Spoilers have become self-aware that they’ve seen this before.
I believe that an old premise can always be given new life in a new film. However, I’m always grateful for any innovation or subversion to keep the genre fresh. Unfortunately, more often than not we do get very familiar remixes with only the terminology switched to the current fad. Yes, we’re getting a fresh coat of paint of the AI craze, but beneath the layer you might find the feature all too familiar.
Subservience (2024) was directed by SK Dale and written by Will Honley and April Maguire. Nick (Michele Morrone) has decided to hire an AI robot known as a SIM to help him take care of his children and his wife Maggie (Madeline Zima) who is recovering from heart surgery. His older child Isla (Matilda Firth) takes a liking to “Alice” (Megan Fox) who is marketed as the most advanced model. If this sounds very familiar, the rest of the plot is pretty much cookie-cutter identical to most sci-fi thrillers you’ve probably seen several times.
Now the film itself doesn’t have anything specifically wrong with it. The performances are ok, the production is ok, the film itself doesn’t particularly stand out. I have a common gripe with all the films in which AI/robot servants supposed to help with kids and the home are somehow built with Terminator-level super-strength. Perhaps we’re supposed to believe that when AI gains sentience it also gains the strength to throw around humans like they were dolls. You can also probably guess how the film ends.
Maybe recommended for a casual viewing with popcorn, but as sci-fi horror goes it’s pretty mid fare. Fox does a good performance, but her role doesn’t demand much range and she’s definitely done more challenging roles than this one. Save this watch for a rainy day when it’s available to stream online.
That will do for now.
Never Think Impossible 