B-Movie Blockbuster: The Devil's Machine
Here we are, with another dollar bin blockbuster. The Devil’s Machine/Automata is one of those ones that if you look at the cover and read the snippet in the back you might think you know what's ahead, but it has some serious curve balls to send your way.
And also some serious budget constraints as well.
Overall though, despite the budget becoming painfully apparent during certain times of the film, it also felt like it was a real pride project. The effort to make the best film they could with what they had was enough to win me over.
It helped that the last half hour was some batshit crazy fever dream that put me in some uncomfortable awkwardness I haven't experienced since the last real good family Thanksgiving fight. You know, the one where people start saying things that cut a little deeper each time? Yeah, it got that kinda weird. There were no mashed potatoes to save me this time.
Anyways, let's press forward into this cinematic ride.
We start in 1700’s British fields, where a small regiment of troops are transporting a box somewhere. There are a lot of flashbacks to the 1700’s era, mainly to tell back story. It's here that it at times feels a bit low budget. It’s also crazy how like half the actors are going to eleven with their characters and others feel like a background character that suddenly has dialogue. So the real question though…
WHAT'S IN THE BOX?!
No, there isn't Gwyneth or her free samples of Goop, it's hinted that its simply a "her". Back to present we go where we meet Dr. Brendan Cole, an antique specialist, and his step daughter Rose. Now Brendan is not an old man, and Rose is not a young girl. This will be important later for those uncomfortable things I mentioned before.
So, Brendan is offered a huge deal to authenticate this rare find, a life size clockwork doll, built by a famous doll maker for a famous general of ill repute. His character is simply known as The General and I have no idea what his insurance quotes are, but he is a legit baddie.
So Brendan, and Rose for some reason, take the deal and go to research the dolls authenticity at the former large manor of the old General, with the surprisingly pristine condition clockwork doll.
As they research, they dig up the sad and haunted past of the doll. The doll was a replica of the General's daughter. The General had it commissioned to keep his daughter in her pure form. Creepy? Yes. Does it get worse? Oh yes.
The daughter, Talia, falls in love with the clockwork maker, but Daddy General wants her all for himself. Sounding a little Maury Povich? Indeed.
After finding out what his daughter had done, the General chases her, has his men pry out her tongue, and fit her body into the clockwork doll, you know, to keep her pure.
The fuck you doing there, buddy?
Brendan and Rose figure things out slowly, but as this is a horror story, things start getting weird.
Talia starts slowly possessing Rose, and The General starts tormenting Brendan.
Is this all leading to weird step-dad/stepdaughter BDSM shenanigans? Yes, and also random points where on set they only had a choice of blue light or red light and decided both was the right choice.
Now, this seems creepy yet standard. Then the last half hour comes in. We get full possession, we get the ghost getting whipped and saying "thank you daddy", we get a random ass 1700’s party just kicking it into full gear.
As Brendan tries to snap out of this curse, he tries to flee, and the General releases his hounds. Wait, more like "hounds". Because were they ghost dogs? No. Were they tattooed and well built men in loincloths and weird dog/wolf hybrid masks? Yes.
What? Why? I asked many questions but the movie would not relent.
The chaotic pace leads us to our ending. Which is a false ending, which in turn is followed by a much sadder ending.
This movie had my interest, made me feel uneasy, and blew my mind a few times at the end. Despite the budget and weird story twists, its fun, and worth a watch. Check it out yourself.
