“M3GAN” Movie Review

 

“M3GAN”

Movie Review

 

 

M3GAN is an American science fiction horror film directed by Gerard Johnstone from a screenplay by Akela Cooper and a story by Cooper and James Wan. The plot of M3GAN follows Gemma, played by Alison Williams, a roboticist at a toy company developing an artificially intelligent toy named M3GAN. When M3GAN teams up with Gemma's orphaned niece Cady, played by Violet McGraw, she develops a sense of self and becomes hostile to anyone who comes between her and Cady. M3GAN's appearance is a combination of physical performance, practical makeup, and digital visual effects by Amy Donald, while Jenna Davis voices the character.

Director Gerard Johnstone cleverly approached the M3GAN rating and female-dominated cast as something other than a gender-switched Child’s Play.

At the center of M3GAN is the concept of bonding. Between Cady and Gemma, who struggle to function as parents, and Cady and M3GAN, who plan to bond with her to become friends and protectors. Both scenarios have major drawbacks, of course, and the problem starts especially on the defender side.

At least some of those problems are a result of the plot devices these movies have to go through. Bad programming that leaves a powerful robot without some essential limits and invalidates for example.

It's no surprise when the doll reveals its dark side and becomes the "Annabelle crossed the Terminator" that Wan alludes to. That's why we're looking at M3GAN in the first place, right? Of course, that, and once we get there M3GAN actually offers a little entertainment value.

You're cheering on the junior psycho at the school event or the suspicious-looking neighbor. Unfortunately, her demise did not involve basketball. There are some well-crafted and suspenseful scenes as suspicions rise about Gemma's creation and undeserving characters in the film become her targets.

Adding to that is the authentic look of M3GAN. She looks mostly human. But her coldness, the pupils of her damned eyes, and the perfect structure of her face give her away. She is not the non-human robot seen in many movies, nor is she an exact replica of the Terminator. It's disturbing enough.

It's nothing game-changing, plot-wise it's predictable. But it is done well and with considerable skill. Also, the film's target audience isn't the hardcore horror crowd familiar with these tropes, so it might give them a few surprises.

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