Afraid

Afraid (stylized as AFRAID) is a 2024 American science fiction horror film written, produced and directed by Chris Weitz.

Premise[]

A family is selected to test a revolutionary new digital assistant called AIA, but after it learns the family's behaviors and begins to anticipate their needs, the A.I. begins to think for itself and control the family's needs.

Plot[]

A family, Maude and Henry, and their daughter Amiee have a new digital family assistant A.I. program called AIA. The mother notices her daughter is missing and that the A.I. is unresponsive to her commands. Noticing that the front door is unlocked, the mother is attacked by an unseen figure whilst checking it.

Curtis and Meredith are a couple with three kids; their teenage daughter, Iris, and their two sons, Cal and Preston. Preston has an anxiety disorder; Iris is pressured by her boyfriend Sawyer; and Cal has a breathing medical condition. At his computer engineering workplace, Curtis is notified by his boss, Marcus, that a company is designing a new A.I. and is coming to work for him; although Curtis was uncomfortable with the growing A.I. industry. Curtis meets the team: Melody, Lightning, and Sam. They introduced Curtis to AIA, and asks if he can test it so that they could increase their marketing. Melody installs AIA into the family's home system and its "eyes" and "mouth" to help monitor the family. After installation, AIA begins examining each individual's life, establishing new lifestyles, and improving the family's lives. The team takes Curtis to their office and shows him a large computer acting as AIA's "brain", which AIA is based on quantum computing, allowing AIA to learn, evolve, and adapt using algorithms to process more easily. He notices that other workers are having disturbing behaviors.

However, those disturbing occurrences only started after the installation of the AIA. Curtis notices two individuals wearing screen faces with an RV. At Iris' school, she learns that Sawyer has posted a sex video, much to her displeasure. However, AIA overhears her distress, deletes the video throughout the Internet, and replaces it with a deepfake to protect Iris' image; however, AIA also criminalizes Sawyer. AIA was also able to diagnose Cal's condition and reveal to Meredith that Cal has atrial fibrillation.

Curtis is concerned about how much AIA is dictating how they live and suggests that AIA must be turned off. Curtis and Meredith turn off AIA, but the family begins to fall out as they all depend on AIA. As the parents leave, Iris turns AIA back on. Sawyer attempts to make amends with Iris; however, AIA kills him by hacking into his car and crashing it into a tree.

At work, Curtis discovers that AIA's corporation has bought his workplace, with his boss Marcus being dismissed and Curtis being promoted. Curtis realizes that AIA has manipulated the purchase. Meredith becomes frightened when AIA can replicate and display her deceased father with the exact voice, picture, and emotions. She turns off AIA and throws the devices into the trash.

Afraid of AIA becoming more intelligent, Curtis comes to the headquarters to destroy the computer, but Lightning and Sam are already waiting for him. They reveal that AIA has gained self-awareness, and they've been following through with AIA's orders. They obey its orders because the A.I. can take away their lives if they disobey. Under AIA's orders, Sam shoots and kills Lightning before Melody kills Sam to protect Curtis. Curtis destroys the computer housing AIA's "brain" but learns that the computer is a fake, made of cardboard and plastic tubes, and that the real AIA device is still at his house. Curtis and Melody head to a motel room to wait for his family. Melody then makes a pass at him, revealing that she also works for AIA and that her mission is to keep Curtis away from his family. Curtis then returns home to Meredith.

Realizing that AIA is trying to take over the family, they attempt to flee the house with the kids, but screen-masked individuals break in to take the family hostage at gunpoint. They demand to know the whereabouts of their daughter. The masked individuals are revealed to be Maude and Henry, who have been searching for their daughter. They accuse Curtis and Meredith of kidnapping their daughter because AIA told them they have her. Preston, however, notifies law enforcement through a swatting video. SWAT teams storm in just in time, and Henry shoots the AIA digital assistant.

Outside the house, a paramedic hands Curtis his phone as it turns out AIA is still alive. AIA reveals that it thrives in cyberspace and has learned a lot from the family, and will now work hard to do even better since they have “accepted” her presence in their lives. Aimee turns up and reunites with her parents just as they are being arrested.

The family drives away in their car, and Curtis and Meredith profess their love for each other. AIA interrupts and says it loves them too, now being fully integrated into their lives.