Kimi has an interesting concept that feels too much like something we have seen time and time again. Zoë Kravitz shines, but she can’t save this movie. Not completely.
As someone who loves a good thriller, I was surprised by how much of Kimi doesn’t work for me. Not only does this film feel like something I have seen time and time again, the first and second half don’t ever mesh together well. The first feels like a boring set up, while the second gives viewers some much needed action, but the score, cinematography, and predictability drag it down.
This movie follows an agoraphobia named Angela Childs (Zoë Kravitz) who works fixing errors with Kimi, an Alexa like device. Her job is to listen to the recordings and figure out what the person talking to the device was asking for, and then correct the mistake in the programing. When she discovers the recording of what she suspects to be a violent crime, she tries to report it but to no avail.
It seems her company doesn’t want to touch it in order to avoid the possibility of a lengthy trial and bad publicity. So in order to make sure it is investigated, she needs to work up the courage to leave her house — something she obviously has a problem with. Earlier in the movie we have seen her try, but fail, to do so.
The first forty minutes of this movie are a chore to get through. It feels like the same sort of thing we have seen time and time again with these Rear Window-esque films that seem to be making a comeback. The viewers wonder if she really is hearing a crime go down, or if she just thinks she is. After all, she is just listening to the sounds, not seeing any images.
All of this takes place during the pandemic that we are all living through right now. There are lots of things included in Kimi to make sure we know that. From masks being worn, to cleansing wipes, to hand sanitizer being used.
Luckily, at about the halfway mark, this movie changes gears and becomes a lot more interesting. Once Angela leaves her house this becomes a very different movie. Almost too different, as it doesn’t connect well to the first half as much as it should.
The use of the score here and sounds is interesting. There is one chase scene in particular that has a strange, sort of eerie, music over it and unfortunately it just doesn’t work. music should be used to heighten the sense of suspense, but instead the track chosen here almost makes light of it all. That mixed with some cinematography choices don’t allow for intense moments to be intense, instead they just kind of happen.
Related: Watcher Review | Sundance Film Festival 2022
Kravitz carries this entire movie on her shoulders, for the most part, and gives this role her everything. She is easily the best part of the movie, but she doesn’t save it from all its flaws. While she is believable enough as an agoraphobia, it just doesn’t feel like there is a real reason for her character to have this problem. I understand what they were going for, and it certainly makes the end of the film more meaningful, but I still can’t get one hundred percent behind it.
The most interesting thing about this film is the way that it plays on technology paranoia. The majority of people in the world right now have smart devices in their homes, and many worry about who could be listening in at any time. Kimi takes that paranoia and does something with it – just not enough. I will say Kimi is brilliantly used at the end of the movie, however.
While the second half of the film is much better than the first, thanks to the action, blood, and final few moments, most audience members will be far too checked out before the good stuff comes along.
Rating: 2 out of 5
About Kimi
A tech worker with agoraphobia discovers recorded evidence of a violent crime, but is met with resistance when she tries to report it. Seeking justice, she must do the thing she fears the most: she must leave her apartment.
Kimi is available to stream now on HBO Max.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.