Movie Thread

[CuckTurdginson]

So I see a lot of current year +8 movies, some of them bad, most of them mediocre, others like Longlegs, I enjoyed.

I saw Afraid the other day, because I kind of liked the pitch of the AI as a scary monster, and I like the main guy, John Cho. Despite how bad the Netflix Cowboy Bebop was, which - considering Harold and Kumar is 20 years old now - is probably what he's known for these days, I've enjoyed him in most everything. It's been a while since I've seen a shitty movie that has genuine potential. This has a lot of humorous elements that the attempts to be a horror movie distract from. It's a pretty bad horror movie.

So the gist is John Cho is pitching to a tech firm, and he brings an AI, AIA, home to get an idea of how to market it. The problem with this being a horror movie and not a satire is for most of the movie, AIA is a tremendous asset. She kills the eldest daughter's boyfriend for posting her nudes all around, this kid is a two dimensional douche - which I equate to both the performance being really bad, and the movie barely clocking in at about 80 minutes. It does feel like a lot of stuff was cut. She helps the mom almost finish her thesis, diagnoses a health issue with the youngest kid that the pediatrician missed, helps with billth.

Since everything is underwritten, its not clear why the robot is actually evil, aside from the fact that it seems to be controlling everything. Where I saw some promise: there is this running throughline on like the fact that parents aren't paying attention to the crap their kids have on their iPads and such, because AIA will, for both Cho's and a family at the beginning, generate images for little kids that are just complete nonsense, and that's a good springboard for social commentary, because that happens more and more, where families will just leave kids with their technology and not pay attention to what they're watching. The AI also teaches the middle child about swatting, which comes back. There's a family that gets their daughter kidnapped by I'm not sure, but the AI is tied to it and it's manipulating them into going after John Cho and his family. So, the climax is predicated on a sitcom misunderstanding. There's also a jab at the term 'unhoused' - "is that woke for homeless and crazy?"

Lots of reshoots gutting the coherence of the plot, and not enough satire. Swatting saving the day is kind of funny, AI generated nonsense on an ipad for kids has potential for satire. Like its a bummer Joe Dante just vanished, because I think someone like him would have found the right tone for this movie. There's also a lot of shit jumpscares that distract from what positive potential the movie could generate. It's material you could improve upon, and at least since its Blumhouse, you know Jason Blum didn't spend that much.

[Old Black Man]

I was half expecting Afraid to be a stealth sequel to Megan.

[CuckTurdginson]

I didn't see Megan, but I assume the vibe is similar.

Based on the trailer, Megan seems like it was more deliberately humorous.

[Le Redditeur]

its not clear why the robot is actually evil

Clearly because she got a nickname she didn't like.

[Complicity]

I like the main guy, John Cho. Despite how bad the Netflix Cowboy Bebop was

That abomination wasn't his fault.
I've heard that he tried and failed to keep the show closer to the source material like Cavill did with the Witcher.

[Old Black Man]

I didn't see Megan, but I assume the vibe is similar.

Based on the trailer, Megan seems like it was more deliberately humorous.

Megan was pretty funny, and a decent horror flick especially with the uncut version. It has some unexpected but appreciated humor beyond the strange dance.

Btw a company called NECA made a 1:1 lifelike Megan doll, I wonder how many people have modified it. Or found a glass vat.

[VoiceOfReasonPast]

I've heard that he tried and failed to keep the show closer to the source material like Cavill did with the Witcher.

Oh, those whacky male actors, thinking that anyone else in the production cares about the source material.

[Kugelfisch]

Btw a company called NECA made a 1:1 lifelike Megan doll, I wonder how many people have modified it. Or found a glass vat.

[Old Black Man]

Btw a company called NECA made a 1:1 lifelike Megan doll, I wonder how many people have modified it. Or found a glass vat.

Probably. With a few minor adjustments.

[Rushy]

How can you not love whatever genius came up with "Robin Hood, but it's a musical and also a gangster movie"