Oscar Isaac's Unhinged Performance in This Sci-Fi Masterpiece Cemented Him As a Hollywood Superstar

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Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac as Caleb and Nathan stand in a tight hallway in Ex Machina.

André Joseph is a movie features writer at Collider. Born and raised in New York City, he graduated from Emerson College with a Bachelor's Degree in Film. He freelances as an independent filmmaker, teacher, and blogger of all things pop culture. His interests include Marvel, Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Robocop, wrestling, and many other movies and TV shows.

His accomplishments as a filmmaker include directing the indie movie Vendetta Games now playing on Tubi, the G.I. Joe fan film "The Rise of Cobra" on YouTube, and receiving numerous accolades for his dramatic short film Dismissal Time. More information can be found about André on his official website.

Oscar Isaac became one of the most reliable actors in show business by bouncing between popular franchises (Star Wars, Dune) and critically acclaimed dramatic work, ranging from Inside Llewyn Davis to Netflix's Frankenstein. Though his early work as a multifaceted character actor resulted in various scene-stealing performances prior to becoming a household name, Isaac did not truly arrive until Ex Machina arrived on screens in 2014. Alex Garland’s sci-fi thriller proved to be the very moment that Isaac would showcase his charisma through his portrayal of an unhinged tech genius.

Ex Machina transitioned Garland from a critically-acclaimed novelist to one of the premier visionary filmmakers working today. Featuring groundbreaking special effects and a tour-de-force performance from breakout star Alicia Vikander as an android with artificial intelligence, the film was universally praised for its minimalistic approach to a future in which advanced technology discovers the human privilege of free will. Ex Machina stands at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects as well as earning a Best Original Screenplay nomination for Garland. Though Vikander and co-star Domhnall Gleeson saw their stock in Hollywood go up afterward, Isaac was singled out for his unpredictable antagonist representing the upper class’s abuse of power.

What Is 'Ex Machina' About?

Set in the not-too-distant future, Ex Machina follows Caleb Smith (Gleeson), a young programmer employed by the search engine company Blue Book, where he becomes the winner of an office contest to spend one week at the isolated residence of the company’s CEO, Nathan Bateman (Isaac). Upon signing a non-disclosure agreement, when he arrives at the house, Caleb discovers that Nathan needs him to participate in a Turning test intended for the reclusive boss’s android creation Ava (Vikander). The goal of the test is to see if Ava can possess the ability to have conscious thought, just like humans do.

The test becomes increasingly personal as Caleb and Ava develop a mutual attraction to each other, with the latter desiring a life outside of Nathan’s home. Meanwhile, the meek employee becomes uncomfortable with Nathan’s abuse towards his other humanoids, eventually learning about the CEO’s true motive of rebooting Ava to erase all traces of her thoughts and feelings. As Caleb plots to help Ava escape Nathan’s control, he is unaware of the greater manipulation at play.

Isaac’s Nathan is one of the most significant portrayals of a tech mogul in modern cinema because he refuses to portray him as a completely mad genius. Despite his brilliance, Nathan is depicted as self-centered, yet deeply insecure. Isaac meshes the character with the swagger of a frat boy, the danger of an overpowered tyrant, and a lonely man desperate for love and praise. He skips between Caleb’s mentor and tormentor, offering philosophical justifications for his experiment one moment and indulging in toxic masculinity the next.

Oscar Isaac’s Performance Was a Stark Warning for the Future

Nowhere is Ex Machina’s unpredictability more iconic than the dance sequence of Isaac’s Nathan to the tune of “Get Down Saturday Night” by Oliver Cheatham. What begins as an awkward release of tension to push Caleb into loosening up with his android servant Kyoko (Sonoya Mizuno) quickly becomes something more disturbing. Isaac commits fully to the scene with the taunting of Gleeson, hips swinging to the ‘80s funk music while Garland’s direction subtly reinforces Ex Machina’s themes of control and manipulation. The dance scene instantly highlights Isaac’s fearless, unhinged energy as Nathan.

Throughout the film, Isaac uses his deceptive, laid-back personality to define Nathan. His passive attitude as a man with power and wealth contrasts with Ava’s need to feel and Caleb’s nervous energy. He drinks excessively, invades personal space, and asserts dominance over the female androids. Yet Isaac also allows glimmers of humility to leak through the cracks. Moments where Nathan seems lonely, paranoid, or terrified of being surpassed by his own creations. Such complexity prevents Isaac from becoming a one-note antagonist and turns him into a chilling reflection of unchecked power.

Isaac didn’t just play a bad guy in Ex Machina. He represented a warning for the future of society at large. His captivating performance signified the darker side of genius culture and solidified his reputation as a serious actor willing to play into moral ambiguity. It’s a role that continues to be a standout in his career, not just because of Garland’s direction but also because it proved just how dangerous, compelling, and unforgettable he can be.

Ex Machina is streaming on HBO Max in the US.