Even the mysterious backstory is overly confusing. Honestly it is hard not to fast forward this movie. There is zero tension or scares.
A for effort, D for execution. I will not be supporting another campaign from Hex Studios. I will check out their offerings on my streaming services if they come out hoping for more growth and tighter stories. Good luck, writing is rewriting - you can't fix a bad story in post.
- rusrobertblemker
- Jun 6, 2020
- Permalink
I managed to endure a staggering 39 minutes of what can best be described at utmost boredom when I sat down to watch "The Devil's Machine" (aka "Automata") from writer Sarah Daly and director Lawrie Brewster.
Now, it was the movie's cover/poster and the fact that it was listed as a horror movie that initially made me sit down to watch this 2019 movie. But the fact that I hadn't already seen it before also helped to win me over.
And I endured 39 minutes, and I can honestly say that I will not, never ever, be returning to "Automata" to attempt to watch the rest of the movie. This movie just was a massive swing and a miss from director Lawrie Brewster in terms of appealing to me or entertaining me.
The storyline was just rubbish. It felt like a heap of random scenes shot independently of one another and then given to the editor to make a movie out of the random clips of film.
Little did it help that the characters portrayed in the movie had as much appeal as wet cardboard and never stood a snowballs chance in Hell of winning me over. The dialogue given to the actors and actresses was just dull, mediocre and tedious.
My rating of "Automata" is a more than generous two out of ten stars. This was a stinker, and my advice is to give the movie a wide berth.
Now, it was the movie's cover/poster and the fact that it was listed as a horror movie that initially made me sit down to watch this 2019 movie. But the fact that I hadn't already seen it before also helped to win me over.
And I endured 39 minutes, and I can honestly say that I will not, never ever, be returning to "Automata" to attempt to watch the rest of the movie. This movie just was a massive swing and a miss from director Lawrie Brewster in terms of appealing to me or entertaining me.
The storyline was just rubbish. It felt like a heap of random scenes shot independently of one another and then given to the editor to make a movie out of the random clips of film.
Little did it help that the characters portrayed in the movie had as much appeal as wet cardboard and never stood a snowballs chance in Hell of winning me over. The dialogue given to the actors and actresses was just dull, mediocre and tedious.
My rating of "Automata" is a more than generous two out of ten stars. This was a stinker, and my advice is to give the movie a wide berth.
- paul_haakonsen
- Nov 25, 2020
- Permalink
Complete and utter crap. Don't believe the fake reviews and don't waste your time with this nonsense. You have been warned.
In THE DEVIL'S MACHINE, a man and his daughter stay at an old Scottish manor in order to investigate the life-sized automaton of the title. It's apparently cursed / possessed, or some such thing. Made centuries earlier, the humanoid "doll" has somehow bewitched and destroyed the lives of anyone with whom it has made contact.
Director Lawrie Brewster did the best he could with the obviously low budget. The story comes across as a sort of nightmare of forbidden lust, the kind of movie Ken Russell might have created. The trouble is that there's just not a lot going on to hold the viewer's interest, and much of it feels underdeveloped.
However, the greatest sin of this movie is the scant use of Alexandra Hulme. The few scenes of her are the best in the film, and showcase her beguiling talents. Why would anyone make a movie about a demonic, mechanized human "doll", and only give it / her a few minutes of actual screen time? Especially with the likes of Ms. Hulme on board.
Not a completely terrible movie, just don't expect it to be anywhere near as good as Brewster's earlier LORD OF TEARS...
Director Lawrie Brewster did the best he could with the obviously low budget. The story comes across as a sort of nightmare of forbidden lust, the kind of movie Ken Russell might have created. The trouble is that there's just not a lot going on to hold the viewer's interest, and much of it feels underdeveloped.
However, the greatest sin of this movie is the scant use of Alexandra Hulme. The few scenes of her are the best in the film, and showcase her beguiling talents. Why would anyone make a movie about a demonic, mechanized human "doll", and only give it / her a few minutes of actual screen time? Especially with the likes of Ms. Hulme on board.
Not a completely terrible movie, just don't expect it to be anywhere near as good as Brewster's earlier LORD OF TEARS...
- azathothpwiggins
- Jun 23, 2024
- Permalink
I am sorry but this movie was so bland and slow that I had to turn it off. The acting in this is fairly bad, the story is slow, and there is hardly any "scares" in it at all. I got halfway through this and I had to turn it off because I was so bored. I honestly wanted to give this a chance because I love horror movies, and even really bad ones but this is unbearable. Save yourself the pain and watch something else. People must've gotten paid to leave positive reviews on this.
- DeadMansTrousers
- Jul 18, 2022
- Permalink
Lawrie Brewster and the Crew at Hex Studios keep getting better and better and I feel they're starting to hit they're stride.
