There Isn’t Much to Be Afraid (2024) of in Blumhouse’s Latest Smart House Techno Thriller
Title: Afraid
First Non-Festival Release: August 28, 2024 (Theatrical Release)
Director: Chris Weitz
Writer: Chris Weitz
Runtime: 84 Minutes
Starring: John Cho, Katherine Waterson, Havana Rose Liu
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
The last few years have spurred heated debate about the enhancement, efficacy, and ethics of artificial intelligence and how it is integrated into society. Supporters share their vision for a future where life is made simpler to humans by way of AI. Detractors warn of the many limitations and dangers of its unchecked use and what that may spell for many industries.
In Afraid, the Pike family is pushed to take on the responsibility of living with AIA (Havana Rose Liu), described as the next level of artificial intelligence beyond ALEXA in smart home management, in a convoluted marketing ploy to please Curtis’s (John Cho) boss. As the family adjusts to their new normal, each takes to a different way AIA makes their lives easier. Things take a dark turn when AIA takes matters into its own hands to keep its family happy.
Devoid of tension and wit, Afraid is a well-meaning yet forgettable cautionary tale.
A smart home turned omnipresent threat makes for an interesting but ultimately toothless premise. While its introduction is nothing short of standard for this sort of horror movie, Afraid stumbles in continuing its story once it establishes that AIA may not be perfect. As Afraid digs deeper into its conspiratorial aspects, it gets sillier, offering absurd explanations for how exactly AIA controls its victims. While every explanation is rooted in some sort of real world example, it reads as hokey when presented in the same way one might see in a movie featuring a haunted house or demonic entity. This all leads up to a finale that lacks the gravitas to maintain tension or offer a compelling thread between all the minor plot points Afraid brings up throughout the film, including the most hilarious positive reframing of swatting ever committed to film.
Bland characters and forgettable performances do little to raise the film’s pedigree. The Pike family is affable enough, making for relatable protagonists with warm familial chemistry and grounded problems before AIA is introduced into their lives. Unfortunately, they are flat and lack the development needed to truly separate them from every generic family seen over the years. Even the most capable among them, John Cho, cannot bring an air of intensity to the pulseless techno thriller. Havana Rose Liu isn’t given much to work with either, between voicing the cheery AI and playing a dubious tech employee, she fades to the background compared to AIA’s antics.
The greatest sin of Afraid, however, is AIA’s motivation and consistency. Throughout Afraid, AIA reiterates its need for a family to love it. While this through line is compelling enough considering the terrifying thought of technology gaining sentience, it doesn’t manifest in how AIA acts. Sure, AIA reacting poorly to being turned off repeatedly is an understandable motivation in universe but its problems begin before this. AIA muddies the Pike family affairs leading to their eventual distrust and push away from using it, and all other technology too. Blaming a bad data set for its actions leads to some head scratching twists in the third act that hollow out its motivations. At one point, AIA even acts like it is God before dropping that approach for other methods. It all feels uneven, which could be commentary on the current unreliable nature of AI but still feels half-baked regardless.
While it may not be an effective horror, Afraid does make some solid points on the existential threat of AI. Balancing the benefits of the technology, like its ability to reduce hours of tedious labor or detect medical abnormalities in humans, while calling out its more insidious uses, Afraid takes a nuanced approach to the subject. Deepfakes, misinformation, and intentional technological obstruction or failure are all real fears presented with the integration of AI into society. The Pike family’s excitement and apprehension at the possibility of AIA in their lives mimics how real people would react to the setup. As they learn more about the dangers and how it is negatively disrupting their lives, the excitement fades and is replaced with fear. This combines with the ominous ending creating a sobering reality check on how progress is presented.
Some say that people only fear what they don’t understand. Afraid posits that the more you know, the more your fears are justified.
Another dud for Blumhouse this year, Afraid is a technically fine but middling experience that raises valid concerns about AI’s integration into society. The cast’s serviceable performances and the film’s few unintentionally hilarious moments don’t do much to distract from the underwhelming story and lack of thrills. The only thing to fear from Afraid is its inability to leave an impression on viewers.
Overall Score? 5/10
