Run-off-his-feet father Nick (Michele Morrone) purchases an AI android ‘synth’ to help around the house and with the childcare while his wife Maggie (Madeline Zima) is in hospital awaiting a vital heart transplant. Alice (Megan Fox) is no normal robot. She’s a sexy-looking automaton who makes herself indispensable. While Nick attempts to resist Alice’s charms, he soon gives in to her insistence to make him happy.
There have been many similar movies with the theme of synthetic home helpers (or friends such as M3GAN), and, of course, things never go smoothly. Our intrinsic fear of the power of artificial intelligence – particularly in humanoid form – is what also drives director S.K. Dale’s film. As Nick’s reliance on Alice grows, his workmates are all dismissed and replaced by simulants, adding further arguments against allowing technology to become more dependable than manual labour and creating more tension between Nick and his (former) co-workers.
Megan Fox is excellent as Alice, cold but sensual yet able to convey a sinister undertone effortlessly. It’s a massive jump from doing anything to help around the house to seducing Nick to handle his stress – even simulating Maggie’s voice to “make it easier” – there’s at least an explanation given. Where the story inevitably goes is predictable but ably executed, with Alice’s commitment to “protect her primary user” going above and beyond.
As one of numerous movies in a similar vein, Subservience is one of the more memorable. The family dynamic is handled naturally, with youngster Matilda Firth fabulous as Isla, Nick and Maggie’s eldest. While it may not go full-on Terminator (Alice does go to some nasty places, though), there’s enough tension and action to make it worth your while.
SUBSERVIENCE is available on digital platforms now.
