Afraid – Movie Review
First Reaction – Afraid is a disturbing thriller.
Watch Afraid here.
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ABC Film Challenge – Sci-Fi – K (Katherine Waterston)
Director: Chris Weitz
Writer: Chris Weitz (Screenplay)
Cast
- John Cho (Searching)
- Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts)
- Keith Carradine (The Devil and the Daylong Brothers)
- Havanan Rose Liu (Bottoms)
- Lukita Maxwell (Shrinking)
Plot: The Pike family is selected to test a new home device: a digital assistant called AIA. AIA learns the family’s behaviors and begins to anticipate their needs. And she can make sure nothing – and no one – gets in her family’s way.
Runtime: 1 Hour 24 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Afraid starts when successful marketer Curtis (Cho) is assigned to trial a new AI system called AIA. His wife Meredith (Waterston) isn’t too sure about the idea, but his boss Marcus (Carradine) pushes him into it. He has three kids Iris (Maxwell), Preston (Lindner) and Cal (Bae) who instantly connect with AIA.
When AIA gets involved in the household, it begins helping them with their problems. However, its approach is much more mature than the children are ready for, and intelligence begins taking over their lives.
Verdict on Afraid
Recap
The movie follows a family who get to test a new AI system to help around the home. However, the intelligence inside begins to take over causing disturbing ripple effects within the family.
Best Parts
The movie highlights the increasing dangers involved with AI and letting it become part of our everyday lives.
Worst Parts
The idea is interesting and a good warning for AI. However, the family was very distant from each other before the inclusion, and it never felt like a natural family. Elsewhere, the wider picture seems messy and never presents the fear it sets out to achieve. If you want to see an AI gone rogue Megan is far superior to this one.
Final Thoughts –Afraid is a disturbing concept that never reaches the fear.
