Film Review: "M3GAN" (2023).

"She's more than a toy. She's family." This is M3GAN. This science fiction horror film directed by Gerard Johnstone and written by Akela Cooper. When Gemma, a brilliant toy-company roboticist, suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned eight-year-old niece, Cady, Gemma’s unsure and unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems - a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.

In July 2018, it was announced that production was underway for a techno horror-thriller titled M3GAN, with the script penned by Cooper, the story conceived by Cooper and James Wan, Johnstone hired to direct, and to be produced by Wan and Jason Blum. The idea of the film began when Wan's Atomic Monster Productions was brainstorming story ideas and chose one about a killer doll. Blum stated that the film would have black comedy elements which is one reason Johnstone was chosen to direct. Wan admired Johnstone's film Housebound (2014) because of his ability to balance the horror and comedy elements by creating a tone that is both frightening and humorous, and this sensibility was essential for the film. By early April 2021, Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Ronny Chieng, Lori Dungey, and Amie Donald were cast. At the same time, with a budget of $12 million, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late June. Filming took place primarily throughout Auckland, New Zealand, with additional filming in Los Angeles, California. Locations in Auckland, such as Auckland University of Technology, the Auckland Showgrounds, Cornwall Park, Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill, Farm Cove, Warkworth town, and Sunnyhills suburbs, were utilised. The film underwent reshoots in post-production in order to secure a PG-13 rating from the Motion Picture Association, after the original cut was deemed too violent. Adrien Morot and Kathy Tse of Morot FX Studio created an animatronic puppet version of M3GAN. Amie Donald performed all of M3GAN's scenes that called for physical movement the puppet could not do and also did all of her own stunt work. Donald received movement coaching from Jed Brophy and Luke Hawker in portraying M3GAN's agility. On set Donald wore a static silicone M3GAN mask created by Morot FX. In post-production, Donald's physical performance and M3GAN's face was enhanced by digital visual effects by the New Zealand-based effects studio Wētā Workshop. The film was originally scheduled to be released on January 13, 2023, before being moved up a week.

This film chugs along on Williams' on-screen charm and Donald's intimidating physicality with Davis' wicked voiceover as the titular killer doll.

The film is a delightfully old-school horror with a wicked sense of humour, some fun performances and a sense of inventiveness that makes this remake a genuinely pleasant surprise. The film avoids being a display of technophobia and instead fulfills its promise of a killer doll and truly entertaining. Paying homage to its B-movie slasher roots, the film finds inventive ways to up the gore, at the same time skewering the current culture of consumerism and digital obsession.

Simon says M3gan receives:

Also, see my review for Terry Teo.