Megan (2022) Movie Review

Blumhouse Productions has generated great interest in their horror movie, "M3gan," with a marketing strategy that emphasizes the movie's ridiculousness. The title character, a four-foot-tall cyborg named M3gan, is portrayed with big doe eyes, a ratty wig, and a 50s melodrama-inspired wardrobe that suggests a closeted lesbian headmistress. Blumhouse has used well-placed GIFs and activations with women in M3gan drag to create buzz, and this strategy seems to be working. M3gan is getting more attention than the last five horror films released in early January.

"M3gan" was written by Akela Cooper, the screenwriter behind the viral hit "Malignant," and James Wan, who directed "Malignant." Cooper has also been brought on to write a sequel to "The Nun." "M3gan" is a more overtly comedic movie than "Malignant," with a more populist appeal. The film explores the theme of "science gone amok" seen in movies like "Frankenstein" and "Jurassic Park," with an added modern through line about motherhood. The film's subgenre, "tiny terrors," draws comparisons to "Child's Play," but M3gan's motivation is different from Chucky's. M3gan is fiercely protective of her nine-year-old human companion, Cady, while Chucky's boy Andy is a victim of his doll.

The film opens with a sequence that establishes its tone of garish satire and mischievous morbidity. Cady's parents are killed in a Final Destination-style accident, leaving her aunt, Gemma, to become her legal guardian. Gemma works for a toy company but is not a motherly type. She keeps her collectible toys in their boxes and on a shelf in her living room. Gemma and Cady must learn to live together and satisfy a court-ordered psychiatrist who doubts Gemma's parenting abilities. Enter M3gan, an experimental prototype who can act as a teacher and babysitter to Cady. M3gan has a "Short Circuit"-style ability to memorize infinite amounts of information, making her the perfect solution to Gemma's problems. But with M3gan's beta testing rushed through, the situation is ripe for unforeseen problems.

Directed by Gerard Johnstone, "M3gan" is consistent in its tongue-in-cheek tone. The film incorporates its themes holistically without being heavy-handed. Although the plot has some weak points and dangling threads, and the PG-13 rating limits the violence, the movie is still a hoot. Johnstone has capitalized on the uncanny valley aspect of M3gan's character, directing her petite stuntwomen to move in odd, jerky gestures. This aspect recalls movies like "Robocop" and "The Ring," and it makes for an unsettling sight.

"The Ring." The film's visuals are delightfully cheesy, with M3gan's shiny silver exterior looking like it's been painted on with a glossy nail polish, and her glowing red eyes creating an eerie effect. The supporting cast also does a good job of elevating the material, particularly Williams as the cold and calculating Gemma and McGraw as the innocent but curious Cady.

In the end, "M3gan" is a fun and entertaining horror-comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a perfect movie for a night in with friends or a lighthearted date night. The marketing campaign has certainly done its job in generating interest and buzz for the film, but the film itself delivers on the promise of its premise. Fans of horror and comedy alike will find something to enjoy in this quirky and offbeat movie.