A new study from the University of Colorado Boulder confirms something that sounds both impressive and concerning. People find interacting with AI simulations of their dead loved ones deeply meaningful, and most will come away wanting to do it again.
The researchers call it a “generative ghost,” which is a clear reference to generative AI, but I’d still prefer to call it unsettling.
Unsplash
So what did the study actually find?
Doctoral candidate Jack Manning and associate professor Jed Brubaker recruited 16 participants aged 22 to 50, all of whom had lost someone close to them.
During individual Zoom sessions, a second researcher quietly used an LLM to build a ghost of the deceased (in real time) from details provided by the participant, an AI-based reincarnation, if you will.
Each participant chatted with two versions of the generative ghost: one that spoke in first person (“I remember going to the beach together”) and one that used third person (“She loved going to the beach with you,” where you is the participant).
Participants unanimously preferred the first-person “reincarnation” over the third-person “representative,” which, I’ll admit, is the part I find most unsettling.
Representative Image (AI-generated)
So who is building these, and why does it matter?
Small factual inaccuracies were forgiven during the interaction. However, wrong terms of endearment were not. For instance, when one stepfather’s ghost called his stepson “champ,” a word he’d never used, the participant nearly ended the session.
The study’s own participants flagged a significant concern. While everyone said they’d use a ghost again, almost all worried people who’ve lost their loved ones would become addicted to one. The lab has already initiated a follow-up study with mental health professionals to assess the psychological benefits and risks of generative ghost interactions.
It’s the first of the month, which means Netflix has added a substantial number of new movies and shows. Some of the highlights include the Creed movies, Friday Night Lights, The Karate Kid franchise, and the first five seasons of Hawaii Five-0. Keep an eye on the new movies coming later this month, including Office Romance and Little Brother.
As for the thriller section, there are several movies to check out this week. My top pick is a recent crime thriller from an Academy Award-nominated director. My other two movies are total opposites. One is a disturbing psychological thriller featuring two familiar faces, while the other is a notable book-to-screen adaptation.
3
The Girl on the Train
Based on the bestselling novel
The Girl on the Train walked so that It Ends with Us could run. What do I mean? It’s not like The Girl on the Train was the first movie to be based on a book. I’m more focused on the style of thriller — a beach read that is predominantly aimed toward women. Hoover’s books continue to become box-office hits. In 2016, The Girl on the Train proved that there is an audience for this type of thriller.
Based on the novel by Paula Hawkins, The Girl on the Train stars Emily Blunt as Rachel Watson, an alcoholic divorcée who recently lost her job. To pass the time, Rachel rides the train and imagines the new life of her ex-husband, Tom (Justin Theroux), and his new wife, Anna (Rebecca Ferguson). One day, Rachel witnesses a troubling event in the backyard belonging to Scott (Luke Evans) and Megan Hipwell (Haley Bennett). The authorities don’t believe her due to her alcoholism, so Rachel will need more proof than her word.
The Girl on the Train has all the staples of a page-turning thriller. There are several twists that will make you question what is true and what is a lie. It’s a story of deceit and obsession that mixes sexual tension and disturbing violence into its storyline. Blunt gives a convincing performance as an alcoholic searching for answers in the case and in her personal life. At just under two hours, The Girl on the Train certainly delivers everything you want out of an entertaining thriller.
2
The Good Son
Kevin McCallister breaks bad
If your children enjoy the Home Alone franchise, then do not let them watch The Good Son. Speaking from experience, this movie should be consumed by teenagers and adults who are at least 17 years old. I watched this movie as a kid, and it shook me to my core. I would still recommend it because it’s genuinely one of the most shocking performances from an actor who you would never expect to take on this role.
After the death of his mother, 10-year-old Mark Evans (Elijah Wood) is sent to spend winter break with his Uncle Wallace (Daniel Hugh Kelly) and Aunt Susan (Wendy Crewson). Mark also reunited with his two young cousins, Henry (Macaulay Culkin) and Connie (Quinn Culkin). Mark quickly discovers that Henry might be the devil stuck inside a 10-year-old’s body. Henry is fascinated by death and facilitates several evil acts, including a massive car pileup. When Henry sets his sights on his own family, it’s up to Mark to stop it before it leads to tragedy.
Home Alone 2 is my favorite Christmas movie. Imagine being a kid and watching Kevin McCallister in The Good Son trying to kill his sister. Frankly, it’s disturbing. You can’t unsee what Culkin did as the devil’s child. I’ll let you judge it for yourself; my guess is you’ll agree with me.
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Dead Man’s Wire
Inspired by a real standoff
Gus Van Sant is too talented to be sitting on the sidelines for a long period of time. Van Sant, who helmed Good Will Hunting and Milk, last made a film in 2018 calledDon’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot. He did not make another film until Dead Man’s Wire, which had a festival premiere in 2025 before releasing in theaters in January 2026. That’s an unacceptable amount of time without a Van Sant movie. Be better, Hollywood.
Dead Man’s Wire is inspired by the true story of Tony Kiritsis, played by Bill Skarsgård. In February 1977, Tony takes mortgage broker Richard Hall (Dacre Montgomery) as his hostage after losing money on a deal brokered by Richard’s father. Tony points a sawed-off shotgun at Richard to serve as a dead man’s switch. The ensuing standoff makes headlines, as Tony tries to convince the public of what led to his breaking point.
The movie is based on a true story, so it could follow a blueprint of real-life events. However, it’s a genius idea for a thriller — a mentally unstable person seeks revenge against the corporation that wronged him. You might even find sympathy toward Tony, a credit to Skarsgård’s captivating performance.
More movies to watch this week
Thrillers are not the only genre to explore on Netflix. If you’re a fan of rom-coms, one of Netflix’s newest movies is Office Romance, a charming romantic adventure starring Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein. Office Romance hits Netflix on June 5. Plus, Netflix users can stream the first six movies in the Rocky franchise.
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