Automata: The Devil's Machine was the first time I Kickstarted a movie and I can honestly say I'm glad I did. The movie definitely oozes with style. Has good direction, solid acting and writing. The best part of the movie was the Doll herself.
The biggest negative would probably be budget. You can tell this movie didn't have the biggest budget. But even with that it still comes off as well made. After watching a few of their other films I feel they're budgets will start to improve as they get more recognition. I really can't wait to their next one.
Definitely give this one a chance if you looking for a horror movie with a more gothic feel to it. The's Devil's Machine will easily scratch that itch.
Automata: The Devil's Machine was the first time I Kickstarted a movie and I can honestly say I'm glad I did. The movie definitely oozes with style. Has good direction, solid acting and writing. The best part of the movie was the Doll herself.
The biggest negative would probably be budget. You can tell this movie didn't have the biggest budget. But even with that it still comes off as well made. After watching a few of their other films I feel they're budgets will start to improve as they get more recognition. I really can't wait to their next one.
Definitely give this one a chance if you looking for a horror movie with a more gothic feel to it. The's Devil's Machine will easily scratch that itch.
- winja-64469
- Feb 16, 2020
- Permalink
- RandomFlux
- Feb 14, 2020
- Permalink
If you're looking for more modern horror and/or millions of dollars in CGI effects and actor's pay, perhaps this is not for you.
If you like indie-horror and Hammer / United International Films (like Roger Corman's Poe films), then by all means dig in to this film. Beautifully shot and riveting.
If you like indie-horror and Hammer / United International Films (like Roger Corman's Poe films), then by all means dig in to this film. Beautifully shot and riveting.
- crstevens-836-328749
- Mar 15, 2020
- Permalink
I loved it - for me if the world at large gives a horror movie a rating ox X ... I just add 2 to it. And this movie is an 7 / 10 for me and any other die hard horror lover.
Watch it - its amazing what independent movie makers are capable of.
Watch it - its amazing what independent movie makers are capable of.
The movie got really good reviews, so I gave it a watch. It starts off rather interesting. Gives the impression of being a normal person investigating an old automaton, which may or may not be haunted.
They learn more, we learn more, and things are going well... and then the movie just gets... weird. A whole lot of oddness happens, which isn't really explained if it's real or in the mind of the characters... and it only gets worse from there.
The ending really makes little sense. Especially when presented with the intro. Overall, I'd say they tried to make something unique... but unique doesn't mean it's good.
I'd definitely give this one a pass.
They learn more, we learn more, and things are going well... and then the movie just gets... weird. A whole lot of oddness happens, which isn't really explained if it's real or in the mind of the characters... and it only gets worse from there.
The ending really makes little sense. Especially when presented with the intro. Overall, I'd say they tried to make something unique... but unique doesn't mean it's good.
I'd definitely give this one a pass.
- lord-blade
- Oct 18, 2020
- Permalink
However unlike the fantastic Lord Of Tears this time it is really looking a bit sad and its mainly from the awful acting from the very start!
So far every single top review over 7 stars was created the day after the film came out and every reviewer has only done two reviews - the secret in telling an IMDB shill is to look at the username - as soon as you see 4 digit numbers after the username you know its a shill and why oh why do this, you just make your film look desperate for votes as if you expect it to go down the toilet. So obvious who the users are behind these reviewers as well they didnt use much imagination either so bigging up your own movie on IMDB is really dishonest and I am very disappointed as i loved Sarah Daly's previous movie Lord Of Tears.
Why cannot IMDB weed these false reviews out is beyond me as I have reported many of the reviewers before and nothing ever gets done!
Back to the movie - Terrible acting from the off did not bode well. They have however created a unique atmosphere as they did in Lord Of Tears that I have never seen in any movie and which gives this film a totally unique and Scottish feel which I must applaud being a fellow Scot. So glad to see the fantastic Alexandra Hulme back but she has nothing to work with and never utters a word; such a real shame.
Victoria Lucie is the only one who can act in the whole thing and is rather sexy so she does give us something interesting to watch along with Alexandra and her superlative dancing - she really did the automaton dance perfectly adding to the spooky feel.
Once again they have found another spooky location in Scotland which has been hard to find on Google image search as I am sure I have seen it before - the red, spooky, desolate mansion surrounded by white African jungle grass does add once again to the movie's unique atmosphere!
Sadly though the movie is just missing something that Lord Of Tears had - hard to quantify but the bad acting and weak storyline leaves me giving it a fair but average 5/10.
