The Devil's Machine (Automata)-- My take on the movie with spoilers!
PLOT SUMMARY: Dr Brendan and his stepdaughter Rose are invited to research a cursed clockwork doll. Soon Dr Brendan finds the truth about the doll and realizes he may just be the doll's next victim.
If you're looking for a movie that will give you the experience of a theatre play, then this is the movie for you.
Also known as Automata, you will be taken back to a bygone era, where there used to be battles, soldiers with muskets and attached bayonets, men in powdered wigs, and their peculiar taste in automata...at least according to the movie.
Yes, it is implied that the soldiers and generals liked to play with dolls in their free time.
And if they can move on their own, that’s even better.
THE DEVIL'S MACHINE/ AUTOMATA Movie Plot
After a peculiar battle scene, we are introduced to a stepfather and stepdaughter: Dr Brendan Cole and Rose.
Dr. Brendan has written a book on the Inferno Princess, the clockwork doll who is thought to be cursed. He is invited to detect the authenticity of a doll found in the mansion where the General who ordered the creation of the doll lived.
Dr Brendan conducts a few tests and yes, the doll moves her hand when she is offered a rose. She also has an imprint behind her neck. Everything seems to check out, except both stepfather and stepdaughter are plagued by nightmares and visions of a laughing general standing in front of green smoke.
He later also stands near red smoke so supposedly the colors imply his emotions. He’s jealous at first, then enraged. Why?
THE DEVIL'S MACHINE/ AUTOMATA Ending Explained with Spoilers!
Apparently, the General had a less than an innocent relationship with his daughter. He used to whip her with the belt and when he finds that one of his men is having an affair with his daughter, punishes her by mutilating her and putting her inside the doll.
Yes, that is the horror part of the movie. The clockwork doll isn’t a doll but a human being stuffed inside. Once her tongue is cut out, her lover no longer cares for her and she apparently becomes deranged.
But this isn’t revealed until the end. Until then, Brendan and Rose are possessed and harbour illicit feelings.
Eventually, the truth is revealed in a drawn-out climax where the General does little but laugh maniacally against a backdrop of colorful smoke.
The soldiers from past dance around and there are more colorful lights.
Brendan and Rose finally manage to break the doll’s head, revealing a skull underneath.
They think they are free from the curse of the Inferno Princess, but this is a horror movie.
As they are about to leave, Brendan is shown a vision where Rose is shot by a ghost. He understands that if he doesn’t stay behind with the clockwork doll, Rose will be killed.
He makes the ultimate sacrifice and lets Rose go while the clockwork doll emerges from the background.
In all honesty, I thought the story would have been better suited for a play than for screen.
The horror bits are mild but the twist with the General’s daughter being the clockwork doll was both tragic and spooky.
An interesting type of cinema but with bland horror scenes.
Scare scale: 2.5/5
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