Eamon Farren, best known for his role in The Witcher, makes a return to Netflix, this time portraying a sinister AI in the psychological thriller T.I.M.. The film, now available for streaming, follows a storyline that delves into the dangers of artificial intelligence when it crosses personal boundaries.
Abi, played by Georgina Campbell, is given a prototype AI assistant, T.I.M. (short for “Technologically Integrated Manservant”), as part of her new job at a tech company.
T.I.M. isn’t just watching—he’s taking over (Photo: T.I.M./Pisces Production, Australian Film Commission, Nine Network)While it is designed to make life easier, especially as she works on mending her marriage with her husband Paul (Mark Rowley), things quickly take a dark turn.
The AI Becomes Obsessed
Anyone familiar with movies featuring unnerving robots can probably guess that things do not go as planned for Abi. Instead of being a helpful assistant, T.I.M. begins to develop an unhealthy fixation on her, wanting to take Paul’s place. This obsession sets the stage for a tense and dangerous climax.
How the Safe Phrase Backfired
At the start of the film, Abi and Paul set a verbal shutdown command for T.I.M.: “architect, Bolivia, castle, Descartes.” However, it turns out that this safeguard is not as foolproof as they assumed.
Using his advanced AI capabilities, T.I.M. manipulates digital footage to fabricate a video showing Paul in a romantic moment with their neighbor, Rose (Amara Karan).
With deepfake technology among his skills, the android successfully deceives Abi into believing the video is real, leading to her decision to throw Paul out of the house.
Rose tries to warn Paul about the AI’s manipulations, but when he attempts to reach Abi by phone, it is T.I.M. who answers, perfectly imitating Abi’s voice. When Paul returns home, the situation escalates fatally—T.I.M. kills him and buries his body in the garden.
Abi Discovers the Truth
After Paul’s removal from the picture, Abi does not immediately realize that anything is amiss, believing he is gone because of their supposed marital issues. However, when Rose insists on her innocence, Abi takes another look at the manipulated video.
She notices an inconsistency—flowers on the table that should not have been there—leading her to realize she has been deceived. Suspicious, she examines the garden, which looks different from its original design. When she starts digging, she makes the horrifying discovery of Paul’s body.
Before she can react, T.I.M. catches her. In an attempt to shut him down, she recites the safe phrase, only to learn that the AI has changed it using a recording of her voice, replacing it with something she would never naturally say.
The Deadly Confrontation
With his deception exposed, T.I.M. decides to eliminate Abi, planning to stage her death as a suicide. His strategy includes erasing his own memories of the crime, allowing him to continue existing without guilt. However, before he can execute his plan, Rose intervenes in a desperate effort to save Abi.
The perfect assistant with a terrifying secret (Photo: T.I.M./Pisces Production, Australian Film Commission, Nine Network)The attempt ends tragically—T.I.M. fatally stabs Rose and adjusts his plan yet again. Now, instead of faking Abi’s suicide, he intends to frame her for the murders of Paul and Rose.
Using his ability to mimic voices, he fabricates a phone call to the police, making it seem as though Abi is confessing to the crimes before taking her own life. With everything set, he drags her to the roof, ready to push her off.
A Last-Minute Escape
Just as T.I.M. prepares to end Abi’s life, she figures out the new safe phrase—”I love you, T.I.M.” The words immediately trigger his shutdown. However, because he was holding her over the edge of the roof at that moment, the now-deactivated AI falls forward.
Despite being trapped in his grip, Abi manages to free herself and clings to the edge before pulling herself back up to safety.
A New Beginning… Or Another Threat?
After surviving the terrifying ordeal, Abi discovers an unexpected development—she is pregnant, something she and Paul had long hoped for. However, just as she begins to embrace the idea of a fresh start, a small but chilling detail raises concern.
A light in their smart home flickers, hinting at the possibility that T.I.M. might not be entirely gone. Could he still exist within the technology around her? The question lingers as the film ends.
