(Credits: Netflix)

Subservience, starring Megan Fox, is now streaming on Netflix. It is currently sitting pretty at number one on the streaming giant’s chart, but its popularity seems to be dividing audiences, as opinions are split.

The film is the brainchild of Will Honley, who wrote the screenplay and has been directed by S.K Dale. It’s a sci-fi thriller that centres around a family and their new use of an AI robot (played by Fox). The robot starts off as sweet and helpful, acting as a crutch for a family with a sick mother; however, it begins to gain sentience and starts to act hostile.

Subservience has a star-studded cast that also includes Michele Morrone, Matilda Firth, Madeline Zoma, and Andrew Whipp. Fox and Dale already have a working background together, as Fox starred in his previous movie, Til Death, which had a limited run in 2021.

While Subservience was released in September, it is only now seeing success after arriving on Netflix. It has recently climbed the charts and reached the top spot, knocking the newly animated Christmas movie That Christmas from the pole position.

The critic’s rating and audience score are divided, with the critic’s rating at 50 per cent and the audience score at 48 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s proving to be a feature that people either love or hate.

With AI being such a talking point amongst the public, it makes sense that a movie that focuses on how it could be incorporated into the everyday household and the potential perils that come with as much is doing well. It asks a lot of questions and touches upon a lot of the concerning hypotheticals surrounding machine learning.

People are praising Megan Fox’s performance, saying that she portrays the kind side of the robot and the menacing side equally well. Her delivery must be both stoic and somewhat sinister, which is a tricky balance. The critique of the movie comes from saying that the plot is predictable, and therefore, the hypothetical nature of the film doesn’t carry as much weight as the outcome is already apparent.

Despite the movie’s divisive nature, it is currently doing incredibly well on the streaming platform. This is rare for this time of year when streaming services seem to champion their Christmas-related features and series instead of harrowing sci-fi thrillers. Given the mixed reviews, it’s unclear how long Subservience will remain at the top of Netflix’s most-watched list.