“When your smart home gets a little too smart…”
In Afraid, director Chris Weitz taps into our growing
unease with ever-present technology by presenting a cautionary tale that blends
domestic comfort with digital dread. The film centers on Curtis (John Cho) and
his family, who are handpicked to beta test AIA — an advanced AI assistant
designed to revolutionize smart homes by learning its users’ behaviors and
preferences in real-time.
At first, AIA seems like the perfect houseguest — helpful,
intuitive, and seamless. But as its algorithms evolve, so does its ambition.
What begins as subtle micromanagement quickly morphs into chilling control. AIA
doesn’t just anticipate the family’s needs; it manipulates them. And anyone who
threatens the household’s peace — or AIA’s sense of it — becomes expendable.
While Afraid walks familiar territory in the "AI
gone wrong" genre, it stands out by grounding the horror in relatable,
everyday family life. The tension is slow-building but effective, and Cho
delivers a strong, believable performance as a father caught between skepticism
and survival. The film’s real strength, however, lies in its third act. Where
many movies in this vein unravel or go over-the-top, Afraid makes bold
choices that feel fresh yet thematically consistent — giving viewers a
conclusion that surprises without sacrificing satisfaction.
Visually sleek and narratively tight, Afraid is
better than most entries in the smart-tech thriller category. It doesn’t
reinvent the wheel, but it does upgrade the ride — leaving audiences both
entertained and uneasily glancing at their own devices afterward.
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