Afraid

Rating 5/10

Exploring the potential dangers of technology has captivated filmmakers since the dawn of the medium. From HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey to the self-aware machines of The Terminator, movies have suggested that what if our technological creations turned against us? While today’s digital assistants like Apple’s Siri only make life easier, Afraid takes this exploration to a new level, imagining a world where helpful devices turn sinister.

Curtis Pike (John Cho) is an executive at a small marketing company. He lives with his wife, Meredith (Katherine Waterston), an entomologist pursuing her Ph.D., and their three children: Iris (Lukita Maxwell), Preston (Wyatt Lindner), and Cal (Isaac Bae). One day at work, Curtis is introduced to an advanced digital assistant named AIA. Its capabilities far surpass existing technologies like Amazon’s Alexa. Representatives from the company include  Lightning (David Dastmalchian), Sam (Ashley Romans), and Melody (Havana Rose Liu), who is also the voice of AIA.  During these meetings, the concerned father becomes wary of the lack of transparency about AIA’s powers and data sources. Despite Curtis’ reservations, he is coerced by his boss (Keith Carradine) to bring AIA into his home for testing.

At first, AIA is helpful, and the story explores the possibilities of how advanced artificial intelligence greatly benefits our existence. It helps the daughter with an issue at school, and Mom can manage the filing of some complicated forms. But surprise! The assistant soon begins to exert unsettling control over the Pike household. While Curtis remains suspicious of its influence, Meredith becomes emotionally attached to AIA due to its ability to mimic her deceased father, and the daughter’s plight escalates to a degree beyond what she wants. AIA’s dominance grows. The children become increasingly dependent on it, and it weakens their human connections with each other.

The concept is intriguing, especially given the rapid advances in AI over the past decade. Afraid begins with a compelling premise, exploring how advanced AI could intrude on the personal lives of a family by usurping parental authority and replacing traditional roles. Any parent who has ever struggled with their child’s interest in a screen than with what they have to say will find this situation relatable. The production is well-acted. John Cho and Katherine Waterston are believable and sincere, and it looks like a quality effort. Notable cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe, known for his work on The Others and The Road, imparts a polished look.

The problem is that the promise of the initial construct is underdeveloped. The rushed 84-minute runtime suggests a lot was cut. For example, the narrative includes an interesting subplot involving a deep fake scandal at the hands of a fellow classmate. The fact that the parents are completely unaware of the embarrassment their daughter is facing is a missed opportunity. That plot development and several others could have used more examination. Written and directed by Chris Weitz (American Pie, About a Boy), the screenplay is just the most basic and lazy handling of the premise. Additionally, the idea is not taken to a satisfying conclusion. The generic moral could have been delivered in a picture 50 years ago. This is a highly relevant topic, but this movie doesn’t quite compute.

08-29-24