The scariest thing about this movie is the use of AI, which isn't to downplay the scariness of the movie but to correctly play the dangers of going down the dark and depraved path of machine-stolen original work churned out into some grotesque replication of human creativity.

That being said I don't want to dismiss the work of every actual human being involved in creating this movie, which does have a terrific ambience aside from the AI. It's definitely a love letter to the 70s and the horror films of the 70s, and replicates it well in everything from costuming to lighting to audio to themes of satanic panic and sensationalism for the sake of ratings. In true 70s fashion it has a bit of a slow start with bits of unsettling imagery peppered in here and there before eventually culminating in one bad trip of an ending.

David Dastmalchian is absolutely tone perfect as always, in many tones as his character Jack puts on and takes off mask after mask, some consciously and some subconsciously. I was also shocked to learn Rhys Auteri was new to being in movies because he felt so completely natural as the typical late night talk show sidekick.

But in spite of the aesthetics and performances, it just didn't go all the way for me. I get homage, but the movie with its constant references and expies felt like it was afraid to fully stand on its own and take full advantage of the fairly original concept. Maybe the AI was yet another symptom of being caught up in rehashing things that have already been done.