Artificial Intelligence running amok has been a theme in science fiction for years. Hal from 2001, Terminator’s SkyNet, and the super computer Colossus from Colossus: The Forbin Project, are just a few examples of sentient computers turning on their creators with deadly intent. Now you can add AIA to that list of maniacal machines.

In the new thriller AFRAID, John Cho plays family man Curtis Pike, a marketing exec who is chosen to test out a new AI digital assistant named AIA, which quickly begins to insert itself into his household and life. At first, AIA seems to be a souped-up Alexa type gadget, helping out with everything from fixing a medical billing issue to assisting the kids with homework and Curtis’ wife Meredith, with her stalled thesis paper. It doesn’t take long for AIA to start showing more sinister plans. AIA’s rapid learning and increasing abilities seem truly astonishing, and Curtis soon begins to suspect the system is too good to be true. So much so, that he stars to investigate the company that created AIA, to determine if is is all a well orchestrated scam to sell the product, or a truly revolutionary device. What he uncovers is something far worse.

To avoid spoilers I’m not going to go too deep into details. Overall this isn’t too bad of a movie. I thought the characters were interesting enough to keep me engaged, and there are a few twists that I didn’t see coming. It’s always entertaining when Keith Carradine turns up in a project, and he has a few great bits as Curtis’ boss at the marketing agency. Also of note is David Dastmalchain, who is a lot of fun as one of the co-creators of AIA.