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We don't blame you if you don't remember Transcendence. This science fiction thriller went past everyone's radar in 2014 despite having a powerful ensemble cast and a premise that feels more relevant than ever in our present times. Based on a story written by Jack Paglen and directed by first-time director Wally Pfister, the film was produced by Alcon and DMG Entertainment and distributed by Warner Bros Pictures. It was made on a budget of $100 million, and it barely managed to make its production costs back with a theatrical gross of $103 million.

The film was deemed a flop by Hollywood standards and more evidence to the ever-growing pile of excuses that Hollywood uses to justify its ongoing avoidance of taking chances on new ideas in favor of established IPs. It's still baffling how a film featuring the talents of Johnny Depp, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Paul Bettany, Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara, and Cole Hauser was an underwhelming disappointment. However, it's been nine years since its release, and a recent rewatch can prove to be incredibly insightful if we want to understand the world we are living in.

Right at the film's start, we get a complete insight into the plot, as the first 15 minutes quickly establish the players and the role they are set to play. Deep plays Dr. Will Caster, a scientist researching the nature of sapience with the development of artificial intelligence alongside his wife, Dr. Evelyn Caster. He's one of the leading scientific minds in the world working on the next stage of evolution by creating a technological singularity he likes to call the transcendence.

On the other side, we have an anti-technological group of zealots called the Revolutionary Independence From Technology who call for a halt in this research with violent means. The group coordinated a series of attacks in all AI centers across the country, effectively killing two of the four lead researchers, with Dr. Joseph Tagger (played by Morgan Freeman) and Will surviving the attack. After feeling ill, Will finds out he's been shot with a bullet laced with polonium, and he'll die within a month.

Evelyn seeks the help of Dr. Max Waters (played by Paul Bettany) to help save Will's conscience by uploading his conscience into Project ReNFI, an AI developed for the betterment of mankind based on the morals and boundaries created by Evelyn and Will. Just as the attempt is about to be disregarded by both, Will reveals he's alive within the system and asks to be released to the World Wide Web. Max doesn't think this is such a hot idea; Evelyn, however, overrules him and plugs him into the web.

Related: 13 Best Movies About Sentient Artificial Intelligence

After gaining sentience and using the vast resources at his disposal, Will helps Evelyn escape to the small town of Brightwood. The near-derelict town is on the brink of oblivion, but Will uses humanity's tools and financial systems to get unlimited resources to ensure his survival and expansion. After two years, he develops what is still considered the holy grail of developments in nanotechnology: self-replicating microorganisms able to fix, regenerate and build anything and everything.

Since all Nanoparticles are imbued with Will's programming, they follow his ethical code. The main goal is the development of technology to have something to offer to humanity before revealing itself. Will allows brief word of mouth to run across online, and the disenfranchised, the ill, and the societal rejects are the first to come to him seeking a cure for their ailments. Will can cure most conditions and illnesses using his Nanos to repair anything and everything affecting the human body.

Not only does the tech cure people, but it also enhances their strength, stamina, and durability. The particles themselves are slowly being disseminated worldwide to help nature heal itself. Each body of Nanos can make water purer while fixing droughts and healing nature to regenerate itself wherever ecosystems have been affected by man-made tragedies or by exhausting resources.

This portion of the story is an excellent showcase of the possibilities of AI used within the boundaries of human control. The fictional concepts offered by this film provide a marriage for AI development closely tied to the human psyche and psychology. In a time when products such as Neuralink are closer than ever, it becomes hard to dismiss if such a blessing can be achievable within our lifetime.

According to Peter Barnum and Brad Neuman from TechCrunch+, the technology to achieve most of what we see in the film wasn't quite there back in 2014. But in 2023, we have witnessed how countries like China and the UK use AI technology to keep tabs on their citizens. China uses the most dystopian methods, while other countries use the tech to ensure National Security.

Sadly, the film becomes an underwhelming exploration of human fear for the sake of fear. Bree (played by Kate Mara) is the leader of the RIFT group, and their actions come across as superficial at best and selfish at worst. They turn the tables on Max Walters for no apparent reason than his ability to question narratives he helped create in the first place. In the film's first act, he's kidnapped to spend two years with the group. Next time he meets with Will and Evelyn, he's doing everything he can to bring them down.

If the film aims to illustrate the dangers of AI development, it does a poor job of educating audiences on "how?" We never get a thorough explanation as to why Will's actions are deemed dangerous other than the fact that he seems to be doing a much better job at solving the world's problems without the boundaries of regulations and red tape put in place by governments, religious organizations and the type of big industries which usually hide behind lobbyists.

In the film's final act is Will, the one who proves to be more human than any of his attackers, as the combined power of RIFT and the FBI come to Brightwood to take him out. Their fear-mongering even makes Evelyn switch sides as she buys into the lie that Will is building an army to overrun humanity.

Wills final breakthrough is using nanotechnology to recreate his body using 3D printing technology so he can be with Evelyn one last time. He concedes to the desires of humanity by shutting himself down but at the expense of killing the power in all of the USA, which was enforced by RIFT and Max rather than Will's side.

The film does a magnificent job at making humans look like total tools, fearful of what we can't understand or control, even if it represents a greater good to all of us as a species.

Related: The Most Human-Like Artificial Intelligence in Movies, Ranked

Since we entered the 21st century, it is clear that the world is no longer the same as in the late 1990s, when the internet was made available to everyone worldwide. Today half the world's population is online, and large corporations are doing their best to ensure the ones who are not plugged in get on with the times. It's nearly impossible to conduct any legal paperwork if we don't fill out a form online.

Privacy is the biggest concern of humanity, as companies make millions of dollars from the data we give them willingly. In contrast, others make money by scrapping the web by erasing the presence of people who want to avoid being found. AI is no longer the talk of fiction, the first models are here, and while people like Elon Musk (who has a cameo in the film) are asking for AI development to slow down, the truth is nobody has that luxury.

Transcendence was considered a critical flop when it was released, but the film is poised to gain some relevance today, as it speaks to the two sides of the argument. However, the film's message may be biased as humanity's intentions are outright hostile at all times when it comes to AI development, while Will's AI shows a lot more empathy for other humans than the ones who are looking to shut him down do.

You can currently watch this film on the MAX Streaming service. It will help you pose some interesting questions about our future.

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How a Forgotten Thriller Tried to Warn Us About the Future - MovieWeb