Happy Friday, beep boops!
Today I’m recommending a couple of AI-themed movies ranging from thriller to comedy to something in between.
New trailer: The trailer for psychological horror HIM, produced by Jordan Peele, just dropped. Watch it here.
With love,
Karl
Streaming on Max
Companion
Iris (Sophie Thatcher), who is head over heels for her boyfriend Josh (Jack McQuaid), is anxious to spend a weekend in a mountain chalet with his friends who don’t seem to like her very much. However, things take a nefarious turn when it’s revealed one of the guests is a robot which throws things for a deadly loop. Watch the trailer.
Why you should watch it: Under its glossy modern surface that plays like an edgy romantic-comedy, there’s a sense of dread underneath Companion. So when it turns into a bleakly comedic thriller, it is both entertaining and just feels right. With its never-ending but constantly satisfying twists, witty dark humor and surprisingly profound existential exploration of AI, it’s a thought-provoking crowd pleaser that is perfect for a movie night.
🎬 Directed by Drew Hancock
🖊️ Written by Drew Hancock
🎭 Sophie Thatcher, Jack McQuaid, J. D. Lifshitz. Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend
⏱️ 97 min
Streaming on Hulu
Robot Dreams
It’s 1984 in an alternate universe New York City where anthropomorphic animals rule. Dog, who lives in a railroad-style apartment in the East Village, lives a mostly solitary existence. In an effort to cure his loneliness, he purchases a robot friend from a TV ad. After a glorious summer friendship, the pair is separated leading to an exploration of love, loss and friendship. Watch the trailer.
Why you should watch it: As odd as Robot Dreams sounds with its gloriously bizarre world-building where a Central Park hotdog stand is managed by a Weiner dog, it’s maybe one of the most human movies ever made. It’s delightful to explore its shockingly accurate portrayal of New York City complete with easter eggs that will make any New Yorker chuckle, but its real charm is the deeply felt and complex characters of Dog and Robot. Though wordless, their journeys of self-discovery and existential crisis is painfully relatable but thoroughly entertaining in its joy.
🎬 Directed by Pablo Berger
🖊️ Written by Pablo Berger
⏱️ 102 min
Streaming on Netflix
Upgrade
In the near-future, technology controls almost every aspect of life — including our bodies. After a robbery gone wrong leaves his wife dead and himself paralyzed, Grey (Logan Marshall-Green) gets an artificial intelligence implant called STEM that gives him the ability to walk (an upgrade, if you will). Unexpectedly, though, he also gets superhuman strength and agility, which he uses to seek revenge. Watch the trailer.
Why you should watch it: Part revenge flick, part techno horror, part film noir, Upgrade is an amalgamation of ideas and genres that actually works. Director Leigh Whannell (best known for his work on the Saw and Insidious franchises) balances a twisting plot with flashes of humor, well-choreographed action, and world-building that begs the question: when do we get Upgrade 2?
🎬 Directed by Leigh Whannell
🖊️ Written by Leigh Whannell
🎭 Logan Marshall-Green, Betty Gabriel, Harrison Gilbertson
⏱️ 100 min
ICYMI
‘Sinners’ is the best movie of the year. Read my review →
📽 P.S. You can see every movie I’ve ever recommended right here.
🍅 I’m also a Tomatometer-approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes! You can find new movie reviews here and here.
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