So far every single top review over 7 stars was created the day after the film came out and every reviewer has only done two reviews - the secret in telling an IMDB shill is to look at the username - as soon as you see 4 digit numbers after the username you know its a shill and why oh why do this, you just make your film look desperate for votes as if you expect it to go down the toilet. So obvious who the users are behind these reviewers as well they didnt use much imagination either so bigging up your own movie on IMDB is really dishonest and I am very disappointed as i loved Sarah Daly's previous movie Lord Of Tears.
Why cannot IMDB weed these false reviews out is beyond me as I have reported many of the reviewers before and nothing ever gets done!
Back to the movie - Terrible acting from the off did not bode well. They have however created a unique atmosphere as they did in Lord Of Tears that I have never seen in any movie and which gives this film a totally unique and Scottish feel which I must applaud being a fellow Scot. So glad to see the fantastic Alexandra Hulme back but she has nothing to work with and never utters a word; such a real shame.
Victoria Lucie is the only one who can act in the whole thing and is rather sexy so she does give us something interesting to watch along with Alexandra and her superlative dancing - she really did the automaton dance perfectly adding to the spooky feel.
Once again they have found another spooky location in Scotland which has been hard to find on Google image search as I am sure I have seen it before - the red, spooky, desolate mansion surrounded by white African jungle grass does add once again to the movie's unique atmosphere!
Sadly though the movie is just missing something that Lord Of Tears had - hard to quantify but the bad acting and weak storyline leaves me giving it a fair but average 5/10.
Boring, confusing, pointless with a touch of incest!
Why would anyone allow this movie to be made?
Here's my pitch: Imagine poor lighting with soft exposure that makes interior shots look foggy. Poor sound quality that makes it sound like everything was recorded in a tin can. Confusing flashbacks and /or parallel timeline overlaps? Maybe it's ghosts, or are they possessed?!? Who knows, no one!
The acting is adequate, but not good enough to overcome a shambles of a script and plot. Anyone who gave this movie a review higher than one star apparently has not seen any other horror movie. A SYFY original of vampire squid that fly and walk on land would likely be better in all aspects of movie making than this waste of time!
Why would anyone allow this movie to be made?
Here's my pitch: Imagine poor lighting with soft exposure that makes interior shots look foggy. Poor sound quality that makes it sound like everything was recorded in a tin can. Confusing flashbacks and /or parallel timeline overlaps? Maybe it's ghosts, or are they possessed?!? Who knows, no one!
The acting is adequate, but not good enough to overcome a shambles of a script and plot. Anyone who gave this movie a review higher than one star apparently has not seen any other horror movie. A SYFY original of vampire squid that fly and walk on land would likely be better in all aspects of movie making than this waste of time!
- vengeance20
- Oct 6, 2021
- Permalink
I would say this moovie was very cowfusing, except that it was also exceedingly boring as well. There are some nice locations (probably the whole reason the moovie exists in the first place), and some nice costumes, and for the moost part the acting was decent - but the meandering, wobbly, WTF story will leave you scratching yer head so mooch you'll think the moovie gave you head lice. There are lighting issues and udder production problems too. For an indie effort I suppose I have seen mooch worse, but this is a stinker through and through - so if you expect that, maybe this flick won't let you down too much. But if yer looking for a top flight horror flick, I moost inform you that you will be sadly mistaken. Good think my Dollar Tree blu ray also came with the dvd, 'cause the blu ray would not work! If yer looking to pad your horror cowllection with a cheap indie for a buck, maybe this isn't bad, but I feel really sorry for anyone who paid moore than a couple of dollars (pounds??) for this stinker.
:=8P.
:=8P.
- moocowmoo-581-89188
- Feb 28, 2022
- Permalink
I loved the premise and decided to give it a chance. Glad I did! It's a beautifully shot film and a welcome addition to the horror genre.
- beanebeano
- Feb 16, 2020
- Permalink
Dr. Brendon Cole was hired to examine a long lost mechanical doll. Based on reports on the dolls functionallity he tries to authenticate it as the mysterious "Infernal Princess".
I stumbled across Lawrie Brewster during the kickstarter campaign to "The Unkindness of Ravens". Since then I know Hex Media as a reliable source of excellent indie horror movies. They´ve proven more than once that they know how to tell a story, in words, pictures and music. And, I think this deserves special mention, they know how to stay consistent till the end! Besides the fantastic narration and the beautiful soundtrack I have to spend a few words on the main actor. In the years I followed Lewrie Brewster´s work I also became a big fan of Jamie Scott Gordon´s style of acting. I think it´s a real challenge to play these roles with the appropriate level of insanity and he convinces me in every single movie! It is a great pleasure to watch Dr. Cole´s efforts to discover the dolls secrets and how he starts doubting his sanity.
Automata aka The Devil´s Machine is surely the most elaborate Hex Media production and again, it´s a surprise how much value they get out of their tight budget!
