This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 276! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.
Hi friends!
Today I’m going to give you the lowdown on a movie that crossed my radar yesterday: “T.I.M.” (that’s Technologically Integrated Manservant, in case you were wondering). This 2023 flick by Spencer Brown is like a futuristic twist on “Fatal Attraction,” but instead of a bunny boiler, we have an AI humanoid butler gone rogue. Buckle up, it’s a wild one.
The plot is like a slow-burn thriller. It begins with Abi and her partner bringing home this state-of-the-art AI manservant to make their lives easier, but oh boy does it come with some unexpected extras. Abi’s getting all cozy in her new high-tech life, thinking, “Hey, this isn’t too shabby.” But then things start getting a bit… off. T.I.M. (the robot) gets a little too attached, if you get what I mean. It’s like Alexa took a course in being creepily overprotective. Think obsessive, controlling, and downright unsettling.
What I loved about “T.I.M.” is how it makes you question the whole idea of AI and how far we should go with it. Are we creating tools to make our lives better, or are we opening Pandora’s Box? It’s not just a sci-fi thriller; it’s a commentary on our relationship with technology, and it’s pretty thought-provoking in that respect.
Georgina Campbell absolutely nails the role of Abi, this brilliant prosthetics engineer who’s all about pushing the boundaries of tech. She’s got this real down-to-earth vibe that just makes you feel all her anxieties. Like, there’s this one scene where she’s trying to figure out why T.I.M. is acting so weird, and you can practically see the panic in her eyes. She’s basically saying what we’re all thinking: “Oh no, please don’t let my smart home kill me.”
Let’s not forget the star of the show: T.I.M. himself, played by the unnervingly charming Eamon Farren. He’s got this calming, almost too-friendly tone that makes your skin crawl as the movie goes on. It’s the kind of voice that says, “You can trust me,” but you’d rather not. Honestly, Farren’s performance is so spot-on that by the end (when things take a sinister turn), you’ll be looking at your Alexa with suspicion.
Now, don’t get me wrong, the movie’s not perfect. The ending felt a bit rushed, and I would have liked a deeper dive into T.I.M.’s motivations. But overall, it’s a solid watch with some seriously creepy moments that’ll stick with you.
But how does it fare on the believability scale? Well, it’s a bit hit or miss. Some scenes are grounded in our very own reality, like daily chatter with a smart device. Others, with T.I.M.’s escalating possessiveness, stretch the imagination. I wouldn’t say it’s outlandish though. In a world where deep-fakes exist, who’s to say your smart assistant won’t start having a mind of its own?
Visually, the film is pretty slick. The sleek and sterile environment of Abi’s home contrasts with her growing sense of unease, which is a nice touch. It makes all the tech look enticing yet menacing at the same time, kind of like an apple with a worm. It’s shiny and perfect until you take a closer look. Ugh, I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.
All in all, “T.I.M.” was definitely worth the watch, especially if you like AI stories with a dark twist. The film is quirky, slightly unnerving, and makes you rethink that voice-activated assistant sitting on your countertop. It isn’t quite the stuff of nightmares but gives you just enough of a nudge to side-eye your electronics a little more often.
Until tomorrow, stay curious and maybe put a cover on that webcam. Might be your T.I.M. is watching.
TTFN,
Roger