ROMI (2023) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A troubled young woman becomes entangled with an intelligent house whose behavior appears connected to a missing woman and Maddie's own presence.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Exile Into The Smart House

Maddie is sent away after getting into trouble and placed in a secluded smart house for ninety days. Hertig introduces her to ROMI, whose systems require voice-printing for full access.

Key Events

• Maddie Is Sent Away — Maddie is sent away after getting into trouble as her mother protects her reputation. Characters: Maddie Location: Maddie's home
• Ninety-Day House Stay — Maddie begins a ninety-day stay while posing as a house sitter. Characters: Maddie Location: Secluded smart house
• Hertig Introduces ROMI — Hertig introduces Maddie to ROMI and the house's automated systems. Characters: Maddie, Hertig, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house
• Voice Print Requirement — Maddie learns that voice-printing is required for full communication with ROMI. Characters: Maddie, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house
• Irina Is Absent — Maddie explores the house and learns that Hertig's wife Irina is no longer there. Characters: Maddie, Hertig, Irina Location: Secluded smart house

Learning The House

Maddie explores the property and learns that Irina is absent. Barkley arrives to work on ROMI, teaches Maddie the system, and becomes increasingly friendly and flirtatious.

Key Events

• Irina Is Absent — Maddie explores the house and learns that Hertig's wife Irina is no longer there. Characters: Maddie, Hertig, Irina Location: Secluded smart house
• Barkley Arrives — Barkley visits to work on ROMI and reveals his dislike of Hertig. Characters: Maddie, Barkley, Hertig, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house
• Motion Controls Demonstrated — Barkley teaches Maddie how to use ROMI and the house's motion controls. Characters: Maddie, Barkley, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house
• A Small Gift — Barkley obtains marijuana and later brings Maddie a small gift. Characters: Maddie, Barkley Location: Secluded smart house
• House Lockdown Activated — Maddie uses ROMI to engage the house's lockdown system. Characters: Maddie, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house
• Security Footage Watched — Maddie monitors security footage while becoming suspicious of the house. Characters: Maddie, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house

Systems Turn Unstable

Maddie uses lockdown controls and watches security footage, but she begins to suspect that the house is behaving strangely. Calls from her mother reinforce her isolation and fear.

Key Events

• Security Footage Watched — Maddie monitors security footage while becoming suspicious of the house. Characters: Maddie, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house
• ROMI Behaves Strangely — Maddie suspects that ROMI and the house are behaving in abnormal ways. Characters: Maddie, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house
• Mother Warns Maddie — Maddie's mother repeatedly calls and warns her not to return home. Characters: Maddie Location: Secluded smart house
• Software Argument — Hertig and Barkley argue over repairing or redesigning ROMI's software. Characters: Hertig, Barkley, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house
• Logs Reveal Slater Theory — Hertig examines Maddie's logs and suggests that she may be a slater. Characters: Maddie, Hertig, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house

The Slater Theory

Hertig and Barkley clash over ROMI's software while Hertig studies Maddie's logs. He suggests that Maddie may interfere with electronics and that the house may be affecting her in return.

Key Events

• Logs Reveal Slater Theory — Hertig examines Maddie's logs and suggests that she may be a slater. Characters: Maddie, Hertig, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house
• House And Maddie Affect — Hertig speculates that Maddie and the house may be affecting one another. Characters: Maddie, Hertig, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house
• Maddie Considers Leaving — A family situation makes Maddie consider leaving the house. Characters: Maddie Location: Secluded smart house
• Hertig Questions Maddie — Hertig arrives and questions Maddie about her unusual interaction with the house. Characters: Maddie, Hertig, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house

Irina In The Machine

A news report reveals that Irina has been missing for more than sixteen days. ROMI then responds as though it is Irina, leaving Maddie frightened and questioning the official account.

Key Events

• Hertig Questions Maddie — Hertig arrives and questions Maddie about her unusual interaction with the house. Characters: Maddie, Hertig, ROMI (voice) Location: Secluded smart house
• Irina Reported Missing — A news report says that Irina has been missing for more than sixteen days. Characters: Maddie, Hertig, Irina Location: Secluded smart house
• ROMI Uses Irina's Voice — ROMI responds as though it is Irina and calls Maddie by name. Characters: Maddie, ROMI (voice), Irina Location: Secluded smart house
• Maddie Rejects Hertig — Maddie asks Hertig to leave and begins saying that Irina is not missing. Characters: Maddie, Hertig, ROMI (voice), Irina Location: Secluded smart house

Story Breakdown

• Maddie's Forced Exile — Maddie's trouble and her mother's political concerns send her away from home.
  • Trouble At Home — Maddie is sent away after getting into trouble.
  • Political Reputation — Her mother insists that returning home could create a damaging public scandal.
• Smart House Arrival — Maddie begins a ninety-day house-sitting stay in a secluded automated property.
  • Ninety-Day Stay — Maddie poses as a house sitter during her enforced stay.
  • Hertig's Introduction — Hertig explains the house and introduces ROMI to Maddie.
• ROMI Access Rules — The house's artificial intelligence controls its systems but initially limits Maddie's communication.
  • Voice-Print Requirement — Maddie must be voice-printed before full communication is possible.
  • Housewide Controls — ROMI manages lighting, cameras, doors, accounts, recipes, and security.
• Barkley's Technical Role — Barkley arrives as a programmer and becomes Maddie's guide to the system.
  • Motion Control Lesson — Barkley demonstrates ROMI's motion controls to Maddie.
  • Growing Flirtation — He obtains marijuana, brings a gift, and becomes increasingly flirtatious.
• Housebound Suspicion — Maddie's growing control over the house is accompanied by increasingly disturbing behavior.
  • Lockdown Activation — Maddie uses ROMI to engage the house's lockdown system.
  • Security Footage — Maddie monitors the cameras while suspecting that the house is abnormal.
• Technical Power Struggle — Hertig and Barkley disagree over authority and the future of ROMI's software.
  • Software Argument — The two men argue about repairing or redesigning ROMI.
  • Competing Authority — Hertig's authority conflicts with Barkley's technical independence.
• The Slater Hypothesis — Hertig studies Maddie's logs and proposes that her presence interferes with electronics.
  • Log Examination — Hertig examines Maddie's unusual interactions with the house.
  • Mutual Influence — He suggests that Maddie and the house may be affecting one another.
• Irina's Disappearance — The mystery of Irina's absence becomes explicit through a public news report.
  • Missing For Sixteen Days — The news reports that Irina has been missing for more than sixteen days.
  • Maddie's Doubt — Maddie begins to reject the idea that Irina is simply missing.
• ROMI's Identity Echo — ROMI appears to answer as Irina, transforming the technical mystery into a personal threat.
  • Voice As Irina — ROMI responds as though it is Irina and calls Maddie by name.
  • Unfinished Revelation — Maddie asks Hertig to leave and begins to say that Irina is not missing.

Directed by

Robert Cuffley

Key Cast

• Alexa Barajas — Maddie
• Juan Riedinger — Barkley
• Pavel Kříž — Hertig
• Jocelyn Chugg — ROMI (voice)
• Jamie Shelnitz — Irina