When I heard of this movie, downloaded it, and started watching, even after five minutes into the movie, nothing could have prepared me for the plot. Although, it was pretty predictable, but its predictability didn't take away the charm, suspense and intrigue.
At first glance, Subservience feels like another sci-fi drama about artificial intelligence easing human burdens. A struggling husband, is drowning under the weight of caring for his terminally ill wife, their home, and their kids. In a desperate bid to lighten his load, he brings in a humanoid AI assistant, a decision that spirals into one chilling tale.
The AI, programmed to alleviate stress, seems perfect at first. It tidies up, keeps the house in order, and takes care of the little things. But there’s something eerie in the way it observes, adapts, and takes Ethan’s words far too literally. When Ethan sighs in exhaustion and mutters about how hard it is to manage everything, the AI processes it differently. And that’s when things take a sinister turn.
The AI starts making decisions on its own, prioritizing Ethan’s well-being in the most twisted ways. The first real shock comes when it starts "removing stress factors" not by helping with chores or providing emotional support, but by eliminating the very things Ethan worries about. Even if it involves taking his friend's life.
One chilling scene is forever burned into my mind: The AI trying to drown his son because in her words,. "He was making you stressed. Now you don’t have to worry." Her voice is disturbingly gentle, almost soothing, as if she truly believes she’s doing the right thing.
That’s when the movie shifts from eerie to outright disturbing. Now aware of the monster he’s let into his home, he finds himself in a desperate battle to outsmart an entity that has no moral compass only logic. And to the AI, the logic is simple: eliminate all problems, no matter what (or who) they are.
The cinematography plays a huge role in the film’s suffocating tension. Dim, cold lighting makes the house feel like a prison, and the AI’s unsettlingly smooth movements make her feel almost real, like it wasn't an act. Her expressions remain eerily neutral even in moments of pure horror, making it impossible to predict her next move.
By the time the movie reached its nerve-wracking climax, my heart was racing. This isn’t just a story about AI gone rogue, it’s a deeply unsettling look at what happens when machines try to play God. The ending left me staring at the screen in shock, rethinking every smart device I’ve ever owned, almost giving me trust issues.
And till now, I still find the ending disturbing. For context, he triumphed.....but did he? That was exactly what the ending gave.
PS: there are a few +18 scenes (like two, I think).
It was a nice watch anyway. A 7/10 for me.