SUBSERVIENCE reminds us how much we miss basic cable. It is the type of film that combines a Lifetime plot line with SyFy network horror. A sexy thriller based around the world of AI. And who better to bring a sexy AI to the screen than Megan Fox in what could be her most lifelike performance yet.
Synopsis: A struggling father, played by Michele Morrone (The Next 365 Days) buys a domestic AI (Megan Fox – Transformers) to help run the household. But the situation soon turns deadly when the lifelike robot develops an obsessive attachment to her new owner. Driven by a twisted sense of loyalty, she becomes determined to eliminate what she perceives as the true threat to his happiness: his family.
We have seen Artificial Intelligence films for decades. Now more than ever they take on a more realistic nature as the thought of AI in the real world becomes more tangible. A couple of my faves of late include Ex Machina (2014) and M3GAN (2022). Both show the dark side of AI advancements. To be honest I am not sure it has ever been shown in a positive light. I guess we all have an underlying fear of what could go wrong.
What I like about Subservience is that it combines that traditional nanny seduction with the tech world. 10 years ago this exact same film could have been made using an unhinged human female. Plot would have varied little. But here the fun is accented by the thought of an inhuman sex pot – I mean bot – with sinister motives.
Megan Fox has taken some flack over the years. Say what you will there is no denying her ability to capture the emotionless stare and speech that you would expect from an AI assistant. She can also switch to the dark side of her circuits with chilling ability. I also do not blame her for the decision of director S.K. Dale to have her fall into the trap of seductive lingerie and sex as a weapon. Do not get me started on why a robot would need to wear lingerie to begin with. It is moments like that when the movie becomes an eye rolling joke. Or more of an eye roll to be exact.
SUBSERVIENCE is rated R for sexual content/nudity, language, some violence and brief drug material. If you want an easy watch with predictable everything, but with still enough Science Fiction thrills to hold your attention, keep this one on your digital streaming radar.
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