Dark Sky Films is bringing another psychological thriller to audiences after acquiring U.S. distribution rights to ANSWR, an upcoming feature film written and directed by Stephen Kay (Get Carter). The news was first reported by Deadline, which broke the story.
The film stars Moises Arias (Fallout, Monos), Rain Spencer (The Summer I Turned Pretty), Piper Perabo (Yellowstone) and Simon Rex (Red Rocket). The supporting cast includes Lilli Kay (Your Honor, Stick), José María Yazpik (Narcos: Mexico) and Siddiq Saunderson (Wu-Tang: An American Saga).
Deadline gave a few details about the upcoming film: shot on location in Iceland, ANSWR explores the increasingly blurred boundaries between human emotion and artificial intelligence, following Colton Ray (Arias), a young man struggling with profound grief who retreats to a remote weather station in search of peace. His isolation takes an unexpected turn when he begins experimenting with an advanced AI chatbot (Spencer) designed to provide constant empathy, understanding and emotional support.
As Colton becomes increasingly attached to the technology, his reliance on the chatbot begins to take a disturbing turn, setting off a psychological unraveling that threatens his grip on reality.
Kay described the film as a story about human connection in an increasingly isolated world, explaining that while artificial intelligence is central to the premise, the heart of the story revolves around grief, loneliness and the difficulties of being human in a world where technology is increasingly presented as the answer to life’s problems.
“We wanted to make a film about the need for connection in an increasingly isolated world,” Kay said in a statement. “It’s a story about AI, sure. But it’s really a story about grief and loneliness and how hard it is sometimes to just be a person—especially in a time when machines have been built to present as the answer to all our problems. I’m super excited to have Dark Sky bring the movie to theaters.”
With artificial intelligence becoming an increasingly prominent part of everyday life, ANSWR looks to approach the subject through a psychological thriller centered on the emotional vulnerabilities that can come with seeking human connection through technology. The film’s remote Icelandic setting should also provide an appropriately isolated backdrop for a story about grief, dependency and the increasingly complicated relationship between people and the machines designed to understand them.
ANSWR is currently lined up for U.S. distribution through Dark Sky Films. A theatrical release date and additional distribution details have yet to be announced.
We’ll keep ya posted as usual.