“Romi” (2024) – Review: Bad Smart Home Makes Frustrating Movie
Tubi’s “Romi” asks what if Disney’s “Smart House” had a splash more blood?
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“Romi” Plot Summary
“Romi” is a timely horror/thriller that plays with our most paranoid fears of AI in our household. The TUBI thriller starts strong but seems to lose confidence and direction in its premise as its story expands. There’s clear passion in “Romi,” but low stakes and a lack of horror focus muddle the results.
“Romi” first introduces us to Maddie (Alexa Barajas), a young woman who makes the tragic mistake of trying to look at her phone while driving on the road. The split decision led to Maddie hitting someone. Instead of calling the police, Maddie calls her well-connected politician mom (Shannon Leahy). Instead of going to jail, Maddie quickly finds herself in a different kind of jail: a safe house that she can’t leave for the next 90 days.
This safe house isn’t small or humble by any means. In fact, its state-of-the-art AI technology can close doors, monitor calls, give you recipes, and even track your bodily fluids. The AI voice is called “Romi,” and while it was created by the seemingly friendly Barkley (Juan Riedinger), it’s in the house of Hertig (Pavel Kríz), an older man whose wife went missing. When Romi starts to go rogue by refusing orders or abruptly turning things on and terrorizing Maddie, Maddie can’t decide if it’s a corrupt AI system, a bitter man, a possible haunting, or her own deteriorating mental health playing tricks on her.
“Romi” keeps viewers guessing about what goes bump in the night, but there are only so many bumps that can be made that viewers don’t see coming. How many times can we hear an abrupt screech or a refused command? A troubling third act tries to tie together many of Maddie’s paranoias but leaves loose ends and viewers scratching their heads. “Romi” is not a bad movie. Keeping the location contained with spooky lighting and game actors immerses us into its AI terror. But much like AI technology itself, “Romi” is a noble effort where its potential is more fun than the result.
Content Information
“Romi” is rated TV-MA due to some cursing, violence, scary images, and marijuana use.
“Romi” General Information
| Director | Robert Cuffley |
| Screenplay By | Susie Moloney |
| Date Released | March 14, 2024 |
| How to Watch | Tubi |
| Genre(s) | Sci-Fi |
| Film Length | 1 hour, 30 minutes |
| Content Rating | Rated TV-MA |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| Maddie | Alexa Barajas |
| Barkley | Juan Riedinger |
| Hertig | Pavel Kríz |
| Maddie’s mom | Shannon Leahy |
| ROMI (voice) | Jocelyn Chugg |
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Maddie (Alexa Barajas)
Maddie is a young woman who is filled with guilt for a tragic mistake she made. She longs for connection, but the ROMI house becomes her sterile prison.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Yellowjackets.”
Barkley (Juan Riedinger)
Barkley is ROMI’s programmer. While he’s friendly and is the most knowledgeable about ROMI, he’s confused and a little suspicious of Maddie’s accusations of ROMI going haywire.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Romeo Section.”
Hertig (Pavel Kriz)
Hertig is the homeowner. His demeanor is a little creepy with Maddie, and he’s all the more suspicious since his wife went missing. But he tries to help Maddie whenever possible.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol.”
Maddie’s mom (Shannon Leahy)
Maddie’s mom is the brains behind Maddie’s leaving town. Her disapproval and anger at her daughter currently cloud her ability to listen to Maddie’s concerns about the house.
ROMI (Jocelyn Chugg)
ROMI is the AI system that operates the house and knows everything possible about Maddie. While the AI can be helpful, it can also be dangerous when refusing orders or going rogue.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Me and Mr. Christmas.”
“Romi” Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Let us know your thoughts in the comments:
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- What did you think of “Romi?” What would you have possibly changed?
- Does anyone remember the Disney movie “Smart House?”
On The Fence
Not Much Going on in “Romi”
The synopsis for “Romi” creates intrigue and at least some expectation of where the story will go: a smart home terrorizes the woman living in it. “Romi” sets up the premise well in the first 30 minutes, with things unexpectedly turning on in the middle of the night or the AI refusing Maddie’s requests, but the movie stays in this mode for the next hour. Possibly due to budget restraints and focusing on one character, there’s not much for “Romi” to terrorize.
Lack of Clear Danger Does More Harm than Good
Is the AI Romi the problem? Is it one of the men who consistently visits Maddie? Is the terror some ghost in the house? Is it all in Maddie’s head? On paper, “Romi” is a mystery that attempts to make us question what’s really happening. But by giving us so many options, we lose attempts to thrill and terrorize viewers by not having a single focus. A haunting vs. stalker vs. bad tech are all very different subgenres, and “Romi” can’t decide between them.
Third-Act Problems
By the end of “Romi,” questions are answered, but more questions are raised. Without spoilers, the reveal negates the terror Maddie experienced throughout the movie. And because “Romi” doesn’t set up “rules” within its storyworld about what ghosts or AI can or cannot do, we’re left wondering how the heck any of this is possible.
Good If You Like
- Low-budget thrillers
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