KIMI – HBO Movie Review (3/5)

KIMI on HBO Max is a new thriller by director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp. With a strong lead in Zoë Kravitz, a tight pace and an intriguing plot, it’s worth checking out. Read our full KIMI movie review here!

KIMI is a new HBO Max thriller starring Zoë Kravitz, who is very strong in the all-important lead role. She does not play the title role, however, since “Kimi” is an AI helper device like Siri.

And yes, this device does play a key role in this crime-thriller that feels a bit like it could have been a Black Mirror feature film. In other words, tech is smart and helpful, but it can be used to creep and harm as well.

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Continue reading our KIMI movie review below and find it on HBO Max now.

This is about tech and conspiracy, not “just” agoraphobia

If you feel like you’ve had enough of movies with agoraphobic women (i.e. The Woman in the Window), then don’t worry, KIMI isn’t really about that. This is a hurdle for our main protagonist, but her real struggles in this thriller end up being much deeper and darker.

Alongside Zoë Kravitz in the absolute lead as tech (and sound) wiz, Angela, we have many other familiar faces. These include Rita Wilson, Erika Christensen, Byron Bowers, Robin Givens, Emily Kuroda, Jacob Vargas, and many more.

All in minor roles, since this is very much a Zoë Kravitz vehicle and she is brilliant in it. Also, in a fun twist of fates, Devin Ratray (Kevin’s older brother in Home Alone) now plays someone named Kevin.

HBO Max movie Kimi reminded me of the 1995 movie The Net 

While watching KIMI on HBO Max, I couldn’t help but think of the 1995 movie The Net starring Sandra Bullock. In many ways, KIMI did feel exactly like a contemporary The Net. Once again highlighting both the advantages and dangers of tech as part of our normal day-to-day lives.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that both main characters are brilliant women, who work alone and from their homes. Also, both are named “Angela”. In the 1995 movie The Net, Sandra Bullock plays “Angela Bennett”. In the 2022 HBO Max movie KIMI, Zoë Kravitz plays “Angela Childs”.

I don’t mean to compare the two movies in general, but there is (to me, anyway) a definite sense of this new movie being an updated take on a similar situation. And I really liked that.

KIMI on HBO Max is not a long movie

To be clear, KIMI is not a long movie. Many official sources (including official press material from HBO) put the runtime of this movie at 149 minutes. That would make this Soderbergh thriller clock in at almost two and a half hours. Instead, this movie is just 89 minutes long.

Whether it’s some sort of inside joke to write the other runtime, I do not know. I just find it very odd and wanted to assure possible viewers that this is not a movie that takes long.

The fact that KIMI has a runtime just around the hour and a half mark, means it hits a sweet spot for many thriller movies with an action twist. While it starts out as somewhat slow-burn, when introducing Angela Childs (Zoë Kravitz), it definitely picks up in the third and final act.

The actual ending was just awesome in so many ways. A little too “neat and pretty” in some ways perhaps. But hey, we need to have endings like that sometimes as well. The real world is plenty scary.

Watch KIMI on HBO Max now!

As mentioned several times already, this new HBO Max thriller is directed by Steven Soderbergh with a screenplay by David Koepp. Having either of these names attached should be enough for anyone to check it out, but combined, they have created the perfect popcorn flick.

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A popcorn flick that most certainly has something to say. However, as a viewer, you can also choose to virtually ignore these more subtle messages and just watch it as a sci-fi action thriller. I mean, sure the “sci-fi” element is actually the world we live in, but many would probably prefer to not think of it that way.

This isn’t the best movie from either Soderbergh or Koepp. However, it is very entertaining and tells an intriguing and compelling story. One that feels both current and relevant as well as familiar.

KIMI is out on HBO Max on February 10, 2022.

Details

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: David Koepp
Stars: Zoë Kravitz, Byron Bowers, Jaime Camil, Jacob Vargas, Derek DelGaudio, Erika Christensen, Devin Ratray, Andy Daly, Robin Givens, Charles Halford