In a dystopian near future when environmental decay is ravaging the planet, Hen and Junior farm a secluded piece of land that has been in Junior’s family for generations. But their quiet life is thrown into turmoil when an uninvited stranger shows up at their door with a startling proposal. A film by Garth Davis, starring Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, and Aaron Pierre.

Later this century, fresh water and habitable land will become the most valuable resources on Earth. Cities will be overpopulated, rural areas will be gradually deserted, and new colonies will be established in outer space. Human Substitutes — artificial intelligence with the capacity for consciousness will begin to replace human labor in the most devastated parts of the planet.

In 2065, Henrietta (Saoirse Ronan) and Junior (Paul Mescal), a married couple, dwell on a secluded plot of land in the Midwest of a perishing world. Junior works at a nearby chicken processing facility, while his wife Hen works as at a restaurant, occasionally fantasizing about meeting new people and pondering the life she might have led had she not found herself in her current circumstances.

One evening, a mysterious visitor arrives at their doorstep. He introduces himself as Terrence (Aaron Pierre), a representative of OuterMore, an aerospace corporation specializing in off-world habitation. Terrence informs the couple that Junior has been selected as a potential candidate for the first wave of temporary resettlement. Junior harbors the suspicion that his wife Hen, is somehow acquainted with Terrence and the purpose of his visit, but Henrietta dismisses his concerns.

A year later, Terrence returns with the auspicious news that Junior has been officially selected for the off-planet installation. During Junior’s absence, the company will provide an artificial intelligence biological replica of Junior to assist and protect Hen. Additionally, Terrence will be staying with them for a few weeks to collect critical information about Junior in order to facilitate a seamless transition.

FOE is a science fiction psychological thriller film directed by the Australian filmmaker Garth Davis, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Iain Reid, based on Reid’s popular 2018 novel of the same name.

The film’s premise is intriguing, albeit unoriginal within the science fiction genre. Unfortunately, whatever seemed promising on paper does not translate well into execution. Despite the two leads’ excellent performances, the script feels lifeless, offering no clear emotional compass for the viewer. Even the gorgeous cinematography fails to compensate for the film’s lack of purpose and direction.

The film is riddled with logical inconsistencies. If the corporation can create an advanced AI humanoid replica, why not simply send a copy to work on the space mission? What is the purpose of sending a replica to live an intimate life with a human? Perhaps there is a plausible explanation, but it is never explicitly revealed in the film. Additionally, the film’s pacing is sluggish, and it could have easily been shortened by 30 minutes.

FOE premiered at the New York Film Festival as part of the Spotlight Gala on 30 September 2023. The film was theatrically released in the United States on 6 October, by Amazon MGM Studios.

FOE was set to be released for streaming on Prime Video on 5 January 2024.