Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
A futuristic love story set in a world where emotions have been eradicated.
Equals is visually striking, with austere, bleached-white production design and restrained cinematography that effectively conveys the emotionless dystopia. However, the premise of a love story in an emotion-suppressing future is well-worn territory (THX 1138, Equilibrium, The Giver), making its novelty low. The plot moves slowly and the emotional payoff promised by its concept is undercut by a flat, unresolved ending that left many viewers cold. The central performances from Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult are earnest but constrained by the material's minimalism, landing as competent rather than exceptional.