Technology is constantly advancing, new discoveries are being made every day, and the world continues to progress. This a true statement in today’s world, but with the increasing amount of technology consuming our lives, it’s only a matter of time before artificial intelligence takes over. The idea of AI taking over the world or merely causing problems has been a common theme in sci-fi, most notably seen in The Terminator. One could argue that the movie could be seen as a horror film disguised as a sci-fi flick, but that’s for another day. This year sees the debut of a new kind of threat, well, somewhat new. That movie is M3GAN. A lifelike doll that can think, learn, and make rational decisions on a dime. But this doll is not your typical Chucky-like doll. M3GAN is a bit different.
The movie follows the tragic loss of nine-year-old Cady (Violet McGraw), who suffers a devastating car accident resulting in her parents’ deaths. In accordance with her mother’s Will, Cady will live with her Aunt Gemma (Allison Williams), who works in robotics and designs these Furby lookalikes. These toys speak different languages, entertain children, and even have responses at the ready, plus they can poop! It is a lucrative business, and the company that Gemma works for, Funki, consumes her life. Even after legally adopting Cady, Gemma is unprepared for this new addition to her life.
Cady is quiet following the death of her parents and is consumed by technology but not more than Gemma, who lives on her phone and is physically and emotionally absent from Cady. She has no toys in her house, although there are some collectibles that Gemma dreads anyone touching. Under pressure to release a new prototype toy to combat competitors, Gemma lacks the skills to raise a child, much less communicate as if she’s a loving family member. The movie takes its time in introducing us to M3GAN (Model 3 Generative Android). She has a real-looking face and has all the latest in microchip technology that makes Alexa look like a phone book. Once the model is fully built, M3GAN displays incredible knowledge and even acts in ways that make the developers suspicious.
M3GAN is quite a sight to see. She doesn’t look as goofy as Chucky did several years ago in the 2019 Child’s Play reboot. M3GAN looks like a doll, although she stands four feet tall, wears an assortment of clothing, and has big green eyes that see everything. Her microchips allow her to analyze anything, even facial expressions. The New Zealand actress Amie Donald physically portrays M3GAN while Jenna Davis provides her voice. I was impressed by the filmmakers’ skills in bringing this doll to life. I have to commend Amie Donald for matching the movements of M3GAN, and she appears almost real when looking at her from a distance by how she moves. It doesn’t have the classic clunkiness of animatronics, but M3GAN convinced me that Amie Donald perfectly matched the doll’s movements.
The plot for M3GAN is pretty standard stuff. Allison tells M3GAN to protect Cady from physical or emotional harm. Hey, she gave the order. M3GAn is only listening. What impressed me about this movie are the themes the movie tackles. Social isolation when consumed by technology, witnessing the breakdown of a relationship at the hands of technology, and, of course, the long-feared realities of AI. Even though I was apprehensive about this movie, especially with its PG-13 rating, I wasn’t missing the bloody violence or foul language. I got into the movie’s mood and loved seeing the chemistry between Gemma and Cady. These two characters hardly know each other and are separated by technology and their self-interest. Gemma is consumed by her work, while Cady is obsessed with this prototype doll that Gemma built and designed as a way for the doll to act as a surrogate when the parents are unavailable.
Sure, the movie throws away all the good ideas it’s working with to please horror fans with a violent third act, but for most of the movie, I became involved in these characters. One thing to mention is that this movie does have a good bit of comedy which surprised me. There are some chilling moments, especially when M3GAN aids Cady from a bully hurting her. While the characters in the movie are selfish, it’s a reminder that being consumed by technology and allowing ourselves to ignore the realities in life can cause serious problems. I suppose the only negative trait of the film is the violent third act, and I didn’t really like seeing Ronny Chieng as Gemma’s boss David. He was ok, but nothing that made me root for him.
Gerard Johnstone directed M3GAN, and his visual style is grand to look at. You may have already seen the iconic dance scene, but he makes a good-looking movie, especially when lighting is crucial in certain scenes. The script was written by Akela Cooper and James Wan, notable names in the horror industry, and I enjoyed their examination of technology, especially when it involves children. This isn’t a scary movie but features genuine suspense, and the lack of explicit gore may bring more audiences to see it.
Score 3.5 out of 5
Despite a cliched third act, M3GAN is a surprise entry in the horror genre that is familiar but is more enjoyable to watch than the reboot of Child’s Play. I enjoyed the cast, except for Ronny Chieng, and seeing this doll come to life. It’s not a perfect film by any measure, but it’s not boring or overly violent. Maybe while watching this movie, you realize that putting your phone down can allow you to see the world that is right in front of you. M3GAN surely has its flaws, but it’s enough for me to recommend you watch it. Just stick to the stuffed animals or even those Chatty Cathy dolls instead.
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