Review: M3gan (2023)

Review by: David North-Martino

M3gan (2023) is a science fiction horror film directed by Gerard Johnstone, written by Akela Cooper from a story by Cooper and James Wan, and starring Allison Williams and Violet McGraw. Amie Donald portrays the physical M3gan while Jenna Davis provides the voice acting.

When a robotics engineer at a toy company builds a lifelike robot it threatens to destroy her new family.

M3gan is pretty derivative of movies like Child’s Play (1988), Wes Craven’s Deadly Friend, Robo Cop, and even Real Steel.

M3gan isn’t the worst horror movie I’ve ever seen. It’s watchable and the effects, especially of M3gan the AI doll, are well done. Unfortunately, there are tonal shifts that make you wonder if you’re watching a satirical comedy or a horror movie and there’s some stuff in this that is just silly. I mean, there are basically Furbies in this movie. We had those things in 1988!

The opening of the film only tangentially relates to the rest of the movie and the transition is so jarring it’s confusing. The first scene also sets a very cynical tone for the rest of the picture and doesn’t thematically jibe with what’s to come.

The film itself is disjointed but strangely entertaining. Even though, the problems with this movie are many. There’s no emotional core to this film. There’s no compelling reason for Gemma (Williams) to create M3gan. A subplot is set up about corporate espionage but nothing is ever done with it. And the scares are non-existant. I didn’t even find M3gan exceedingly creepy. M3gan is also developed and created so quickly it defies credulity.

Allison Williams, Violet McGraw and the rest of the cast are fine here and do what they can with what they’ve been given. In fact, the movie is saved by their acting.

M3gan (2023) is an enjoyable enough watch even with all it’s flaws, but it’s no match for previous films in the genre.

M3gan is streaming on Peacock.

Story Doctoring:

I think this would have worked better if Gemma had lost a child and built M3gan to deal with the loss. Then, when she has to take in her sister’s kid, M3gan gets jealous. Leaning into the horror and creepiness, while removing the social satire, would help to make this a more effective movie.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars