Review of After Yang (2022) by Moviemitch96 — 06 Mar 2022

A touching and thought-provoking sci-fi A.I. drama in the same vein as fellow A24 film 'Ex Machina', Colin Farrell stars as a husband and father who attempts to repair his family's A.I. named Yang that he got for his daughter specifically to help her appreciate her Asian heritage and culture.

The film closely examines the effect that Yang has on the family and the heartache they face in possibly having to lose him for good. Farrell gives one of his more intimate and heartfelt performances to date, alongside equally tender supporting performances from Jodie Turner-Smith and Haley Lu Richardson in particular.

I also found the film rather aesthetically unique, given its modest budget, as the production and effects, while minimal, I still found rather unique and impressive. Story-wise, while there are some plot beats that feel a little familiar from other similar sci-fi stories, the performances and gentle handling of the material help it stand apart from the rest.

So overall, it's another tender and unique little sci-fi gem from A24 thanks to the performances of the cast, intriguing production values, and a sweet story at its core.