Morgan: Killer Doll, the mockbuster of M3GAN that will make you laugh

Morgan: Killer Doll is a horror film directed by Jose Prendes, set to be released in select theaters on June 20, 2025, following its digital release on June 13, 2025. This film is produced by The Asylum, a company known for creating low-budget mockbusters that parody popular films. In this case, Morgan: Killer Doll is a riff on the 2023 sci-fi horror film M3GAN, which features a killer AI doll.

The narrative centers around a lifelike doll that begins to kill individuals connected to the past of a deceased woman. As the body count rises, the remaining survivors must uncover the doll's true nature before they become its next victims. The film explores themes of grief and revenge, as the doll wreaks havoc on those linked to its former owner.

Terror laughs at itself

Morgan: Killer Doll serves as a mockbuster of M3GAN, utilizing satire and parody to critique and riff on the original film's themes and tropes.

The film centers around a lifelike doll that begins to kill people connected to a deceased woman, echoing the premise of M3GAN, where an AI doll becomes dangerously protective of its owner. However, Morgan: Killer Doll amplifies the horror elements and absurdity, leaning into a more exaggerated and campy style typical of The Asylum's productions. This approach highlights the inherent silliness of the killer doll genre, poking fun at the serious tone of its predecessor.

The trailer for Morgan: Killer Doll showcases a series of violent and over-the-top kills, including a bathtub scene, which adds a layer of dark humor. This contrasts with M3GAN, which, while also featuring horror elements, maintains a more polished and mainstream approach. By emphasizing gruesome and absurd scenarios, Morgan: Killer Doll invites viewers to laugh at the horror rather than be genuinely frightened, thus mocking the conventions of the genre.

The Asylum strategically released Morgan: Killer Doll just ahead of M3GAN 2.0, ensuring that it captures audience attention while the original film is still fresh in public consciousness. This timing not only serves as a direct commentary on the competitive nature of the film industry but also positions Morgan: Killer Doll as a humorous alternative to the more serious sequel, further emphasizing its mockbuster status.

While M3GAN explores themes of grief and the consequences of technology in parenting, Morgan: Killer Doll appears to exaggerate these themes to the point of absurdity. The characters in Morgan are likely portrayed in a more one-dimensional and caricatured manner, which serves to mock the emotional depth that M3GAN attempts to convey. This approach allows Morgan: Killer Doll to critique the original film's narrative choices while entertaining audiences with its own brand of humor.

Dark humor

Morgan: Killer Doll amplifies the themes of grief and revenge through its narrative and character dynamics, presenting them in a heightened and often absurd manner. Here’s how the film exaggerates these themes:

The film begins with a tragic death that leaves behind a lifelike doll, which becomes a vessel for revenge. This setup exaggerates the concept of grief by suggesting that unresolved emotional pain can manifest into violent actions. The doll, embodying the deceased's unresolved issues, begins to kill those connected to her past, turning grief into a driving force for a series of gruesome murders. This portrayal amplifies the emotional turmoil associated with loss, transforming it into a horror trope where grief directly leads to violent retribution.

In Morgan: Killer Doll, the revenge theme is exaggerated to the point where the doll becomes an unstoppable force, relentlessly pursuing its victims. This portrayal of revenge is not just personal but almost supernatural, as the doll seems to embody the vengeful spirit of its former owner. The film suggests that the desire for revenge can overshadow all rational thought, leading to a cycle of violence that is both tragic and absurd. The extreme lengths to which the doll goes to exact revenge serve to mock the often glorified notion of vengeance found in traditional horror narratives.

The film employs dark humor to exaggerate the seriousness of grief and revenge. By incorporating absurd scenarios and exaggerated violence, Morgan: Killer Doll invites the audience to laugh at the horror rather than feel genuine fear or sadness. This campy approach highlights the ridiculousness of the situations, making the themes of grief and revenge feel less like serious emotional struggles and more like exaggerated plot devices. For instance, the trailer teases gruesome kills in a bathtub, which adds a layer of absurdity to the revenge narrative.

Morgan: Killer Doll exaggerates the themes of grief and revenge through its narrative structure, character dynamics, and the use of dark humor. By transforming these serious themes into exaggerated horror tropes, the film critiques and parodies the conventions of the genre while providing a unique viewing experience.