M3GAN is ostensibly a sci-fi family drama serving as a satire on tech's invasion into human interaction, and the dangers of smart toys and devices that let parents take time away from parenting. But the film is really a slick introduction to a popcorn horror villain with staying power.
After young Cady survives a car crash that killed her parents in the front seats, her roboticist aunt Gemma takes custody of her. Gemma is clearly unsuited to guardianship, being low-effort or perhaps truly unable to invest in Cady in the way she needs, but they find a spark of connection when Cady admires a robot Gemma constructed. Like a less-insane but equally misguided mad scientist, Gemma decides to revive a faltering project—an autonomous robot doll named M3GAN which she hopes will make Cady happy and make her own new role easier.
The film is not subtle in its skewering of tech toys and technological pervasion. The film opens with an on-point parody of modern Furby toys, which never shut up and demand kids' attention with an app to keep them interactive, and M3GAN herself becoming the new pillar of Gemma's toy company with an imminent launch displays gross irresponsibility and social cluelessness—M3GAN is marketed as a therapist after an emotional interaction with Cady, and the CEO jokes about what she can do for kids whose parents haven't died. Maybe everyone knows that parents should be raising kids and that we give too much control to technology, but it clearly still needs saying.
The emotional arc is a little weak. M3GAN's kills are a result of poor directives, but there was potential for real malice, and for her to turn from a friend to an abuser with Cady that wasn't explored. A story where Cady breaks with M3GAN because she recognizes something is unhealthy and M3GAN manipulates her, rather than her just seeing M3GAN damaged and trying to murder Gemma, would have been more scary. It's also not clear if Gemma is socially challenged or a bad person, nor where her growth comes from.
But M3GAN is what matters. We have a new horror icon. A child-size technopathic robot doll with flawless retro costuming, creepy physicality with zero superfluous motions, and precision and bizarreness all with swift kills all make for a super entertaining villain. She's uncanny, stylish, and makes an identity for herself despite resembling Esther or Chucky. The movie knows she's the star by making her menace less dark and her victims terrible people. She's a franchise anchor in the making, and I welcome the sequel that's been announced.
M3GAN really wasn't crafted for social commentary or darker drama, and that's fine. A film that's not dressed as those will probably let her shine even brighter.
A horror icon made for sequels, and I'm not mad about it.
M3GAN is ostensibly a sci-fi family drama serving as a satire on tech's invasion into human interaction, and the dangers of smart toys and devices that let parents take time away from parenting. But the film is really a slick introduction to a popcorn horror villain with staying power.
After young Cady survives a car crash that killed her parents in the front seats, her roboticist aunt Gemma takes custody of her. Gemma is clearly unsuited to guardianship, being low-effort or perhaps truly unable to invest in Cady in the way she needs, but they find a spark of connection when Cady admires a robot Gemma constructed. Like a less-insane but equally misguided mad scientist, Gemma decides to revive a faltering project—an autonomous robot doll named M3GAN which she hopes will make Cady happy and make her own new role easier.
The film is not subtle in its skewering of tech toys and technological pervasion. The film opens with an on-point parody of modern Furby toys, which never shut up and demand kids' attention with an app to keep them interactive, and M3GAN herself becoming the new pillar of Gemma's toy company with an imminent launch displays gross irresponsibility and social cluelessness—M3GAN is marketed as a therapist after an emotional interaction with Cady, and the CEO jokes about what she can do for kids whose parents haven't died. Maybe everyone knows that parents should be raising kids and that we give too much control to technology, but it clearly still needs saying.
The emotional arc is a little weak. M3GAN's kills are a result of poor directives, but there was potential for real malice, and for her to turn from a friend to an abuser with Cady that wasn't explored. A story where Cady breaks with M3GAN because she recognizes something is unhealthy and M3GAN manipulates her, rather than her just seeing M3GAN damaged and trying to murder Gemma, would have been more scary. It's also not clear if Gemma is socially challenged or a bad person, nor where her growth comes from.
But M3GAN is what matters. We have a new horror icon. A child-size technopathic robot doll with flawless retro costuming, creepy physicality with zero superfluous motions, and precision and bizarreness all with swift kills all make for a super entertaining villain. She's uncanny, stylish, and makes an identity for herself despite resembling Esther or Chucky. The movie knows she's the star by making her menace less dark and her victims terrible people. She's a franchise anchor in the making, and I welcome the sequel that's been announced.
M3GAN really wasn't crafted for social commentary or darker drama, and that's fine. A film that's not dressed as those will probably let her shine even brighter.