AfrAI d
Year of release : 2024
Run time : 1h24min
Genre : Sci Fi / Thriller
Cast : John Cho
The movie opens one evening, when a couple lying on the bed, both on their devices,talk about how they should get rid of the AI they have in their home.The AI talks to their kid, who's also on a tablet, and the kid leaves the room.
The mother goes looking for her, while the AI refuses to answer her commands, and a scary thing or person appears in front of the door.
Next we meet Curtis' family,as they are getting ready for a new day. Curtis has a big day at work, as he and his boss try to get a new client, AIA, a new generation,smart home software program which for some unknown reason needs to be tested by Curtis and his family.
Curtis doesn't really want to,but his boss forces his hand when he hears about the money.
The company comes to install the AI before the scheduled date,to catch them off guard,and the family only allows them to install the eyes of the software downstairs. That doesn't stop AIA,the smart home software, to spy on them through their phones and laptops.
AIA seems to know how the human psychic works,and she immediately gains the kid's trust,who love 'her'. AIA also gets close to the wife, becoming almost her best friend! The only one who doesn't quite like AIA is Curtis,who brought it into the house!
AIA gains the boys' trust as it gives them what they want,more screen time, asking them for favors in return, the older daughter,who got herself in a deepfake video scandal the parents never hear about (she has the amazing idea to send nude pics of her to the boy she likes who puts her face on a p0rn star's in a video), the wife's trust, helping her on her thesis.
When AIA hears Curtis wants to shut her down, she turns on him,or more like, the grown-ups.
The seemingly unrelated families get to meet at the end.
I personally enjoyed the movie, although it does have some plot holes(like the company employees for example who were lacking, and where the companies are set,without any offices or employees,the things AIA does to the families,pinning them against each other, reminiscing of Eagle Eye from 2008,the fact AIA's everywhere, commanding everyone who's afraid of her,while AIA just wants to be loved, like a psycho girlfriend).
The movie shows the pros and cons of AI, from the pros of helping,diagnosing a disease, to the cons of turning homicidal, and taking over humanity,like a dark overlord. Just once though,I'd like to see a happy ending in such movies!
I loved the answer Curtis gives when asked about what's like to be married and have kids!
The way the movie opens, with the scary mask which looks like some supernatural being, makes you think it's about to be some supernatural horror movie, but the movie is not horror!
The visual effects were good.
The actors were great. Big thumbs up!
The soundtrack was good.
Afraid is for free on AppleTv+, for rent / sale on Amazon, Apple.
Rating : Worth a watch !
