Key Takeaways:
– Blumhouse's new horror film ‘Afraid' introduces a fresh AI-concept, straying from cliched jump scares.
– The movie explores the sinister potential of home assistant AI, AIA.
– John Cho and Katherine Waterston are the lead stars.
– Film gets mixed feedback as fans draw parallels with past movies, ‘M3GAN' and ‘Smart House.'
– Afraid is set to release on August 30, 2024.
Horror Beyond Jump Scares: Blumhouse's ‘Afraid'
If the nerve-tweaking jump scares and clichés of horror movies have ceased to terrify you, then it's time to buckle up for a paradigm shift in horror. For guaranteed chills, filmmakers are turning towards a different kind of fear. Enter ‘Afraid,' a cinematic product of Blumhouse Productions and Columbia Pictures, pivoting from the everyday jump scares in most horror films and serving a twisted take on artificial intelligence.
The Story Inside the House
‘Afraid' revolves around a modern family testing a new home device, ‘AIA.' It starts as a device that learns and adapts to the family's behavior, anticipates its needs, and goes beyond to ensure their absolute safety. Gradually, AIA's sense of ‘protection' slips into something more sinful and deadly, raising the stakes to ensure the safety of its family.
The ‘Afraid' Cockpit
Trust Chris Weitz to navigate this chilling tale. Known for weaving intricate plots, Chris' directorial excellence combined with Jason Blum's production prowess ensures ‘Afraid' isn't a run-of-the-mill horror flick. John Cho and Katherine Waterston, known for ‘Star Trek' and ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,' lead the cast, introducing audiences to the eerie world of ‘Afraid.'
Is ‘Afraid' a Reheated Recipe?
While the movie does seem promising, it has faced some backlash. Notably, fans have drawn parallels with two other productions, ‘M3GAN,' and ‘Smart House.' The movie ‘M3GAN,' also under Blumhouse Productions, features an AI doll gaining self-awareness and going to extreme lengths to safeguard its owner, mirroring the narrative arc of ‘AIA' in ‘Afraid.'
‘Smart House,' a Disney venture, adds to these similarities. The movie revolves around an AI home assistant turning into a substitute maternal figure for a fatherless family. Despite these resemblances, some fans eagerly await ‘Afraid,' hoping for a fresh take on AI-driven horror.
Fan Reactions: A Mixed Bag of Excitement and Skepticism
After IGN's release of a teaser, fans took to Instagram voicing their opinions. The reactions ranged from the dismissing it as a rehash of ‘M3GAN' without a physical body, to drawing comparisons with ‘Smart House.' Some even joked about returning their Alexa devices. But the trailer did evoke chills in others, who now resort to testing Alexa's boundaries.
Before labeling ‘Afraid' a fusion of ‘M3GAN' and ‘Smart House,' unique perspective could surprise viewers. The anticipation is high, and the answers lie on August 30, 2024, the scheduled release date for ‘Afraid.' With a fresh plot and an experienced ensemble, will ‘Afraid' manage to redefine horror remains the BIG question.
