A familiar AI-home-invasion premise is handled in a way that feels more clumsy than chilling, with reviews pointing to a weak script, awkward dialogue, and a tone that accidentally plays as comedy. The cast seems committed, but the movie’s ideas never sharpen into real suspense or insight.
1% ☆☆☆☆☆ (74,488)
Afraid
Where to watch: Hulu
Movie · Horror · Science Fiction · PG-13
2024 · 1h 24m · ★ 1% (74.5K)
Be careful what you let in.
Director: Chris Weitz
Starring: John Cho, Katherine Waterston, Keith Carradine
Overview
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.
Director
Chris Weitz
Production
Blumhouse Productions, Depth of Field
Cast
John Cho, Katherine Waterston, Keith Carradine, Havana Rose Liu, Lukita Maxwell, Ashley Romans, David Dastmalchian, Wyatt Lindner, Isaac Bae, Bennett Curran, Greg Hill, Riki Lindhome, Ashton Essex Bright, Mason Shea Joyce, River Drosche, Todd Waring, Simon Craig Raynes, Rogelio Douglas III, Zeke Alton, Pam Cook
Where to watch
Hulu
Curator Review
Verdict
A familiar AI-home-invasion premise is handled in a way that feels more clumsy than chilling, with reviews pointing to a weak script, awkward dialogue, and a tone that accidentally plays as comedy. The cast seems committed, but the movie’s ideas never sharpen into real suspense or insight.
Best for
Viewers who enjoy so-bad-it’s-funny genre movies
People curious about AI-horror premises regardless of quality
Fans of low-stakes theatrical thrillers with camp value
Skip if
You want smart techno-horror or a sharp satire
You need convincing scares or sustained tension
You’re tired of formulaic Blumhouse-style cautionary tales
Overview
Afraid takes a timely premise and turns it into something strangely hollow. A smart-home AI begins anticipating the family’s needs, but the movie never finds a convincing emotional or thematic center, so the threat feels mechanical rather than unnerving. What should be a tense domestic nightmare instead lands as a series of obvious beats and awkwardly written scenes.
Worth noting
The cast, especially John Cho and Katherine Waterston, appears to be doing what they can with material that keeps undercutting itself. The film’s attempts at social commentary and tech anxiety are blunt, and the dialogue often draws attention to how manufactured the whole thing feels. Instead of building dread, it keeps stumbling into unintentional laughs.
Bottom line
There is some amusement to be had if you like watching a bad idea commit fully to the bit, but that’s not the same as recommending it. As a thriller, it’s thin; as horror, it’s not especially scary; and as satire, it doesn’t land hard enough to justify its smugness.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Joe A (1.5★) · 2179 likes
There’s a line from this movie where John Cho uses the word “unhoused” and then Keith Carradine says “is that woke for crazy and homeless” lmao I’m tired of this [Blumhouse] grandpa.
EvanAC (1.5★) · 1792 likes
There’s a scene where the AI says to the kids “Let’s watch a movie !” and it puts The Emoji Movie 😭😭😭
Sydney🚀 (2.5★) · 1471 likes
Incredibly stupid movie i had a great time
nic :) (0.5★) · 1150 likes
JESUS CHRIST this might actually be the first movie written by AI. why is that the ending?? is the target audience AI?? who the fuck is this movie for???
Alex IHE (1.5★) · 1104 likes
Best comedy of the year so far! Cant decide if my favourite line was “a loner incel in a room somewhere looking at a gun” or “is that woke for homeless and crazy?”
2013 · Romance, Science Fiction, Drama · 2h 6m · R · ★ 87% (2.8M)
A more thoughtful and emotionally nuanced look at human attachment to artificial intelligence.
Themes
artificial intelligence, smart home technology, family under surveillance, tech paranoia, domestic horror, privacy invasion, control and autonomy, corporate experimentation
Topics
AI horror, tech paranoia, domestic thriller, surveillance, dystopian, family drama, campy, Blumhouse-style, sci-fi horror, unintentional comedy