Simulant (2023)

Simulant has that rare sci-fi-thriller hook that’s both pulpy and strangely tender: it uses a high-concept android premise to ask bruising questions about grief, identity, and what “real” love even means when the copy looks perfect. The film keeps a sleek, anxious momentum—part chase movie, part intimate heartbreak—while letting its actors do the heavy lifting in quiet, sorrowful moments that linger longer than the explosions. It may feel familiar if you’ve seen a lot of AI stories, but the earnestness of its performances and the way it treats its synthetic characters with genuine consideration give it a human pulse. If you’re on the fence, think of it as an engaging genre ride with a melancholy aftertaste, best for viewers who like their thrills laced with moral unease.

Simulant wants to be a sleek, emotional sci-fi thriller about grief, identity, and what “conscious” AI means when it starts wanting things back. The problem is it plays like a checklist of familiar genre beats, borrowing heavily from better films without adding a sharp new angle, so the twists and moral questions often feel predictable and a bit bare-bones. If you’re craving original world-building, nuanced themes, or surprises, this will likely feel like reheated leftovers rather than a fresh meal. Still, if you’re in the mood for a straightforward, competently made chase-and-conspiracy story with a human-vs-android hook, you may get enough mileage out of it for a low-stakes watch.