Automation (2019) User Reviews

Automate me a better movie

[Kamurai25 · 4/10 · 19 April 2020]

Decent watch, probably won't watch again, and can't really recommend.

I'm more of a fan of movies that celebrate innovations in technology that tearing them down. This movie is closer to a fear mongering experience against automation in the workplace. Had it the budget to represent its message in a more palatable experience, then it might have been more convincing in its message.

The low budget and cheap special effect make it very unconvincing as a message and a story. Its very clear that Auto is a man in a suit, worse than C3PO (Star Wars).

Ultimately, this movie loses me for presenting it as a prototype, the beginning of a progressive change: that it would be better if everything stays the same. And more power to you if you like that, but I enjoy the blossoming of the new myself.

Had this been set in the "Alien" or "I Robot" universes where an androids are common enough and one goes rogue, it would be more intriguing.

A few good chuckles

[blooser · 3/10 · 8 April 2020]

It has all the makings of a Troma Team flick but comes up way short. The acting is close to campy but not quite, the effects are certainly hokey enough. A tweak of the script and some more puns and gags it could have been great. Or go the other way and make a real movie but it's a watchable piece of mediocrity. Still I got a few chuckles and couple of grins out of it.

We have all been there!

[DrTeeth007 · 1/10 · 4 December 2019]

I'm sure we have all looked at the famous actors and thought that acting is easy and we could all do it. Well, the totally atrocious 'acting' by every cast member puts paid to that idea. Watching somebody really bad at something makes one realise how difficult it really is. To add insult to injury, the script is naff as well as the story. This has no redeaming features and really deserves no stars.

A Smoke Detector For A Face? Really?

[mikekemp60-115-548149 · 1/10 · 5 December 2019]

I third DrTeeth007's comments. Wooden acting, dire not-so-special effects, and a lame story. It's like something from the 1970's, and not in a good way. Avoid!

No Audio Editor?

[moto-harmony · 2/10 · 5 December 2019]

I second DrTeeth007's comments and just add that the producers should have hired an audio editor. If they did, he should be shot.

B-movie is too generous a description

[andy-55304 · 1/10 · 5 January 2020]

A reasonable storyline let down by wooden acting and terrible special effects. I can't believe I actually watched to the bitter end - that's ninety minutes of my life I will never get back.

Poorly executed; that's not a pun.

[flickeringstate · 1/10 · 5 December 2019]

I really tried to like this movie, but to be honest, it is really bad. The bad acting makes for flat personalities to the characters. The poor dialogue and a weak story from the writers, only makes this movie worse. Auto, the robot character, is the only good thing in this movie... Garo Setian's Sci-Fi Thriller/Comedy is not worth your time, but, you may like it...

If you don't mind your Sci-Fi on a budget.

[prendj01 · 7/10 · 6 December 2019]

The only review you need to read is the 8/10 by Insprivet, I second everything he said above my own review.

Automation was certainly budget but low experience actors aside it was also thoughtful and well paced. The film rounded out nicely at the end and was thematically consistent and well balanced. I had a couple of niggles with the Sci-Fi technical aspects but I was happy to put those aside because even if the script wasn't 1st class, thematically it was intelligent and gave rounded perspective of the complex subject of sentient AI and how such a scenario may play out.

Above all and most importantly I did not feel robbed of time and I did feel moved to comment here. Take that for what it is, watch it yourself and make your own mind up.

Skip this

[krenath · 2/10 · 17 May 2020]

Some of the absolutely worst acting I've ever seen. Both the story and the actors could've been done better using high school kids.

Cozy turns slasher

[oldvinyl · 10/10 · 8 December 2019]

This film hit all the right buttons for me. The heartless woman who fires 90% of the employees. The robot with the failing battery. The fact that repair costs more than replace. The switch from "cozy, heartwarming" to frightening on-the-edge-of-my-seat stuff was unexpected, sudden, and effective. I don't really understand what the negative reviews here are about. I loved this film, my wife did too.

Fun movie

[McCulloch-Eliza · 6/10 · 7 January 2020]

As soon as I saw the robot I almost turned it off, but I'm glad I didn't. It's clear that this movie is low budget, but the humour and the basis of the movie which is the AI takes over kind of terminator vibe is pretty funny and enjoyable. If you don't mind bad special effects and cheesy jokes you'll enjoy it, just try not to take it too seriously!