I stumbled across Lawrie Brewster during the kickstarter campaign to "The Unkindness of Ravens". Since then I know Hex Media as a reliable source of excellent indie horror movies. They´ve proven more than once that they know how to tell a story, in words, pictures and music. And, I think this deserves special mention, they know how to stay consistent till the end! Besides the fantastic narration and the beautiful soundtrack I have to spend a few words on the main actor. In the years I followed Lewrie Brewster´s work I also became a big fan of Jamie Scott Gordon´s style of acting. I think it´s a real challenge to play these roles with the appropriate level of insanity and he convinces me in every single movie! It is a great pleasure to watch Dr. Cole´s efforts to discover the dolls secrets and how he starts doubting his sanity.
Automata aka The Devil´s Machine is surely the most elaborate Hex Media production and again, it´s a surprise how much value they get out of their tight budget!
- tobigasser
- Mar 25, 2020
- Permalink
This is an ambitious little indie horror film. Largely a period piece, it attempts to tell the story of a recently widowed antique expert sent to authenticate a legendary cursed doll, and subsequently finds himself and his stepdaughter drawn into its web. This story, at its core, is nothing particularly new, but the film does attempt to do some rather interesting things within it. The film is extremely well-shot, the cinematography is beautiful and haunting. Acting is solid for the most part, especially the two leads. This is clearly an homage to old school British gothic horror, and it largely succeeds in that regard. There are a few sequences that I found genuinely creepy and intense, but where the movie really shines is the haunting atmosphere throughout and the gradual feeling of dread. This is slow burn psychological horror, many people will find it boring or uneventful, so keep that in mind. It is not for everyone. I think fans of Hammer horror will enjoy this, because it has that classic Victorian vibe.
- jakegrogan-75235
- Sep 20, 2020
- Permalink
Having been a fan of Hex Media for a few years now, this was easily their most mature, complex and frightening film in their catalogue. This film showed a significant and mature step up in their filmmaking that not only mastered horror, but also dealt with harsh and dark themes which showed signs of brilliant writing and filmmaking. I can't wait to see what they do next.
I've been following and supporting Hex Media and their output since I kickstarted their earlier production of The Black Gloves. Ever since, I've been helping to crowdfund all their subsequent productions sight unseen and picked up their entire back catalogue.
Automata (aka The Devil's Machine), like Lawrie Brewster's other works, draws a great deal of inspiration from classical Gothic aesthetics, and the British tradition of Hammer Films. The vivid colours in this film and the aristocratic setting might also invoke obscure giallo deja vu for some as well.
Those familiar with the other films from Hex will notice recurring actors, but showcasing performances in a different style than previous outings. As less well-known actors, they do a great job disproving the notion that indie horror actors are less talented, as this cast turns in fantastic performances all round.
The cinematography and production scale are great highlights of this film. The scope of the narrative and production value are very impressive, especially when considering the indie roots of the crew. You'll be reminded of Barry Lyndon with period-appropriate garb and aesthetics, all captured beautifully and cinematically.
I'd have no hesitations supporting whatever Lawrie Brewster turns his hand to next and encourage any horror fans who are looking for a taste of classical horror (but still with a modern edge) to check this one out.
Automata (aka The Devil's Machine), like Lawrie Brewster's other works, draws a great deal of inspiration from classical Gothic aesthetics, and the British tradition of Hammer Films. The vivid colours in this film and the aristocratic setting might also invoke obscure giallo deja vu for some as well.
Those familiar with the other films from Hex will notice recurring actors, but showcasing performances in a different style than previous outings. As less well-known actors, they do a great job disproving the notion that indie horror actors are less talented, as this cast turns in fantastic performances all round.
The cinematography and production scale are great highlights of this film. The scope of the narrative and production value are very impressive, especially when considering the indie roots of the crew. You'll be reminded of Barry Lyndon with period-appropriate garb and aesthetics, all captured beautifully and cinematically.
I'd have no hesitations supporting whatever Lawrie Brewster turns his hand to next and encourage any horror fans who are looking for a taste of classical horror (but still with a modern edge) to check this one out.
- LeePhilipson
- Feb 19, 2020
- Permalink
Lawrie Brewster has a track record of producing effectively creepy horror movies on modest budgets. Artfully shot and employing some beautiful interiors, Automata features the engaging Jamie Scott Gordon in a tale of an automated doll inhabited by an ancient curse.
- robertsalvin
- Feb 16, 2020
- Permalink
I'm not very good at reviews I normally leave that to the pros, but I know what I like and this film Very much deserves the time to recommend.
There is not a single mid-step with this IMHO. Every person involved with its creation stepped up and over my expectations. Cannot wait to see more from this entire team well done everyone.