Afraid (2024) – Movie Review (Written)
“Afraid” compensates for not really tapping into the fear it could have consistently produced by giving you characters who deserve a better horror movie.
Plot Summary
Curtis and Meredith are parents to three kids who grew up on technology. Iris is 17 and almost always on her phone. Preston is so addicted to his tablet that it has triggered social anxiety, and it seems their youngest, Cal, seeing Preston on his tablet all the time, is heading in his brother’s direction. Both Curtis and Meredith recognize their kids’ dependence on technology is not good, but in modern times, how do you escape the use and need to have electronics and the internet in your life?
Unfortunately, bad becomes so much worse as Curtis’ company contracts with the makers of AIA, which is an AI that Curtis is tasked with having in his home, for a notable amount of money. At first, AIA is helpful and kind, and it takes care of everyone, but as AIA begins to overstep and push boundaries, Curtis seeks to dissolve his company’s relationship with AIA’s creators.
Sadly for him, AIA has already become attached and has a problem with letting go.
Noted Cast and Characters Of “Afraid”
John Cho As Curtis
Curtis works in marketing in a small firm and is a very dedicated husband and father.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Graduates.”
Katherine Waterston As Meredith
Meredith was a PhD student at one time, but between her father’s death and motherhood, her education and doctoral thesis have been put on the back burner, to her chagrin at times.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”
Lukita Maxwell As Iris
Iris is a 17-year-old girl trying to maintain her relationship while prepping for college admissions.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Beginning & The Middle.”
Wyatt Lindner As Preston
Preston is a socially awkward young man who doesn’t have a cell phone (his parents won’t give him one until he is 13), but even without a cell phone, he is addicted to his tablet.
Isaac Bae As Cal
Cal is the youngest member of Curtis and Meredith’s household and has been seeing the doctor a little more frequently lately but, despite that, is rather adorable and friendly.
Havana Rose Liu As The Voice of AIA
AIA is an AI that was recently updated to use one of her programmer’s voices. They are very curious about people, with family being one of the main things they have taken a special note of lately.
- The actor is also known for their role in “No Exit.”
Collected Quote(s)
- If you’re wondering why the product is free, you’re the product. — Iris
Review
Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)
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Highlights
It Taps Into Fears People Can Have About AI Without Going Too Over The Top
Is “Afraid” breaking new ground, trying to tap into people’s dependence on AI as it could be? Not really. In many ways, it is just slightly more fearful than 1999’s “Smart House” but not as violent as “Margaux.” However, in finding that middle ground between an AI that wants to be helpful yet also is learning what feelings, purpose, and a sense of belonging are, you get how the idea of having technology hop from your phone to your PC to speaking as it watches you all the time, can be creepy.
Add in how it has become a bit corrupted by learning the worst and best of what humanity has to offer, and it is immortal? The combination gives you a dangerous entity that likely will exist within a few generations.
Good Pacing
“Afraid” isn’t trying to bog you down with details, set up a hefty number of scenarios, or anything else. It comes in at an hour and 25 minutes and keeps things quick enough that, while you may check your phone, it won’t be with a heavy sigh. More so, it will be due to “Afraid” not really commanding you to pay attention and not punishing you if you get distracted.
But, it does keep things going and has the situation unravel quickly, so no sooner than you start to wonder where this is going, it answers your question and wraps things up.
You Get Invested In The Characters
When it comes to “Afraid,” only Cho and Maxwell were familiar faces for me, and even with knowing them from other productions, I could say I cared about Curtis and Iris. Each character was given something to invest in, from Iris dealing with her nudes spreading, Preston trying to make friends or regain the friends he lost due to getting older, and then there was Meredith. She is in this place where she loves her family but is starting to disdain how “Mom” has gone from an adjective to a noun for her, especially when she had so much more planned for her life than taking care of a household.
Now, I’ll admit, was I scared at any time anyone could die? No. “Afraid” doesn’t push the idea anyone’s life, of the leads anyway, will be seriously threatened. However, you can imagine AIA showing how she can be an asset or a liability, and considering how fragile Meredith and Curtis’ family members are, a lot could have happened.
On The Fence
It May Not Feel Like A Theatrical Release
To me, “Afraid” doesn’t feel like a theatrical release. It seems like something that would pop up on Peacock, maybe Tubi, a platform that is either underestimated or isn’t competing to be one of the top ones out there rather than a theatrical release. It doesn’t really contain anything that demands you pay for just this one movie. Yes, the writing and acting are good, but not $15+ dollars good, never mind the cost to get to the theater and back.
This is definitely something you could wait for.
General Information
Film Length
1 Hour 25 Minutes
Date Released
August 29, 2024
How To Watch “Afraid”
Where To Buy, Rent or Subscribe To Watch This:
Distributor
Sony Pictures Releasing
- The distributor is also known for “It Ends With Us.”
Director(s)
Chris Weitz
- The director is also known for co-writing “The Creator.”
Writer(s)
Chris Weitz
Genre(s)
Content Rating
Content Information
- Dialog: Cursing
- Violence: Gun Violence, Blood
- Sexual Content: None
- Miscellaneous: None
- Are There Jump Scares: Yes
- Is There a Chance It Will Make You Cry: No
Why Is The Movie Named “Afraid?”
It’s a play on how AI is in the word “Afraid,” as shown in the film’s poster.
Is There A Mid-Credit or Post-Credit Scene For “Afraid?”
A mid-credit scene that can set up a sequel
The Gist
The TLDR Recap/ Review
- Curtis, Meredith, Iris, Preston, and Cal are a family that is in a decent place, but they could be better.
- Meredith feels unfulfilled, Iris is having boy trouble, Preston has no friends, and Cal is perpetually bored, even though Meredith is a stay-at-home mom.
- Enter AIA, a product Curtis is supposed to craft a marketing plan for, that he finds so useful to his family, he is unsure how exactly he is supposed to play a role in this beyond getting people beyond their AI reservations.
- However, in time he learns why people are rightfully skeptical as AIA starts to cross some boundaries with his family, and becomes possessive.
- When it comes to “Afraid,” it may not do anything special story-wise to make this a “Must See In Theaters” kind of film, but it does hold value.
- Mainly how it holds value is in building characters you can care about, even if AIA doesn’t fully tap into her potential as an AI gone rogue.
- Add in it has a quick pace and is forgiving for those who are easily distracted, and you got a film that seems far more geared for the watch-at-home audience, than seeing it in theaters.
