Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
Curtis Pike and his family are selected to test a new home device: a digital assistant called AIA. AIA observes the family's behaviors and begins to anticipate their needs. And she can – and will – make sure nothing – and no one – gets in her family's way.
Afraid is a formulaic AI-gone-rogue thriller that fails to meaningfully distinguish itself from similar cautionary tech tales like M3GAN or Smart House. The plot is predictable and derivative, hitting every expected beat without subversion. Acting is serviceable but unremarkable, with characters functioning more as archetypes than fully realized people. Cinematography is competent but generic, offering nothing visually memorable. Its premise—malevolent smart home assistant—has been thoroughly explored before, and this entry adds little to the conversation. The ending resolves in an unsatisfying, by-the-numbers fashion. A thoroughly average entry in a well-worn subgenre.