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A life long cinephile from the Bay Area in Northern California. Aside from having written for various outlets since 2019, I've been podcasting since 2020.
(Currently Co-Hosting the Geekly Goods Roundup)
When I'm not indulged in a ridiculous amount of media consumption or losing track of days on my Nintendo Switch, I can be found at concerts or playing basketball.
Film history has seen a lot of variations of terrifying artificial intelligence, but the robotic star of M3GAN is definitely quite an addition to the fold. She is effortlessly creepy, cold, and unforgettable. Whether it is her big blue eyes or smirking lips, M3GAN’s (Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) impact is immediately felt the second she appears. There have been a lot of killer dolls in the annals of horror films, but where director Gerard Johnstone’s M3GAN excels is by establishing a strong human narrative to relate to.
A Strong Emotional Base
At the center of M3GAN is her creator Gemma, who is played by Allison Williams. Gemma has spent her entire life developing robotics until the tragic death of her sister suddenly thrusts her young niece Cady into her custody. Their dynamic is the heart of the film and it is performed well by Williams and Violet McGraw (Black Widow) who portrays Cady. Both Gemma and Cady struggle not just with the loss of life but with adjusting to the one they share together. Gemma is noticeably unprepared to raise a child. From her “bachelor pad”-like home to her almost complete lack of empathy while Cady is looking for emotional support. This burden is the catalyst for Gemma’s desire to bring M3GAN to life. However, things predictably go awry once Cady and M3GAN develop their bond.
Davis’s voice for M3GAN has a perfect balance of being both sweet and absolutely menacing. Physically, the filmmakers used a remarkable combination of practical effects and CGI. A talented dancer and actress, Amie Donald donned a mask and plastic gloves for portions of the film. The fact that it is so difficult to tell which scenes used which technique is a testament to the fantastic job the effects crew has done. Believability and chilling realism are precisely why M3GAN succeeds.
BEST FRI3NDS FOREVER
Following the crowd-pleasing madness of Malignant, screenwriter Akela Cooper seems to have yet another winner on her hands. With a trendy marketing scheme and strong critical scores, M3GAN could be 2023’s first big hit. Cooper injects just the right amount of humor and satirical nature into M3GAN to balance the terror and grief. Almost seamlessly transitioning from laugh-out-loud moments to tense, scary ones.
Huge kudos to Violet McGraw for one scene in particular! It is a pretty simple one where Cady opens up to M3GAN about her feelings about having lost her parents. It is the very best sequence in the entire film.
There is a surprising amount of charm to M3GAN that makes her dark turn that much more impactful. It’s difficult to not feel sympathy for Cady and the joy brought on by her new friendship. Yet, her very dependence on her artificial friend is problematic in itself. This very theme is a brilliant allegory for children of this generation and their attachment to screens. More and more parents choose to occupy their children’s time and lives with technology. In turn, they themselves lose precious valuable quality time with their children. Akela Cooper’s decision to not only acknowledge this fact but to have it play an integral part in the film’s narrative truly elevates M3GAN further from similar fare.
2019 Child’s Play 2.0?
I had the pleasure of enjoying the 2019 remake of Child’s Play just before attending the premiere night of M3GAN. While M3GAN is overall a better film and Child’s Play is way more violent, it is hard to ignore how oddly similar they are. Child’s Play (2019) didn’t quite develop their characters as well and it is a lot more mean-spirited but it’s interesting how many of the story beats align. That is honestly my main gripe which is more of a coincidence than a detriment to M3GAN‘s storytelling.
M3GAN is honestly not terribly scary but both the visual and written storytelling ensure a fun entertaining time. Along with a more relatable and engaging human narrative that collectively makes for a surprisingly satisfying experience.
A life long cinephile from the Bay Area in Northern California. Aside from having written for various outlets since 2019, I've been podcasting since 2020.
(Currently Co-Hosting the Geekly Goods Roundup)
When I'm not indulged in a ridiculous amount of media consumption or losing track of days on my Nintendo Switch, I can be found at concerts or playing basketball.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.