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The use of prominent virtual assistants, such as Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, Microsoft’s Cortana, Samsung’s Bixby, and IBM’s Watson, is a popular subject. Popular and prominent home service devices have become so commonplace in society that they have recently found their way into the lexicon of worldwide storytelling. The newBlumhousefilm,AfrAId, is no exception.
Many of these movies, like the acclaimed filmHer(and you can even go farther back to2001: A Space Odyssey), can be seen in cinemas, on televisions, and on phones via streaming services near you. They have become such staples that I still hope Ask Jeeves will return. These films can be thoughtful, enlightening, and even entertaining.
However,AfrAIdis not one of them.
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AfrAId’sReview and Synopsis
The story follows a family man, Curtis (Star Trek’sJohn Cho), who, by all accounts, has the world by a string. He is happily married to his beautiful wife, Meredith (Alien: Covenant’sKatherine Waterston), and they have two lovely children: an adorable little boy, Calvin (Isaac Bae), and a typical rebellious and precocious teenager, Iris (Lukita Maxwell).
As the story takes shape, we learn that Curtis and his family have been selected to use one of the first fully functioning digital assistants for their smart home. Melody is the piece of technology and artificial intelligence assistant (voiced byBottoms‘ Havana Rose Liu). Her work ethic and dedication make Rebecca De Winter look like she hardly gave her all.
What happens next is more clever than well-executed. Melody lacks boundaries, but instead of pushing them, the film respects them to the point of being a mind-numbing cliché.
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AfrAIdRespects Boundaries Instead of Pushing Them
AfrAId, for better or worse—spoiler, it’s worse—is more based on psychological dread than horror. And, of course, this is usually favored by the most esteemed, arrogant, and even narcissistic film critics. The problem is that after a year of such great psychological horror films asLonglegs, Strange Darling, Cuckoo, andI Saw the TV Glow,AfrAIdpales in comparison.
Chris Weitz’s script is pedestrian and cannot live up to the solid cast, particularly the always underrated Cho. The villain is a basic ripoff of specific characters and a handful of tropes we have seen in hundreds of movies. One is obviously HAL 9000, utilizing that well-known malfunctioning logic, steadfast dedication, and high intelligence.
The other is that Weitz, who has the most manic filmography I think we have ever seen, fromAmerican Pie, About a Boy, and an entry in theTwilightfranchise, basically takes the villain from any ’80s and ’90s obsessive female antagonist and turns her into a big batch of crazy right in front of you. Just because a film has characters in fear doesn’t make the experience psychological.
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IsAfrAIdWorth Watching?
AfrAIdis not worth watching, despite the always underappreciated (John Cho) doing what he can with the material. Cho is an incredibly versatile actor. Perhaps no one has played a concerned father better in the last five years, considering his roles inSearchingandDon’t Make Me Go. (Also, do yourself a favor and seek out the criminally mishandled Netflix reboot ofCowboy Bebopreboot.)
Don’t get me wrong;AfrAIdwill do the trick for the casual film fan, but surprisingly, it misses the mark when looking for scares, and when they do occur, they are cheap. However, the story is entirely nonsensical, bordering on the absurd, even for science fiction, when it tries to transition from thoughtful thriller to horror aspects.
While the cast, led by Cho, is charismatic enough that you can get through the experience with some of your sanity intact, the film, as a whole, cannot find a bridge to connect its misguided ambition with popcorn cinema sensibilities.
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You can watch Afriad only in theaters on August 30th.
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M.N. Miller
Film & Television Critic
Articles Published :336
M.N. Miller is a film and television critic and a proud member of the Las Vegas Film Critic Society, Critics Choice Association, and a 🍅 Rotten Tomatoes/Tomato meter approved. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Mansfield University and a Master’s from Chamberlain University. However, he still puts on his pants one leg at a time, and that’s when he usually stumbles over. When not writing about film or television, he patiently waits for the next Pearl Jam album and chooses to pass the time by scratching his wife’s back on Sunday afternoons while she watches endless reruns of California Dreams. M.N. Miller was proclaimed the smartest reviewer alive by actor Jason Isaacs but chose to ignore his obvious sarcasm. you may also find his work on Hidden Remote, InSession Film, Ready Steady Cut, Geek Vibes Nation, and Nerd Alert.
