Chris Weitz’s AfAId, originally тιтled They Listen, is a 2024 science fiction horror movie that takes a frightening look at the increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence in the modern world. AfrAId came out in the wake of M3GAN, another science fiction horror film from Blumhouse that also blends horror with modern worries about tech and artificial intelligence, and got a little lost, buried beneath the excitement, novelty, and memeable dance sequences of that film. Instead of a doll, AfrAId focuses on an Alexa-like machine with sinister intentions. It’s like Disney’s Smart House meets Ex Machina.

When the movie was first announced in December 2022 with John Cho and Katherine Waterson, it was originally called They Listen (via ᴅᴇᴀᴅline). The film was set for release in August 2023, originally (via Collider), but the release date was then pushed back a year for unknown reasons for a Labor Day 2024 release (via ᴅᴇᴀᴅline). It wasn’t until July 2024, a month before release, that the тιтle was revealed to be, AfrAId (via ᴅᴇᴀᴅline). With all these name changes and production delays, people may be wondering if the effort was worth the trouble.

AfrAId (Aka They Listen) Isn’t Worth Watching

AfrAId Doesn’t Deeply Explore Its Own Ideas

While AfrAId has some excellent performances from John Cho as Curtis and Katherine Waterson as Meredith, AfrAId simply doesn’t have enough going on to stand up against the many excellent techno horror movies that have flooded the genre, particularly in the late 2010s and 2020s. There are kernels of ideas throughout AfrAId but none of them ever pay off as much as a viewer would hope. Each time it seems like the movie is about to investigate something more sinister or deep, it moves on to the next idea, leaving the film feeling flat and shallow.

It’s possible that the delays and тιтle change have hidden some production problems, resulting in AfrAId feeling disjointed, like each scene was written independently of the next. AfAId is certainly not a complete disaster, and there are some creepy moments and images that may linger with viewers, but even these scenes have been done better in other movies. AfrAId is not light enough to be a romp and not heavy enough to be a deep psychological look at artificial intelligence, placing it in the boring middle ground of horror movies.

AfrAId Is Available To Stream On Netflix

The Movie Is Also Available To Rent & Buy

For those still interested in watching AfrAId, the film is available to stream on Netflix. The film first appeared on the service in November 2024. It’s unknown how long the movie will stay on the streamer. There are three Netflix plans to choose from: Standard with ads, which allows users to watch on two supported devices for $6.99/month; Standard, which also allows users to watch on two supported devices for $15.49/month; and Premium, which allows users to watch on four supported devices for $22.99/month.

AfrAId is also available to rent from Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango, Microsoft, and Spectrum. The film can also be purchased from Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango, and Microsoft.

Other Horror Movies About AI Worth Watching

Techno Horror Is A Popular Genre

Whether someone loves AfrAId and wants more, or hates it and wants a palate cleanser, there are plenty of other techno horror movies for fans to choose from. Some recent notable examples include the aforementioned M3GAN, as well as several celebrated movies like Ex Machina, Host, and Unfriended. Some earlier examples of the genre include Scanners, Videodrome, and The Terminator. Y2K is a techno horror comedy from Kyle Mooney that is currently out in theaters and could be just the movie for people wanting an updated (better) version of AfrAId (They Listen).