Anastasia Ievlev

Before watching The Creator, I strangely had high hopes for it. But honestly, what new can be said in the realm of cyberpunk? My first impression was—nothing.

You can assemble an army of references to classic sci-fi films, sprinkle in some well-worn existential crises about AI, and wrap it all in stunning visuals and sound design. Call it postmodernism instead of a lack of original ideas. But Tarantino’s films, packed with Easter eggs and classic cinema references, don’t leave the same impression. And they, too, are postmodern.

The story revolves around a conflict between the West and Asia, featuring robots, action, and an overdose of melodrama. The protagonist’s mission? To find the creator of a new superweapon. Some of the film’s sentimental moments felt frustratingly formulaic. And I say this as someone who cries in movies easily. But here, these emotional scenes felt like manipulation rather than genuine storytelling. Then again, isn’t all cinema just an elaborate emotional manipulation?

Visuals

And yet, the film managed to surprise me—or rather, strike straight at my aesthetically sensitive heart. The cinematography by Greig Fraser and his team played a huge role in this.

The film’s budget is quite modest compared to similar projects. In some genres, that wouldn’t be an issue, but for sci-fi, it can be catastrophic. Even with massive budgets, some films still end up with CGI so bad it makes you want to cry.

Due to budget constraints, the film wasn’t shot on sound stages but in real-world locations. The team traveled to over 80 locations for filming. And honestly, what could be more beautiful than natural landscapes? Perfection is already created by nature. A lot of attention was also paid to lighting, both natural and artificial, to highlight this beauty.

Authentic Sci-Fi Realism

Shooting on location also reinforced the believability of the world. AI and advanced technology are already part of our daily lives, so the film’s aesthetics needed to reflect that. A gimbal was used to create a naturalistic handheld camera effect, making the world feel more immersive.

I recently reviewed Children of Men and was amazed at how eerily realistic its dystopian future seems 17 years later. Who knows? Maybe in time, The Creator will feel just as prophetic. After all, art always mirrors society—sometimes even predicting its future.

The filmmakers used indie film techniques: a small crew, compact cameras, minimal setup—but stunning locations and skilled professionals.

Color Palette

The film’s primary colors are orange and blue, chosen to match the natural colors of its locations—the bright blue skies of Thailand, skin tones, and orange-tinted screens. This is one of the most commonly used color contrasts in cinema because blue and turquoise naturally complement human skin tones, which are always present in films.

For lower-budget projects (and even social media branding), this is a great strategy: build your aesthetic around the dominant colors in your surroundings.

The secondary color palette is more earthy and monochromatic, thanks to the film’s jungle settings, referencing Apocalypse Now.

For the city scenes, the team took inspiration from Blade Runner—and it shows.

Lighting

The lighting setup was surprisingly simple: light tubes on stands, sometimes just a single source in the frame. Yes, the same LED tubes that every YouTuber and Reels creator now owns.

The main goal was to outline the characters, enhance contrast, and make the environment feel more layered by bouncing light off surfaces.

Dark scenes were shot in daylight and then darkened in post-production. This is actually a great trick for filmmakers—it preserves maximum image quality. While modern cameras (even smartphones) can shoot in low light, this method allows for more creative control.

Camera Work

This blew my mind: most of the film was shot on a Sony FX3, a camera you can buy second-hand for $1,000! This caused quite a stir in the professional film community.

Now imagine—the same tools that made this movie look so incredible are accessible to you.

Personally, I find that incredibly inspiring. Once again, it proves that it’s not about expensive gear or big budgets—it’s about vision. Kinovision.

And the talent to bring it to life.