A Reel Review: M3GAN

The story of Frankenstein’s monster, beginning with Mary Shelly’s 1818 novel, has served as a stepping-off point for exploring the idea of man’s creations turning back on us. The 1931 film brought the idea to the big screen, and even the mighty Marvel took a swing at it with AGE OF ULTRON in 2015. Here in 2023, the idea turns back to its horror roots with M3GAN. 

 

After her parents are killed in a car crash, young Cady (Violet McGraw), is sent to live with her aunt Gemma (Allison Williams), who is working on new artificial intelligence-driven toys at a major toy company. When Gemma finds herself unequipped for parenting, she delivers M3gan, (Model 3 Generative ANdroid), a life-like walking, talking, learning, and thinking robot-doll. 

 

Directed by Gerard Johnstone and produced by horror-film factory Blumhouse Productions, M3GAN unfolds exactly how we would expect; with the M3gan android becoming too smart for its own good and eventually causing mayhem. What makes it work is that the film is firmly rooted in real-world problems; with Gemma finding herself over her head in taking care of a child. She goes with what she knows in relying on tech to solve her issues in pairing her niece with her new-fangled creation. The more time Cady spends with M3Gan, the better the product becomes…which gives Gemma an out as a new parent and an in for her corporate bosses. 

 

As a horror film M3GAN needs to scare or at least get under our skins, and it does this nicely. The doll herself is creepy in every way, from her singing and dancing to eventual menace. Shocking scenes are done very well, and the film uses a minimal amount of gore to excellent usage. There is also a balance of comedy here, and there are certain scenes we are not sure if we should be laughing or not. M3gan the doll, using a combination of practical effects and CGI…is very convincing. 

 

M3GAN works like a well-oiled machine in nearly all categories except for the acting…where nearly everyone comes off bland. Allison Williams seems to be stuck in one gear, while her corporate boss (Ronny Chieng), has the charisma of a copper wire. Young Violet McGraw, however, is very good for her age. 

 

M3GAN does a fine job in exploring themes of our over-reliance on tech and issues facing new parents, and never beats us over the head with it. Modern-day gadgets are taken to new levels that we can see naturally occurring, and even when the film stretches the realm of believability, its commitment to realism makes it work. M3GAN turns on us like any little monster-creation should. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it