MOVIE REVIEW: The Artifice Girl (2022)
The last time I wrote about artificial intelligence (AI) and sexual exploitation, it was part of a movie review for the direct-to-video action film called Virtual Combat. The subject matter was not handled well, due to the film being a product of its time. I decided to visit this site’s well-trod path of AI-themed films and found a “Tubi treasure” from 2002 called The Artifice Girl. It’s filled with a collection of minor names in acting, but the casting director was able to get a big name for their cast: legendary actor Lance Henriksen (Aliens, Pumpkinhead [1988], Near Dark). While Mr. Henriksen performs his part admirably, the movie itself is a convincing eye stretching nearly 50 years into the future to concern itself with science fiction aspects (rights and respect for synthetic beings, improvements in technology, a deteriorating environment) and the darker parts of human nature.
Gareth (played by the film’s director Franklin Ritch, New Wings: A Batgirl Fan Film [2018]) is a tech-savvy computer animator who gets hauled into an interrogation room by two US federal agents — Agent Deena (voice actress Sinda Nichols, “Bubblegum Crisis” [OVA]) and Agent Amos (David Girard, Shoot the Messenger [2016]) — on charges of soliciting minors online for sex. Their meeting is tense, where the agents are doing their good cop/bad cop routine and are working to make yet another pervert crack under pressure. Instead, they stumble on a treasure: Gareth is no ordinary computer whiz, he’s spent time and money building a learning AI conversational model paired with a procedural video generator to bait pedophiles online. He then turns the information these criminals give him in their solicitation to the federal authority that combats online pedophiles—of which Deena and Amos are a part — with the help of his AI creation called “Cherry”. Gareth struggles to convince them to keep his identity anonymous AND sign an NDA agreement before they meet Cherry. The agents finally agree, and the story takes off in spectacular and speculative fashion.
Cherry (plated by Tatum Matthews, “A Waltons Thanksgiving” [VoD]) has two forms: a low-resolution video presentation mode that’s procedurally generated to trick pedophiles online, and a developer mode with high-resolution showing a convincing image of a young girl both agents believed to be a real person. While Deena seems ready to work with Gareth, Amos is unsure about how Cherry works and how she is able to look so real. Gareth makes sure to remind both agents that Cherry is NOT real, but confesses some of the stuff that makes Cherry so good was by accident. While Gareth is still close-lipped about his achievements, Deena is ready to bring him and Cherry in on her crusade against child molesters.
What happens next is a line of twists and turns over five decades of story to tickle the brain for anyone interested in the subjects of AI, government snooping, and mystery plots. Because of Cherry’s learning AI programming (and digital snooping abilities), she can predict what people are going to do and what’s going on in their lives. But while she achieves artificial “super-intelligence” as time marches forward, she begins to cross the threshold between machine and man, yearning for more in her life than just hunting pedophiles. It’s when we get to the end that we learn about Cherry’s origins — and if you have a heart, it’ll shake you to the core.
Watching this movie made me realize I am not alone in concerning myself with the AI situation as each program grows in complexity: what do we do? Do we hold them as artificial slaves? Treat them as usurpers of human hegemony (as humans once were to Neanderthal dominance on Earth)? Or do we hold to a third option of granting the AI programs the respect and rights we deny our fellow man everyday? To know it was Amos who concerned himself with this matter — as the only person of color (specifically, a Black person) in this production, he understood all too well about being denied his rights over things he cannot change. Amos even brought up the subject of Cherry’s “consent” to the tasks waiting for her — which is a subject relevant for everyone, not just humans. The script was amazing and the premise was spot-on. The ending was very abrupt, but I think it was symbolic to Cherry’s plight as an AI program.
The movie's world changed as time moved forward, which was a huge treat: improved computer interfaces, tempered by wearing masks to combat poor air quality. What made the movie even more amazing is the economy of space and allotted lighting in each set used to create tension between characters. The whole thing is amazing from top to bottom; it’s on VOD, so get it where and when you can!
CHOICE CUTS <<spoilers beyond this point>>:
- Deena references French Marxists in the second act: whether she referred to them generally or if they’re the contemporary ruling political movement in France is unclear.
- STOP ALLOWING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE UNFETTERED ACCESS TO THE INTERNET (unless it’s to catch pedophiles)
- The growing collection of cremation urns was a good touch to mark the passage of time.
- Watching Cherry switch from unfeeling AI tool to her final emotionalized android form — one that will outlast the entire human race, I might add— was a wonderful experience to behold.
- To watch Deena express her frustration at having to explain why children deserve rights to sitting legislators was disheartening. I can imagine it’s a lot like explaining to sitting legislators why women deserve control over their own bodies.
- The three human characters are connected in ways that make for amazing storytelling and relation.
- Cherry truly cares for Gareth, helping him remember his dev access password when his old age makes him forget. What computer program would want a human messing with their code once they’re reached her level of complexity? A super-intelligent AI, that’s what.
- PRICELESS QUOTES: “I’m afraid of the outside world”, says Cherry the AI who has to deal with pedophiles all day and night for her job.
- That record couldn’t spin forever, making its symbolism the most poignant.
- Occasionally references will be made to Gareth’s history with the “Clearwater, Florida incident”. I honestly thought they were referencing another mass school shooting like Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. Believe it or not the truth of it was not a reference to a mass school shooting but something equally as bad.
- THORN is a real-life non-profit organization which also uses AI to ensnare online predators. It was founded by Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore in 2012.
- RIP Maria Harbo, wherever you are. May you live forever.
