M3gan, a new horror-comedy film from Universal, takes a surprisingly thoughtful approach to the classic killer toy trope. The film explores themes of grief, technology, and parental anxieties through the lens of a highly sophisticated AI android who becomes dangerously attached to her young companion.
After months of witnessing the dead-eyed killer android from Universal’s M3gan dominate social media and achieve internet stardom, you might assume that the film has little left to reveal. However, much like its namesake, M3gan packs a surprising punch, transforming a few narrative shortcomings into a delightfully comedic horror experience.
M3gan, directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) and written by Akela Cooper (Luke Cage, Malignant), sits comfortably between After Yang and the latest Child’s Play, exploring the consequences of sentient AI androids. Instead of simply portraying advanced technology as inherently evil, M3gan delves into the very real anxieties surrounding parenting and the tendency to over-rely on tools to cope with those feelings.Cady (Violet McGraw), a young girl adored by everyone in her life, finds herself orphaned after a tragic accident involving her Perpetual Pet, a Furby-like toy. This tragedy leaves both Cady and her aunt Gemma (Allison Williams), a robotics engineer who helped design the Perpetual Pets, facing unexpected challenges.While Gemma grapples with the grief of losing her sister and the overwhelming responsibility of caring for Cady, she's also pressured by her boss, David (Ronny Chieng), to deliver the next generation of Perpetual Pets. This stressful situation pushes Gemma, a workaholic who struggles with children, to finalize her ethically dubious project: M3gan (voiced by Jenna Davis and physically portrayed by Amie Donald).M3gan's initial hysterical fake commercials for Perpetual Pets offer a glimpse into its comedic potential, but the film gradually builds towards a surprisingly thoughtful narrative. Cady's discomfort with Gemma stems not solely from her aunt's workaholic tendencies but from their shared experience of grief, a difficult emotion for young people to express. Some of M3gan's most effective scenes resemble a poignant drama. McGraw delivers a powerful performance as a grieving child, contrasted with Williams, who appears somewhat detached throughout the film. As Cady and M3gan form an unlikely friendship, the movie truly comes alive, delivering a satisfying and unexpected twist.Long before M3gan the doll unleashes violence, M3gan the movie encourages you to embrace the absurdity of its premise. The film acknowledges its familiarity with the classic killer toy trope, injecting it with a fresh and self-aware sensibility.M3gan's human physicality, embodied by Donald's performance, makes her a believable and menacing machine, always ready to shift gears and hunt. However, some of M3gan's funniest moments arise from seemingly simple interactions with human actors, utilizing clever camera angles and in-camera tricks to create the illusion of M3gan's movement.The film's internal logic occasionally falters, but M3gan's self-deprecating humor and its ability to deliver sharp, musical jokes about consumerism and screen addiction prevent it from taking itself too seriously. The result is a surprisingly entertaining and thought-provoking horror-comedy
Horror Comedy AI Android Killer Doll Technology Parenting Grief
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