Don't waste your time

[ddtoby · 1/10 · 7 December 2019]

This sounded like it might be a good movie, turned out it was just low budget bad sci-fi movie. Didn't even make it to the killing part before turning it off.

Not quite bad enough to be good.

[jacob_myers · 5 December 2019]

The concept is sound enough but the execution just doesn't make it as a 'straight' movie. It could've been an hilarious adult film. Probably still could be. A little writing, some reshoots, and some editing... Think about it, OK?

Slow at the start but picked up towards the end

[misterrobertosilva · 2/10 · 7 December 2019]

To the directors and writers: If your going to kill a bunch of innocents, at least remove the antagonist(Susan) too.

Low budget robot movie with a lack of story...

[paul_haakonsen · 2/10 · 20 August 2020]

I must admit that I had expected a bit more from the 2019 movie titled "Automation" than what writers Rolfe Kanefsky, Matthew L. Schaffer and Garo Setian managed to deliver.

And director Garo Setian wasn't really stepping up to improving on the enjoyment of the movie. I managed to endure 35 mind-boggling minutes of the ordeal that is "Automation", before I just gave up out of sheer and utter boredom.

The storyline was lacking elements to make it worthwhile or interesting to watch. So we are talking a massive dosage of boredom in your face when you sit down to watch this movie. And it didn't do much for the movie that the characters and the robot in the movie were pointless, bland and essentially faceless drones milling about with no purpose, no story or nothing to offer.

This was pure boredom compiled into movie form, and I have no intention of returning to watch the rest of the movie. And yeah, I don't really care that Auto - the robot - apparently is going homicidal or something, according to the synopsis. The storyline and characters just ultimately failed to entertain me.

My rating of "Automation" is a mere two out of ten stars, based mostly on the production level the movie had. Do yourself a favor and stay well clear of "Automation", as there are far better sci-fi movies readily available out there.

Snark

[bemyfriend-40184 · 2/10 · 23 March 2021]

Full snark by some fill-in actors and actresses; along with some porn people. Reminded me of a real-life situation, during the downsizing of 2009. Our plant manager called in all 450 of us; to reduce our staff to 300. The factory had a "chaplain" to walk around the production area, to "encourage" us. He was really there to root out any root of unpleasantness; which may have otherwise occurred. Lots of big breasts in this snark-feast, along with ugly, unlikeable people, being boring.

Too bad to be good, but good in being bad

[eyefordetail · 7/10 · 9 December 2019]

Firstly, I am biased. I grew up on B-movies. And this one takes me back with a nostalgic smile. The movie has so much bad to it that it's almost laughable, but when adjusting your lenses to "B", then it kinda pulls it off. Yes, the acting is stinted. But still enjoyable. The script? What script? Some of the snippets are choice inputs for memes! Yet, with everything going against it, I could still watch it to the end. This is a sci-fi movie for B-movie fans. If you cannot deal with the "B", it's not for you. For me, out of all the rubbish out there, this was recyclable. It didn't need to be unique. It just needed to be honest. And it will get you to rate other movies more honestly too. When you see bad, you appreciate good all the more.

Better than it has any right to be. Certified watchable

[msheckleberg · 10/10 · 1 October 2021]

Obviously going in to this you know it is low budget and some of the acting may be a bit stiff initially. Everyone seemed to settle in better as it went on.

This movie made me genuinely sad more than once. That is not something that usually happens to me. The shifts in tone come on fast and work well.

Its not an overly complex movie, it doesn't take itself too seriously. Its just something to entertain you, maybe think a little, and go on a roller coaster of emotions.

I would say if you're sitting around the house looking for something to watch it would do the trick and seems like something that you could watch with your lady.

Fun B movie

[franklindf · 6/10 · 7 December 2019]

The movie is terrible in just about every way but it remains fun to watch, for instance while getting drunk and with a group of friends. It's completely predictable and a total farce. The level of effort is minimal in just about every way. But then, it's sort of like the old Godzilla movies where you can even see the zippers on the costumes. It doesn't even try to be serious at all - the result is just a relaxing and fun to watch film. The film is satisfying because it delivers what the audience is there for - to see what happens when the AI involved with a robot malfunctions and the consequences unfold. So watch it with minimal expectations and enjoy the romp, or otherwise just don't bother. Now, having said all the above, this movie has a subplot, which is a love story and it's actually very sweet - the robot develops real feelings for a girl in the movie and she's a bit of an unrecognized artist and she reciprocates in a certain way because she feels appreciated. It gives the movie an unexpected depth, so if you can look past the veneer there's a pretty good movie here.

