HBO Max’s latest release Kimi offers us the reality of the technologically updated world we live in. Contagion director Steven Soderbergh helms the film that is written and produced by David Koepp. With DC’s latest Catwoman Zoë Kravitz as the protagonist named Angela Childs, the cast features Rita Wilson, India de Beaufort, Emily Kuroda, Byron Bowers, Jaime Camil, Jacob Vargas, Derek DelGaudio, Erika Christensen, Devin Ratray, Andy Daly, Robin Givens, Charles Halford, David Wain and Caleb Emery. Peter Andrews serves as the cinematographer with Mary Ann Bernard serving as the editor and music by Cliff Martinez.
– HBO Max’s Kimi Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
Kimi: What if every breath, every sound, every moment was recorded?
The film opens with ‘Kimi’s’ purpose being explained. Much like Siri and, Alexa, Kimi is a cloud-based voice service device that serves its designated user. However, what is different about this device is the presence of voice stream interprets who resolve response issues in the device to make it better equipped to serve its owner. This is where our protagonist, Angela Childs walks in.
An agoraphobic living in the post-pandemic-era, Angela is anxious, detached and, comes with her own set of ticks. She works for the Amygdala tech firm who is responsible for the voice service devices called Kimi. Angela spends all her day locked up indoors, with a fake social media life and, works from home by listening to the voice stream logs and rectifying the problems. It is during one of these workdays when she comes across a stream log that has recorded a violent crime and, possible murder.
However, living in a world governed by technology feeding on our every data, personal or otherwise, is it possible to escape the repercussions of saying the truth out loud? In this manipulative era, Angela seeks help and, tries to overcome her phobia to “do the right thing” but, when the tables turn on her honesty and, concern, the story walks us into a darker path from where there is no return.
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The ones who are familiar with Soderbergh’s work know, how the director paints us an artistic picture of the reality we live in. This HBO feature film is no different. Kimi serves as a cautionary tale and, the deadly nature of being dependent on technology. It does not whitewash the truth but, rather presents us with a gruesome plate of how darker it gets the more you hang yourselves on the internet shelves.
In this cut down to the bone, fast-paced thriller Soderbergh takes us through themes of isolation, anxiety, phobia and more. However, as much as the film tries to be a voice of awareness it lacks the impact due to its generic take. Becoming a digital way of recounting Rear Window or The Girl in the Window, Kimi falls short when it comes to giving us characters we would care about or be invested in.
A blue-haired Zoë Kravitz is magnetic with her performance but, the character of Angela Childs lacks the depth for the audience to even care about her fate. The big-tech company authorities are being the gangsters in the vaguest way possible. And, except for one or two very edge-of-the-seat turns, the film turns cold too soon.
Kimi: Final Verdict
Overall, Kimi serves the purpose of being a quick, fun, edgy watch that thrills you at times and, makes you yawn during others. The fine camera work and editing of the most beautiful aspects of the film and, make it more visually engaging to stay connected to the story. This film is not about something we don’t know but, about having a magnified look at the fine prints pasted on most things in life.
You can watch the film, Kimi, now on HBO Max.
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