STACK242

MOVIE FEATURE

visit jbhifi.com.au/stack

THE BIRTH OF AI The term "Artificial Intelligence" was first coined in 1956 by computer scientist John McCarthy at the Dartmouth Workshop conference, widely regarded as the birth of AI. The event brought together leading researchers to explore whether machines could simulate aspects of human intelligence. While the technology was primitive at the time, McCarthy and his colleagues laid the foundation for AI, predicting its future applications in problem-solving and reasoning. The work done at this conference is considered some of the most important scientific research and discussion of the modern age.

coining the term ”MILF” in American Pie , not to mention his countless quotes from Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle . The rest of us can only wish to make such an impact on popular culture. “We've been friends for a really long time. We've been friends while we both became husbands and parents and, yeah, he was kind of my avatar for this as I was writing.” Afraid arrives at a time when smart tech is changing the way we live. Although the applications of home tech devices are beneficial, Weitz has leaned into some of the negative hypotheticals and pitches heightened what-if scenarios. This is a horror movie, after all. We were keen to know what sort of home tech he personally has around his home and what inspired him to tell this particular story. “I have very little to none actually, but whether we're willing or not, this is the world we live in today. And I think that I was just looking at my family and realised that no matter how much you do to live in a good neighbourhood and go to good schools, and make sure your kids have good friends, the internet kind of provides all of those environments.” Throughout his three decades as a filmmaker, Weitz has dabbled in almost every genre, from comedy and drama to fantasy and now horror, making us wonder if he had a preference or was drawn to any of them in particular. “Family drama. I really love this Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda, who makes these very carefully observed domestic stories. Those are the kinds of things that really stick with me, in spite of the fact that I always seem to working in some kind of heavy sci-fi genre or another. So that's the next genre I'm doing, if you can call it a genre.”

Chris Weitz has an impressive resume. He gifted us American Pie , introduced Nicholas Hoult in About a Boy , and dabbled in gothic melodrama with Twilight: New Moon . Now, he's honing in on smart tech in the new horror movie Afraid . Words Glenn Cochrane M aking time to chat with STACK , the director is excited for the world

amusement, adding, “I shouldn't like Megan , though. In some ways, we're sort of competing thematically. That's the most recent one that I really enjoyed. "Their Invisible Man was really great, and Whiplash was one, and The Gift is a fantastic film that they made with Jason Bateman, directed

to check out his latest offering, which comes under the now iconic Blumhouse banner. “They're an ideal producing partner,” he says of Blumhouse Productions, led by founder and

Director Chris Weitz

CEO Jason Blum. “They're really, really into the idea of believing in directors and giving them free reign as much as possible. I had a great time working with them. Jason is one of these rare big producers in the industry that actually values fun, and enjoying the process of making a movie.” When asked to pick some favourites from their stable, he responded quickly. “Oh boy, I really liked Megan ,” he offers with

by Joel Edgerton.” Afraid (with an emphasis on the ai ) follows a family participating in a trial for a new revolutionary home-tech device called AIA, which takes smart homes to the next level. As the technology learns the family's behaviour, it anticipates their needs and becomes overly protective of their welfare. The

film stars John Cho, and is part of a new wave of tech-cautious chillers. “He was in my mind while I was writing the script,” says Weitz, referring to his close friend Cho.

“I think this is our twelfth project together. We've known each other since our twenties.” We'd like to note that Cho was, of course, responsible for

• Afraid is out Dec 4

Lukita Maxwell, Katherine Waterston, Isaac Bae and John Cho

18 DECEMBER 2024

jbhifi.com.au