Basking in the success of the new-age camp formula, the creators of 2021's Malignant James Wan and Akela Cooper bring us another horror hoot in the form of a reimagined toy-gone-bad flick M3gan.
Despite being released in early January - typically a time when movie studios publish their less promising works after the peak of the winter holiday fare, M3gan surprised audiences with its humorous twist on the classic killer-doll trope.
Directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound 2014), the film follows the story of a sentient AI doll named M3gan - short for Model 3 Generative Android (played by 12 year-old Amie Donald and voiced by Jenna Davis). Developed by the career-obsessed robotics engineer Gemma (Get Out's Allison Williams), the doll bonds with Gemma's recently orphaned niece Cady (Haunting of Hill House's Violet McGraw). However, as M3gan's bond with Cady develops, the lines between right and wrong start to blur and the robot becomes overly protective, inevitably exterminating anyone it perceives as a threat.
M3gan's artificial intelligence and human-like appearance make it both appealing and terrifying with unclear boundaries between machine and human, commonly associated with Masahiro Mori's concept of the 'uncanny valley' - a phenomenon referring to the relationship between the realistic appearance of humanoid robots and the emotional response they provoke - often described as unease and apprehensiveness. While M3gan is primarily a horror movie, it also has its moments of levity and comedy - like the doll's signature over-the-top dance, complete with a cartwheel and a machete-like weapon in hand - a scene that is both amusing and unsettling at once. Complete with silly dialogue and comical one-liners like "This is the part where you run", the movie doesn't take itself seriously.
While the influence of previous killer-robot and creepy-doll thrillers like Terminator 1984 and Child's Play 1988 is obvious, M3gan presents a unique spin on the mad-scientist archetype underlined with a nuanced commentary on the hardships of parenting and digital dependency.
As more and more sentient AI films hit the market, M3gan stands out with its PG-13 rating, making it accessible to a wider audience than many other horror films. Overall, M3gan is a thrilling and thought-provoking addition to the genre that is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. The film's blend of horror, comedy, and social commentary makes it a must-see for fans of the genre.
It's worth noting that this review was largely written by Chat GPT - a free AI language model, further highlighting the rapid advancement of technology and the potential consequences of creating artificial intelligence that is too advanced.
Watch M3gan's official trailer here:
Related Topics:
#M3gan #2023Horror #GerardJohnstone #Blumhouse #AkelaCooper #JamesWan #AllisonWilliams #VioletMcGraw #AmieDonald #JennaDavis #Malignant
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