Equals is a 2015 science fiction romance drama film directed by Drake Doremus (The Beauty Inside), starring Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road), Kristen Stewart (Snow White and the Huntsman), Guy Pearce (Iron Man 3), and Jacki Weaver (Stoker). The story follows two people diagnosed with a disease that restores their human compassion and emotions in a dystopian world where emotions do not exist.

Plot: The story isn’t something new and in fact, we’ve seen it done better. The 2002 film Equilibrium and the 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, are perfect examples of a works where self-expression are outlawed. However, the story does feel more intimate and the character driven narrative makes it deeper. It’s a bit of a slow burn but the film effectively uses these moments to focus on the characters and their development. There are some interesting twists but there are some predictable ones as well. Maintains a tense atmosphere as the characters have to be careful. The film does leave off on a hopeful ending. (3 out of 5)

Characters: The film does features some pretty well-written and interesting characters. Silas (Hoult) is this bland guy who’s an illustrator at this company Atmos, who lives in this society where people are bland and emotionless. He isn’t particularly interesting and sometimes comes off as dense, but he’s pretty likable. He’s contracted what is called the Switched-On Syndrome (SOS), a disease that restores human emotions, but through this we start to see his character shine. Nia is the films secondary protagonist experiencing a far advanced form of SOS. She’s a distant character and initially comes off as a bitch but it’s understandable considering the stakes. The two characters grow this really believable relationship that makes you root for them. By the end of the film, despite the predictable plot twist, you wish the best for the two. There are two supporting characters, Jonas (Pearce) and Bess (Weaver), who are part of this support group for citizens with SOS. They help to provide a more well-rounded cast of characters who are both empathetic and at the same time in positions where they have to enforce these harsh rules. There are other characters on both sides of the fence that help keep the characters in the gray. (3 out of 5)

Cast: The cast give really good performances, and that’s saying something since most of the characters lack any personality. However, the two leads, Nicholas Hoult (Silas) and Kristen Stewart (Nia), are actually enjoyable. I know Stewart tends to get a lot of flack for her performances but honestly she does a good job. They have good chemistry together. Guy Pearce (Jonas) is a personal favorite and he’s good as a supporting actor. Jacki Weaver (Bess) does a pretty good job. The supporting cast includes Rebecca Hazlewood, Scott Lawrence, Kai Lennox, Rizwan Manji, Teo Yoo, Umali Thilakarathna, Aurora Perrineau, Bel Powley, David Selby, Kate Lyn Sheil, Tom Stokes, Toby Huss, and Claudia Kim. So a good cast with good performances. (3 out of 5)

Visuals: The film looks really good. The bland setup emphasizes the lack of emotional expression of the populace. Everything is done in whites and grays; the buildings, the clothing, the homes. While watching I even noticed that the women had their hair cut short. There are a lot of sequences where the blurs comes into focus as if feelings and senses are coming into focus. I like the closeups, how they focus when someone is smelling something, seeing something, tasting something, or feeling something; how subtle gestures in the facial expressions are caught. It’s an awesome and clever looking film. (4 out of 5)

Score: The music is subtle yet resounding. One of the most powerful themes is when Silas and Nia reveal themselves to each other. Sascha Ring and Dustin O’Halloran work really well together, making a very effective composition. It’s slow and gradual as if emphasizing the growing emotions of the characters. (4 out of 5)

Writing: I honestly thought the writing and direction is good. Drake Doremus is someone I’ve never heard of but the way he keeps the film character driven and “focused” is to be commended. Make no mistake; it’s a good blend of science fiction, romance, and drama. Pacing might be a bit of a problem especially because this isn’t an action, thriller or anything like that. The writing is clever enough in its approach to its themes such as the natural state of human nature and how emotions are apart of it. The world and setting are given enough consideration to be believable. It’s an eden where no one fights or argues but at the cost of the beauties of life. It’s an interesting concept that’s been talked about in society and throughout media. The lack of diversity, color, or style consistently emphasizes this point. There are a number of good scenes but the most standout sequences are when Silas and Nia are meeting in quiet discovering their emotions and growing their relationship. These are great moments where two likable characters who realize that they’ve been lonely are bonding. Moments like these keep the emotional aspects of the film good. (3 out of 5)

The Verdict: In the end, Equals is a surprisingly good film. Yes, the concept isn’t original and it is a bit of a slow burn. However, there’s a lot to like about this movie. I really liked the chemistry between Stewart and Hoult. The direction and writing are good, the characters are good, the cast and performances are good, the score is good, the world-building is good, and it’s a visually good looking movie. Equals gets 3 out of 5.