Sony Pictures has unveiled the new trailer for Afraid, an upcoming sci-fi horror film from Academy Award-nominated writer/director Chris Weitz, known for his work on Operation Finale, About a Boy, and American Pie. This film introduces a novel kind of terror with AIA, a Siri-like family assistant that takes its role to a chilling extreme.
The film's synopsis reads, "Curtis (John Cho) and his family are selected to test a revolutionary new home device: a digital family assistant called AIA. Taking smart home technology to the next level, once the unit and all its sensors and cameras are installed in their home, AIA seems capable of doing it all. She learns the family's behaviors and begins to anticipate their needs. And she can make sure nothing – and no one – gets in her family’s way."
The cast features a stellar lineup including John Cho (Star Trek; Searching; Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts; Inherent Vice; Alien: Covenant), Havana Rose Liu (No Exit; The Chair; Mayday), Lukita Maxwell (Generation; Speechless; The Young and the Restless), David Dastmalchian (The Dark Knight; Ant-Man; Dune), and Keith Carradine (Nashville; The Duellists; Dexter).
Chris Weitz, who earned an Oscar nomination for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay, previously contributed to the screenplay for The Creator, another film centered on artificial intelligence. However, while The Creator, directed by Gareth Edwards, portrayed AI in a more positive light, Afraid takes a darker approach. For more insights, you can read our interview with director Gareth Edwards here.
This release is part of a growing trend of films featuring AI characters, including M3GAN (2022), After Yang (2022), The Creator (2023), Jung_E (2023), Mother/Android (2022), and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023).
With Jason Blum and Blumhouse Productions on board, Afraid is positioned as a must-watch, potentially becoming one of the standout films of late summer. Its release in early September will precede several major fall releases such as Joker: Folie à Deux (October 4), Venom: The Last Dance (October 25), Gladiator 2 (November 22), Wicked: Part One (November 27), and The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (December 13).
As anticipation builds, the new trailer for Afraid promises a gripping blend of sci-fi and horror, making it a significant addition to the genre and a film to watch out for as the summer comes to a close.
Afraid hits theaters on August 30!
Watch the official trailer below:
In AFRAID, Curtis (John Cho) and his family are selected to test a revolutionary new home device: a digital family assistant called AIA. Taking smart home to the next level, once the unit and all its sensors and cameras are installed in their home, AIA seems able to do it all. She learns the family's behaviors and begins to anticipate their needs. And she can make sure nothing – and no one – gets in her family’s way.