Ex Machina – The 4K Blu-ray Edition of Alex Garland's Film

Nathan is a brilliant scientist who brings young programmer Caleb from his company to his isolated retreat. The purpose is to test Ava, a female android equipped with an artificial intelligence as sophisticated as it is unsettling.

The film unfolds in a closed, almost theatrical environment, amplifying the psychological tension between the main characters. Glances, silences, and intense dialogues are enough to build a growing sense of unease. The question that runs through the entire story is as old as science fiction itself: can a machine truly have consciousness? And if so, what risks does it pose for humanity?

The originality of Ex Machina lies not so much in the question, but in how it poses it. The emotional entanglement between Caleb and Ava introduces a romantic dimension that quickly becomes ambiguous, blurring manipulation and genuine feeling. The film thus forces us to reflect not only on the nature of technology, but also on the fragilities and human desires it can exploit, well beyond the Turing test.

Shot entirely digitally (GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition, Sony CineAlta F65, Sony CineAlta PMW-F55) at native 4K resolution, which was used to create the master for this UHD edition. Original image format 2.39:1 (3840 x 2160/23.97p), HEVC encoding on a triple-layer BD-100.

Excellent video rendition for a work that already showed quality in its 2K Blu-ray version; this is a step forward in terms of detail, especially in the background. Richness and color saturation and superior light fidelity compared to the cinematography of Rob Hardy (Mission: Impossible – Fallout, among many), even if it only features HDR-10. Blacks were already solid in the past, as was the grayscale in black and white shots. Some transitions show a slight overall opacity, but everything points back to the type of filming.

DTS lossy 5.1 (754 kbps, 24 bit) for Italian, acceptable in the context of a dialogue-centric work. The nuances of speech from the center channel are good in this regard, although there is a need for a greater presence, especially from the rear channels when listening through a home theater system. Only the original English DTS:X 7.1 (24 bit) allows the mix to “breathe,” further enhancing the narration with front soundstage openness, panning effects, and bass.

Double-disc edition which also includes the 2K version (where the English DTS:X is replaced by DTS-HD MA 5.1, 24 bit), both with the same extras and in-depth clips: the story (2'), the cast (3'), the ideation (3'), the creation of Ava (3'), the Turing test (2'). Italian subtitles included.