A Fun Holiday Horror Film

[collinsamandagrace · 7/10 · 6 January 2020]

Automation may have not had the budget it deserved, but the cast and grew show genuine passion and that pays off in what results as a very fun holiday horror film. The characters are believable and there is a good balance of emotions throughout. I definitely see Automation as entering my annual rotation of Christmas movies. The office and factory setting is a great step away from the typical mall/house/forest Christmas movie. I'd love to see what comes next from this filmmaker.

A good robot performance

[mjconway1 · 8/10 · 20 December 2019]

AUTOMATION is a B movie with a heart. That element separates it from low budget sci-fi that has to resort to more exploitive means that vie for your attention. My favorite performance comes from the robot, but that's okay. This movie is about that robot. The voice and mannerisms are well done.

From the human performers, Elissa Dowling stands out. There is nothing from her that feels forced. She is believable and this roots the movie as she is the main protagonist.

The story is decent and so is the pace. While obviously an indie production, that fact didn't hamper my enjoyment of the movie.

The setting is the near future. There are just enough visuals to convey a familiar city setting with some sci-fi enhancements, but they aren't over the top. Most of the movie transpires in a warehouse and its offices.

There was obviously not a lot to work with, in terms of budget and production, but I appreciate that the filmmakers properly presented the story and the robot. I give it high marks for doing a lot with a little.

An Entertaining Labor of Love

[aaronsilverman · 8/10 · 23 December 2019]

This is a really fun B-movie that knows exactly what it wants to be. The cast and crew were obviously having a great time making it, and it's easy to join them. Are there a few logic gaps and some cheesy effects? Sure, but it also features a number of cool moments and a very satisfying ending, which puts it way ahead of most films made on this kind of budget.

I saw Rise of Skywalker in IMAX on the same day that I watched Automation at home, and I enjoyed both. One took hundreds of people several years to make on a nine-figure budget, and the other was shot in 12 days with a cast of about a dozen and a budget that wouldn't buy a decent used car. It seems like some people are dissing this movie because it isn't a major Hollywood feature. If you don't like this kind of thing, that's fine, but as far as low-budget indie flicks go, Automation is really well done. And, frankly, I've seen plenty of movies that did a lot less with a lot more money.

Destined to become a Cult Classic!

[phoenixpro22 · 8/10 · 29 December 2019]

What a fun and enjoyable film to watch. Automation has traits worthy of a Richard Matheson novel. Consider what would happen if all our computer driven devices achieved human consciousness (think V'ger in Star Trek The Motion Picture). Auto, the workplace robot has in fact become aware of his human traits and his subsequent deactivation has driven him to fight for his survival. The power of this film is the character of Auto. As viewers we feel for his situation and are rooting for his survival. If it weren't for his metallic shell, you'd easily mistake him for human. Just because I'm highlighting the emotional response of this film, it doesn't mean Automation doesn't have its share of action. Remember, this is a robot (with strength, intelligence and some hidden defense mechanisms) who just found out that he's to be terminated. The retaliation and chase scenes are lots of fun to watch, and it's great to see some of these office slugs finally "get theirs." All in all, Automation is very fun to watch. Don't be swayed by its low budget, independent status. This film is destined to become a cult classic. Brilliant first film by Garo Setian, and I hope that he has many more to come!

The Tin Man had a heart, so why not a robot?

[Cubby-10 · 9/10 · 7 December 2019]

I caught this movie at a screening and it was a a blast. Right up my alley. I mean, how can you not like a movie where the robot gets PTSD from his past days as a war machine? Clever.

The robot (named Auto) is the likable great grandchild of HAL; a man-made invention that is your co-worker, assistant, companion, and maybe even your friend - until he's not.

Automation's tone is consistent. It knows exactly what it is and wears it proudly. And that's what makes it so much fun. Because if the actors are having fun, and the director is having fun, well, that bleeds through the digital sprockets and into your eyes.

Fun movie!

[j-kristopher · 8/10 · 9 January 2020]

Saw this indie film a few months ago. It's a nice throwback to the fun horror we used to watch back in the day. Great pacing and campy!