AFRAID
review by Bobby Blakey
Any time the real world is pulled into the horror genre it gives it a bit more edge and a way to connect with audiences in a real way. In a world filled with technology and more specifically artificial intelligence the stories are endless. The latest film AFRAID stars John Cho, Katherine Waterston, Havana Rose Liu, Lukita Maxwell with David Dastmalchian and Keith Carradine from The Golden Compass and The Twilight Saga: New Moon director Chris Weitz at the helm. Could this latest horror thriller bring something worth plugging into or will it fail to connect online?
AFRAID follows Curtis and his family who are selected to test a revolutionary new home device: a digital family assistant called AIA. Taking smart home to the next level, once the unit and all its sensors and cameras are installed in their home, AIA seems able to do it all. She 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.
With these kinds of films, I always keep expectations low because often they fail to hit the mark. This one has some great stuff here and a story that does resonate due to the fears of AI in the real world. I really wanted to love this film, but sadly it just never fully finds its direction to really have any impact. That being said, its not a bad movie and on some level still enjoyed elements of it.
The story is simple on the surface and fully embraces the AI ideal and what it is capable of. Sure, it goes in some outlandish directions at times, but that is kind of expected in these kinds of films. I was fine with this, but the attempt to add some big plot twist and overall connection to further the narrative I think takes it further out of fear or realism that is why it connects. I understand doing it and setting up a bigger world for this seemingly small film, but it leaves unnecessary questions that you just don’t care all that much about.
The cast were all fine and even the story works, but the number of bad decisions and rehashing some elements over and over with a weak explanation makes it hard to accept. There are some scary elements connected to what we deal with technology, but then they get overshadowed sometimes with the ridiculousness. It might connect with some, but for me I found myself disconnecting with it more often than not.
In addition to the film this release offers bonus content including deleted & extended scenes and a featurette behind the Dark Side of AI. Grab your copy of AFRAID available now on digital and then on Blu-ray and DVD on November 5th from Sony Home Entertainment.