‘M3GAN’ an effective blend of scares and campy fun

The ‘killer doll’” horror sub-genre has been majorly successful over the years. Now, it seems each generation has their own successful ‘killer doll’ series. Everyone who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s had Chucky. Years after Chucky terrorized the big screen, Annabelle and Brahms (‘The Boy’) had its own run on the big screen.

Now, this horror sub-genre is kicked up a notch with this highly campy, yet very entertaining movie, ‘M3GAN.’

‘M3GAN’ is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally.

Designed by brilliant toy company roboticist Gemma, M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to.

When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-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.

‘M3GAN’ is a clever, campy thriller that does an awesome job blending the fun and the thrills. The latest killer doll movie delivers some gripping scares and moments that will give you a little laugh.

Just to get this out of the way — the M3GAN character looks really awesome. The visual and practical effects that they used for the character look really good and this new character could eventually become the next big horror movie icon.

It does take a little bit to get to the scares. The first portion of the movie features the M3GAN doll helping with the young girl and can actually be a little heart-warming and humorous. Since the young girl just lost her parents in a tragic car accident and Gemma is not prepared to care for a child, M3GAN is the girl’s best friend and helps her feel happy (and maybe too obsessive with the doll). But the thrills are quite entertaining when they start up and are fun to watch.

Once the M3GAN doll goes into “killer doll” mode, she can get really creepy. And, that is when the movie perfectly blends the campy fun/humor and the chills. There is a scene where the next-door neighbor has a run in with M3GAN in a shed and it can really give you the chills.

When I saw that two of the best modern horror producers were attached to the movie — Jason Blum (the recent Halloween trilogy; Happy Death Day) and James Wan (The Conjuring) — I knew this would be a fun time. Every time (well, almost every time) one of these producers is attached to a thriller and/or horror, it is pretty much a guarantee that you will have a good time at the theater.

Overall, ‘M3GAN’ is a good time at the theater.! It does a great job with the fun and chills that you see throughout the movie. And, who knows, this could become the next big horror franchise.

The cast: Allison Williams as Gemma; Violet McGraw as Cody; Jen Van Epps as Tess; Brian Jordan Alvarez as Cole; Ronny Chieng as David; Lori Dungey as Celia; Stephane Garneau-Monten as Kurt; Arlo Green as Ryan; Kira Josephson as Ava and Amie Donald as M3GAN (Jenna Davis provides the voice of M3GAN).

‘M3GAN’ is written by Akela Cooper (Malignant; Hell Fest) and directed by Gerard Johnstone.

‘M3GAN’ is rated PG-13 for violent content and terror, some strong language and a suggestive reference and has a running time of 102 minutes.

https://youtu.be/OoDHM_A1axc