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Subservience | A Predictable, Bland Misfire

Writer's picture: Nicolas SchueleNicolas Schuele
1.5
1.5/5

"Subservience" is a film served on a silver platter of disappointment but still sprinkled with redeeming qualities, much like finding a diamond in a dumpster.


Subservience

Predictable and Clichéd Plot


Starting off with the storyline, it's so predictable that it could serve as a text book example of how not to write a screenplay. It's like one of those paint-by-numbers things where you hit every tired trope from the AI genre without even trying to disguise it. If you're looking for surprises, you might want to check your pulse, because this film has all the excitement of watching grass grow.


Characters: Emotionless and One-Dimensional


Now, moving on to the characters, Michele Morrone's Nick is about as exciting as a wet blanket: boring and completely forgettable. But Megan Fox? Brillian! She plays this emotionless android, Alice, so well. Who would have known she had this in her? Commendable, really, how she can play a character devoid of human emotion, and play it so well that at times you wonder if that was just her being herself. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast does not add weight to their respective characters as well, and thus characters come off more like cardboard cutouts than human beings.


Stunning Cinematography


One redeeming quality of "Subservience" is the lovely cinematography. There are some stunning shots in the movie that help raise the aesthetic of the overall film-too bad they're wasted on such a lackluster narrative. The slick, artificial look complements the themes of artificial intelligence beautifully and almost-but not quite-makes you forget you're watching a movie with all the emotional depth of a kiddie pool.


Lack of Real Thrills or Tension


But in that sense, as a thriller, "Subservience" is awfully un-suspicious and unworthy of your excitement time. The film's instances of horror could be well retold to somebody as a bedtime story, so meek are they. These film attempts at tension only compare to attempts to use a rubber chicken for scaring.


A Missed Chance for Broader Perspective


Despite its intriguing premise about AI and the implications of its existence on society, "Subservience" barely does anything to meaningfully explore that idea. It touches on it superficially, offering shallow commentary that feels like an afterthought rather than an actual exploration of the subject matter.


Conclusion: A Triumph of Tedium


The filmmakers aimed for mediocrity and hit their mark with the precision of a sniper. All in all, "Subservience" is a movie that fails on many levels but somewhat redeems itself through Megan Fox's surprisingly effective portrayal of an emotionless android and its truly beautiful cinematography. If you're looking for an engaging narrative or well-rounded characters, you might want to look elsewhere, but if you like the sight of pretty visuals and cringing at predictability, then this might be your cup of tea-served lukewarm, of course!

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