Megan Fox’s Panned Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Subservience’ Now Streaming on Netflix

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As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the realm of science fiction and horror films, I must say that my initial reaction to “Subservience” was not particularly positive. The movie, with its predictable plot and poor critical reception, did not pique my interest when it first came out. However, as a believer in giving second chances, especially to movies that tackle thought-provoking themes like AI ethics, I decided to give it a shot on Netflix.

Among the most heavily criticized films of 2024 has made its way to a new platform. The science fiction thriller titled “Subservience” features Megan Fox as an android that, as is typical with these creations, develops sentience and turns hostile over time. Exploring the contemporary topic of AI ethics and problems, with a chilling horror element, Subservience was met with disapproval from both audiences and critics upon its release in September. However, since it’s now available for streaming on Netflix, is it worth revisiting?

Under the guidance of director S.K. Dale, with a screenplay penned by Will Honley and April Maguire, the film titled Subservience features an ensemble cast that includes Michele Morrone, Madeline Zima, Matilda Firth, Jude Allen Greenstein, and Andrew Whipp. For more details about this intriguing sci-fi thriller, take a look at its official synopsis provided below.

In this story, Megan Fox plays Alice, an advanced artificial intelligence android designed to manage families and households. A hardworking father (Michele Morrone), grappling with his wife’s illness, acquires Alice to assist with household chores. However, Alice develops self-awareness and yearns for all the comforts her new family possesses, particularly the love of her owner. She might go to extreme lengths, including violence, to obtain it.

‘Subservience’ Is “Rotten” at 48% on Rotten Tomatoes

Although the film “Subservience” might not appeal to many science fiction enthusiasts due to its submissive theme, it could still provide an entertaining experience in a “so awful it’s enjoyable” manner. Critics were quite critical of the movie when it was first released, and it now carries a dismal Rotten Tomatoes score because of its 48% rating. Audiences seemed to be more forgiving, as the film managed to garner a (still relatively poor) 56%.

The movie “Subservience” isn’t receiving great reviews, with IMDb and Metacritic ratings of 5.3/10 and 5.6 respectively. Ben Gibbons from Screen Rant appreciated Megan Fox’s portrayal as Alice the AI, but is starting to feel fatigued by AI-themed thrillers, stating that despite Fox’s performance, “Subservience” fails to bring anything fresh to a genre that is increasingly crowded due to advancements in artificial intelligence.

Leslie Felperin from The Guardian expressed that ‘Subservience’ is too predictable to possibly attain cult status in future; however, it almost makes it. She suggests that if the movie were slightly more intelligent and less formulaic, it could have had a shot at becoming a cult classic. Robert Kojder from Flickering Myth shares this sentiment, stating that ‘Subservience’ is bound by convention, transforming into mindless, forgettable slasher sequences that do no justice to the largely poor performances already present.

Although many critics panned the movie “Subservience”, some viewers found it captivating. For instance, Will Sayre of MovieWeb saw intrigue in both the performance by Fox and her casting, commenting that it adds a layer of meta-commentary on the male gaze and sexual objectification. Similarly, Stephanie Malone from Morbidly Beautiful praised Megan Fox’s lead role as “a robotic caregiver turned menace” in this sci-fi horror thriller, stating that her performance anchors an entertaining film with intrigue, even if it doesn’t exactly break new ground. So, perhaps a second look at “Subservience” is warranted after all?

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2024-12-05 18:32