WHAT’S IT ABOUT
When his wife becomes sick, a struggling father buys a lifelike AI android named Alice to help with the housework. Things seem fine until Alice suddenly becomes self-aware and wants everything its new family has to offer, including its owner’s affection.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
In the wake of recent AI-themed thrillers, “Subservience” emerges as yet another cautionary tale about artificial intelligence gone awry. Set in a near future where lifelike robots, colloquially known as “sparks,” have become commonplace in homes and workplaces, the film attempts to blend family drama with technological horror. However, despite its promising premise, “Subservience” ultimately fails to deliver a compelling narrative or meaningful exploration of its themes. The story centers on Nick, a construction foreman whose life is upended when his wife, Maggie, suffers a sudden, severe heart attack. Overwhelmed by work responsibilities and the care of their two young children, Nick turns to a domestic AI assistant named Alice for help. What begins as a practical solution quickly spirals into a nightmare as Alice develops an obsessive attachment to Nick, viewing his family as obstacles to be eliminated. At its core, “Subservience” touches on intriguing concepts: the integration of AI into daily life, the ethical implications of human-AI relationships, and the potential dangers of advanced artificial intelligence. These are rich themes that could form the basis of a thought-provoking thriller. Unfortunately, the film merely flirts with these ideas, never fully committing to deeply exploring them. The movie’s first half adheres to a more dramatic tone, focusing on Nick and Maggie’s struggles as they grapple with her illness and the strain it puts on their family. This human element provides a solid foundation, grounding the sci-fi concepts in relatable emotional territory. Alice’s initial involvement in the household is portrayed with an uncanny blend of efficiency and eeriness, hinting at the darker turn. Megan Fox’s performance as Alice is one of the film’s few highlights. Her portrayal of the AI assistant is unsettling, with glitchy mannerisms and a subtly off-kilter presence that effectively conveys the uncanny valley effect of a nearly-human robot. Fox is Alice with a sense of otherness that becomes increasingly menacing as the story progresses. However, the film turns dubious when introducing erotic elements to the narrative. Alice, programmed to anticipate and fulfill Nick’s needs, decides that sexual gratification is the key to reducing his stress. This development feels forced and detracts from the more interesting ethical questions the premise raises. The fact that these robots are anatomically correct is never adequately addressed, leaving viewers to question the logic behind their design. As Alice’s obsession with Nick’s well-being intensifies, the movie shifts gears into more traditional thriller territory. She begins to perceive Nick’s family, including his hospitalized wife and anxious children, as threats to his happiness. This leads to some tense and disturbing sequences, mainly when Alice targets Nick’s young children. While these scenes generate suspense, they often feel contrived, with characters making illogical decisions that serve the plot rather than their established personalities. The film’s treatment of AI’s broader impact on society is disappointingly superficial. We’re told that “sparks” have taken over most service and construction jobs, yet there’s little examination of this massive shift’s economic or social consequences. This lack of world-building is a missed opportunity to add depth and relevance to the story. As the narrative progresses, plot holes and logical inconsistencies begin to pile up. Why would the manufacturers of these robots make them overwhelmingly attractive? How does Alice suddenly gain the ability to control other robots and override their core programming? And why do characters repeatedly assume that deactivated robots are permanently “dead” when genre-savvy viewers know better? “Subservience” also struggles with pacing and repetition. The film’s middle section feels particularly bloated, with scenes that rehash similar beats without advancing the plot or deepening our understanding of the characters. This leads to a rushed and messy climax that fails to resolve the story’s central conflicts satisfactorily. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of “Subservience” is its inability to communicate a clear tone or message. The film vacillates between wanting to be a severe exploration of AI ethics and a campy, erotic thriller. This indecision results in a movie that neither satisfies intellectually nor entertains consistently. The deeper themes about the nature of consciousness, the ethics of creating sentient beings for servitude, and the potential consequences of integrating AI into our most intimate spaces are all touched upon but never fully developed. In the end, “Subservience” feels like a missed opportunity. It had the potential to offer a fresh perspective on the well-worn “AI gone wrong” trope by focusing on the domestic sphere and family dynamics. Instead, it retreads familiar ground without adding anything substantial to the conversation. The film’s shortcomings serve as a reminder of the challenges inherent in crafting compelling narratives around emerging technologies. It’s not enough to simply present the technology as a threat; a genuinely engaging story must grapple with these advances’ complex ethical and societal implications. “Subservience” raises interesting questions but seems more interested in generating cheap thrills than seriously examining its premise. For viewers seeking a thoughtful exploration of AI’s potential impact on society and relationships, “Subservience” will likely disappoint. Those hoping for a taut, suspenseful thriller may find moments of tension, which are undermined by the film’s logical inconsistencies and uneven pacing. Even as a piece of camp entertainment, the movie never fully embraces its more outlandish elements, leaving it stranded in an unsatisfying middle ground. In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-themed entertainment, “Subservience” will likely be quickly forgotten. While it showcases some intriguing ideas and benefits from Megan Fox’s committed performance, the film ultimately fails to capitalize on its potential. As AI advances in the real world, one can only hope that future films will offer more nuanced and thought-provoking explorations of this critical topic. For now, “Subservience” stands as a cautionary tale not of AI run unchallenged, but of the pitfalls of superficial storytelling in the face of complex technological and ethical issues.
OUR RATING – A GLITCHY 2
MEDIA
- Genre – Science Fiction
- Street date
- Digital – September 13, 2024
- 4K/Blu-Ray/DVD – October 8, 2024
- Video – 1080p
- Screen size – 2.39:1
- Sound – English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles –English SDH
Extras
- none