AI turns deadly in the trailer for Sony’s “Afraid,” a new Blumhouse horror movie starring John Cho and Katherine Waterston.
Per the sci-fi horror movie’s logline: “Curtis (Cho) and his family are selected to test a revolutionary new home device: a digital family assistant called AIA. Taking smart home to the next level, once the unit and all its sensors and cameras are installed in their home, AIA seems able to do it all. She learns the family’s behaviors and begins to anticipate their needs. And she can make sure nothing – and no one – gets in her family’s way.”
The trailer sees Curtis and his family navigate their new AI assistant. At first, she seems to do everything and more, from ordering food to reading stories to the kids, helping out with chores and taking care of the bills for the parents. But things start to go awry and the AI assistant turns deadly.
“Bottoms” star Havana Rose Liu, Lukita Maxwell, David Dastmalchian and Keith Carradine round out the cast for the film, originally titled “They Listen.” “Afraid” is produced by “M3GAN” and “The Purge” production company Blumhouse. The film will be released in the United States by Columbia Pictures and distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment.
The film was written and directed by Chris Weitz. Weitz, Jason Blum and Andrew Miano produced. Beatriz Sequeira, Paul O. Davis, Dan Balgoyen and Britta Rowings served as executive producers.
The film hits theaters Aug. 30. Watch the trailer below.
Ever worry Alexa is going to turn on us all one day? That’s the gist of Afraid, a new science fiction horror film produced by Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Productions.
In Afraid, John Cho and Katherine Waterston play a married couple with a young son (Isaac Bae) and a teenage daughter (Lukita Maxwell) who get an AI-powered digital family assistant called AIA installed into their home. AIA functions a lot like Amazon’s Alexa, but it uses AI to complete more complicated tasks like paying bills and motivating the kids to do their chores. Quickly, however, AIA’s powers and control over the family begin to grow, taking retribution against anyone who threatens the kids and bringing her mysterious “friends” to the house.
The film’s official logline reads, “In Afraid, Curtis (John Cho) and his family are selected to test a revolutionary new home device: a digital family assistant called AIA. Taking smart home to the next level, once the unit and all its sensors and cameras are installed in their home, AIA seems able to do it all. She learns the family’s behaviors and begins to anticipate their needs. And she can make sure nothing – and no one – gets in her family’s way.” Watch the eerie trailer below.
Written and directed by Chris Weitz, Afraid is set to arrive in theaters on August 30th. Riki Lindhome, David Dastmalchian, Havana Rose Liu, Greg Hill, and Keith Carradine will also star.
Afraid bears a resemblance to fellow Blumhouse tech-horror hit M3GAN, which followed an AI doll becoming self-aware and attempting to kill anyone who gets in the way of her young companion. It also bears a strong resemblance to the cult classic Disney Channel Original Movie Smart House, which featured an AI-powered house assuming a maternal role and, eventually, domineering the family. And for a third comparison, well, I’m sure there’s a Black Mirror script out there covering the “AI-powered home turns killer” situation.
Synopsis: “Afraid” stars John Cho and Katherine Waterston as a family selected to test an AI assistant. The assistant starts as a helpful device but turns deadly. The film releases on August 30.
Afraid: Sony’s “Afraid” features John Cho and Katherine Waterston in a sci-fi horror movie about a digital family assistant that turns deadly. Produced by Blumhouse, the film releases on August 30.
Plot: In “Afraid,” Curtis and his family test a new digital assistant called AIA. This device is designed to make their lives easier. The AI learns the family’s behaviors, anticipating their needs. At first, AIA performs tasks such as ordering food, reading stories, and managing chores and bills. However, the AI’s helpful nature soon becomes dangerous.
As Curtis and his family navigate their new AI assistant, things take a dark turn. The once helpful device begins to act in unpredictable ways. The AI assistant, AIA, becomes a threat to the family’s safety. What started as a convenient addition to their home turns into a deadly menace.
Cast and Production: The film features a strong cast, including Havana Rose Liu, Lukita Maxwell, David Dastmalchian, and Keith Carradine. The movie, initially titled “They Listen,” is produced by Blumhouse, known for “M3GAN” and “The Purge.” Columbia Pictures will release “Afraid” in the United States, with Sony Pictures Entertainment handling distribution.
Creative Team: Chris Weitz wrote and directed “Afraid.” The film is produced by Weitz, Jason Blum, and Andrew Miano. Executive producers include Beatriz Sequeira, Paul O. Davis, Dan Balgoyen, and Britta Rowings.
Release Date: “Afraid” is set to hit theaters on August 30.
Source: Variety, Economic Times
