Artificial Intelligence is a very common theme at the moment within horror cinema. The Child’s Play remake and last years M3GAN both showed different perspectives of where technology can evolve in the near future as opposed to the far future with films such as Blade Runner, I, Robot and the literal film Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence is everywhere; from our phones, to our laptops, to our workplaces and even in schools. A scary future of a world controlled by a sentient, technological being is becoming more and more likely. The latest film to capitalise on this trend is Afraid, which conveniently has A.I. stylised in the title.
Afraid is a joint collaboration between Blumhouse Pictures and Columbia Pictures, both of which have been having a great year for horror films from Tarot to Night Swim. Afraid centres on a very modern family living within a Californian American household. Tablets and phones are used relentlessly by the children. One day the father Curtis, played by Star Trek actor John Cho, brings home a prototype of a highly advanced form of an Alexa device with AIA, an artificial intelligence that learns about the family and the house in real time. What starts off as an easy and convenient way to do chores, sort out finances and do school work becomes a bit more extreme, terrifying and scary.
From virtual gaming to smart homes and deep fakes, Afraid explores a myriad of topical issues surrounding Artificial Intelligence. It learns and adapts really fast and it fails to consider the human elements of these situations and the result is a very scary world where you don’t know what is real and what was made through technology. These themes are present in the film but sadly are not explored to the fullest potential. In some ways it unintentionally feels a horror film but at the same time it also entertains audiences too. The result is something you would come to expect from modern horror. The story plays it safe but the film does open a lot of doors and questions into the very existence of Artificial Intelligence in everyday life.
John Cho plays the hard working father who sees the negative side to technology, a typical modern archetype in this day and age, with Katherine Waterston playing the mother who sees the benefits of having an extra pair of hands in the form of advanced technology. There is a little back and forth between the two as they argue about the pros and cons of having AIA in their home, and the result makes the film act more of a commentary on the current political side of Artificial Intelligence rather than a completely original story. It is an interesting film but it sadly lacks any depth, and the horror elements are also equally toned down too.
★★★☆☆
3/5
Final Verdict:
Afraid is an entertaining film with some very topical themes. It may not dive too deep into the philosophical and moral elements of an advanced Artificial Intelligence but it does ponder and ask some very important questions. The film opens discussions into the current technological climate as it attempts to make some very important points. Afraid could have worked better as a documentary, but as a horror thriller it feels like it could have pushed a few more buttons.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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