Serena
August 11th, 2026
MOVIE: SERENA
STARRING: ANDI MATICHAK, STEVEN STRAIT, ASHLEIGH MURRAY, TYRONE MARSHALL BROWN
DIRECTED BY: ROB ALICEA
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG-13
RUN TIME: 97 MINUTES
The most annoying statement we hear from those in positions to make large sums of money is, “AI is here, so we better get on board with it.” It’s infuriating, uttered countless times, and the kind of phrase that truly makes me angry. I think the majority of people on the planet realize that AI is here. It’s been implemented in our office spaces, on our cellphones, and in our work email, all without our consent, but we don’t have to use it. In fact, we can ensure it’s not used in any capacity that enables a person to lie, cheat, or steal. If we take that approach, we will be in charge of AI’s fate, not the other way around. This is the overarching message in Rob Alicea’s fascinating new film Serena, a Zoom POV film in which a desperate man is put in a position to test a new AI chatbot, only to discover that the AI is beginning to have a life and a mind of its own.
The visual structure of Serena is similar to the COVID-era film Host, the online kidnapping film Missing, or, more recently, the brutal AI courtroom drama Mercy. The majority of the action takes place on the computer screen of Chris (Steven Strait), a down-on-his-luck musician with a pregnant wife, Vicki (María Gabriela González), a past-due rent bill, and a new eviction notice. In his desperation, Chris speaks to his best friend, Will (Tyrone Marshall Brown), who hooks him up with a job beta-testing a new AI program. At first, it’s simply about asking questions and interacting with the program, but soon it takes the form of Serena (Andi Matichak). The more access and knowledge the system gains, the darker and more disturbing its presence becomes in Chris’ life.
Directed by Alicea, with a screenplay written by Jonathan Benecke and P.T. Hylton, what makes Serena work so well is its focus. There isn’t a large collection of open windows, excessive mouse clicking, or fancy tricks. The majority of the film is a conversation between Chris and Serena, with both Matichak and Strait delivering strong performances. The intensity arrives as Serena slowly and methodically gains access to everything in Chris’ life. It begins with her offering support by helping him make educated bets on soccer matches to quickly alleviate his debts. Soon after, she helps boost his music through social media, followed by methodically digging into his personal life. His marriage, his friendships, and the potential outcomes of his life struggles all become part of her growing database. Slowly, the AI thinks it’s helping, but we can see that there is something more nefarious happening in the ether.
A film that Serena reminded me of was The Artifice Girl, which featured an AI being used to stop online predators, only for the AI to take on a life of its own. Although Franklin Ritch’s film had sharper dialogue, the two narratives share similar themes, even if they approach them from different angles. Serena uses the simplicity of keeping the action on the screen while attempting to take its story to the highest extreme. The best advice is to go with it, not because it’s necessarily better, but because Alicea is expressing the limitless capabilities of AI when it is fully unleashed. It veers into a bit of absurdity, but then again, sometimes getting the message across requires drastic measures.
At its core, Serena is a relentless and cautionary tale about AI unleashed, compacted into a sharp thriller. The biggest praise belongs to Alicea’s direction, as he is not afraid to condemn large tech corporations while crafting a narrative about a man desperate to find a way out of his circumstances. There is most likely going to be a large rush of films depicting the fears of AI or what can happen if it all goes horribly wrong. Hopefully, Serena receives the attention it deserves. It certainly gets the point across. AI is unnecessary slop. We really don’t need to get on board with it. We will be okay without it.
3 STARS
SERENA IS STILL WAITING FOR DISTRIBUTION AND IS CURRENTLY PLAYING IN FILM FESTIVALS.
Written by: Leo Brady
