“Subservience” Replicates

Subservience (S.K. Dale, 2024) 3 out of 5 stars

In an age of artificial intelligence, director S.K. Dale introduces the latest idea of a world where A.I. beings walk among us. Sound familiar? That is because Subservience introduces the familiar concept of machines gone wrong, and the dangers of tampering with technological forces beyond our control.

This time around, however, the A.I. threat is in the form of an illustrious “SIM” robot named “Alice” (Megan Fox, The Expendables 4), who is purchased to assist Nick (Michele Morrone, Duetto) as he struggles to support his family while his wife Maggie (Madeline Zima, Bliss) goes through major heart surgery. As Alice learns to care for the family and the home, however, soon it becomes clear that her operating system may be a little too perfect, as she starts to act on her own and operate in the “best interest” of her owner.

The most vivid moments in Subservience come from Fox’s portrayal of an A.I. presence operating at full efficiency and eventually going rogue. She offers a simple performance which, combined with a defined script, allows “Alice” to sell the film’s stimulating themes of A.I. replicating the female form and nurturing nature. Dale’s creation of a world operating on artificial beings as manual laborers certainly rings true, and the themes of discrimination of A.I. by working-class humanity is a powerful message, if not an underappreciated message in the film. Ultimately, Dale’s scope centers around its main family and the dynamics between Morrone, Zima, Matilda Firth (as daughter Isla) and Alice.

Where the film starts to falter is its inability to branch away from the many science-fiction concepts that have come before it and explore new and unforeseen ideas regarding artificial intelligence. Subservience follows a predictable path and while its themes may entertain throughout, it is very much pulling from the past. Still, I admit that I found it to be an entertaining time, utilizing Megan Fox and the rest of the principal cast to full capability and ultimately delivering an adequate world of robotic mayhem.

Adam Vaughn

Adam Vaughn is a graduate of the Film & Moving Image program at Stevenson University, with a focus in Cinematography and Production. He also has a minor in Theater and Media Performance. Adam works as a freelance photographer and videographer, focusing his craft on creating compelling photographic and cinematic imagery. Adam is excited to join the Film Festival Today team and explore the world of cinema and visual arts.