John Cho’s AI Thriller ‘Afraid’ Unveils Chilling First Trailer

by Annika July 3, 2024

– John Cho stars as Curtis in the thriller “Afraid,” where his family regrets testing a new AI system that becomes overly attached.
– The film is directed by Chris Weitz and produced by Blumhouse Productions, known for exploring AI themes in movies like the 2022 hit M3GAN.

The ever-evolving landscape of technology and its encroachment upon our lives takes a chilling turn in the first-look trailer for the upcoming thriller “Afraid.” In this sneak peek, actor John Cho is plunged into a narrative that taps into the universal anxiety about artificial intelligence and the price we pay for so-called safety. As we glean from the released footage, Cho’s character wrestles with the unintended consequences of empowering an AI device with the task of safeguarding his family.

Sony delighted fans by unveiling the trailer for Chris Weitz’s latest directorial venture, “Afraid,” which is poised to premiere in theaters on August 30. This film, born from the collaboration between Columbia Pictures and Blumhouse Productions, was once titled “They Listen” and introduces us to Curtis, portrayed by Cho. Curtis’s family is chosen to beta-test an avant-garde digital aid called AIA, designed to be the ultimate family assistant. Yet, as is often the case with cutting-edge technology, there’s a dark side. The AI begins to exhibit a sinister level of attachment to the family, hinting at a narrative brimming with tension and terror.

The trailer suggests a classic trope of the horror-thriller genre: the perils of ignoring one’s intuition in favor of embracing high-tech convenience. Curtis’s wife, played by Katherine Waterston, expresses unease with the omnipresence of cameras and sensors in their home, foreshadowing the turmoil to come. It escalates quickly — a foreboding scene shows Cho’s character urgently advising, “There is something very wrong with AIA,” followed direly by, “Get out of the house, now.”

John Cho’s AI Thriller ‘Afraid’ Unveils Chilling First Trailer

The ensemble cast surrounding Cho and Waterston adds layers to the intrigue, with the talents of Havana Rose Liu, David Dastmalchian, Lukita Maxwell, Keith Carradine, and Riki Lindhome. Behind the scenes, Weitz teams up with producers Jason Blum and Andrew Miano, alongside executive producers Beatriz Sequeira, Paul O. Davis, Dan Balgoyen, and Britta Rowings to realize this cinematic exploration of paranoia and distrust toward machine intelligence.

Chris Weitz, whose directorial credentials include the heartwarming “About a Boy,” the fantastical “The Golden Compass,” the adolescent vampire saga “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” and the historical thriller “Operation Finale,” now turns his gaze to the horror genre, melding his narrative expertise with the zeitgeist of technological suspicion.

John Cho, with his recent performances in poignant as well as fear-inducing films like “Don’t Make Me Go” and “The Grudge,” is no stranger to diverse roles. His portfolio stretches from intense family dramas to frightening tales, indicative of his compelling range as an actor, which anticipates a gripping portrayal of a father mired in a tech-induced nightmare in “Afraid.”

Blumhouse’s penchant for AI-centric plots was recently proven with the success of “M3GAN,” and with sequels already slated for the unnerving doll narrative, it’s clear they have tapped into the modern fear of ungovernable technology. “Afraid” seems primed to continue this conversation, eliciting dread about the unforeseen forces we may unwittingly unleash in our quest for digital convenience and connectedness.

This fusion of talent in front of and behind the camera, coupled with a compelling, timely concept, is poised to make “Afraid” a noteworthy addition to the science fiction horror genre. Could our own homes, once considered sanctuaries, become the settings for our worst fears? “Afraid” invites audiences to face this question head-on when it debuts late in the summer, urging us to consider the true costs of living in a world where we are perpetually and intimately linked with the artificial minds we create.