"M3GAN: The Unsettling Rise of an AI-Powered Doll"

When I first went to see M3GAN, I was expecting a bone-chilling experience. After all, the story centers around a rogue AI-powered doll. And true to form, the movie often maintains an unsettling feeling of dread, with the final act venturing into outright terror. However, what I wasn't prepared for was just how zany and hilarious the film turned out to be. Directed by Gerard Johnstone, whose Housebound is a must-watch for fans of horror comedies, and written by Akela Cooper, M3GAN both departs from and pays homage to other creepy doll movies like the Annabelle and Chucky franchises.

Allison Williams plays Gemma, a roboticist for a company that produces high-tech robotic companion toys for kids. She's been working on a secret prototype for a lifelike doll with advanced capabilities, including sentience, heightened intelligence, and the ability to process information through her "eyes" to learn and adapt to her surroundings. The doll, known as M3GAN (Model 3 Generative Android), is designed to care for children both physically and emotionally when their parents are absent, but hasn't been properly tested.

When Gemma is tasked with taking care of her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), whose parents have died in a car accident, she sees the opportunity to test M3GAN with a real child. As the primary user, Cady is naturally protective of the doll. While Gemma takes advantage of the free time to focus on work, she underestimates the strength and independent mind of her creation. To paraphrase Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park, she was so preoccupied with whether she could create a sentient doll that she didn't stop to think if she should. The consequences become increasingly disastrous.

M3GAN is programmed to protect Cady from anything she perceives as a threat, without any sense of conscience or other human qualities to question her actions. Even a friendly neighborhood dog, a school bully, or even Gemma herself can be seen as a menace and eliminated if they endanger Cady or raise her anxiety levels. M3GAN's awareness is heightened even when it comes to convincing Cady to eat her vegetables, which Gemma soon realizes will be used against her later in the film.

Universal's marketing campaign for M3GAN is legendary, but to avoid spoilers, I took great care to steer clear of any related keywords on social media. The trailer I watched was thankfully not too revealing, and I managed to avoid posters, promo clips, interviews, and even reviews. M3GAN is a joy to watch, regardless of your general opinion on creepy doll movies. The titular doll is a thing of dark majesty, a far cry from the mostly passive dolls seen in other horror films. The design is carefully crafted to evoke an uncanny valley sense, rather than hyperrealism. M3GAN's shadowed eyes and devilish intelligence are frightening in a primal way long before it begins to wreak havoc.

Although the film touches on familiar themes such as the dangers of AI and kids' reliance on gadgets, it does so in a way that feels fresh and entertaining. Despite the horror, gore, and screams, M3GAN maintains a winking and self-referential tone. Even some of the deaths are played for laughs, and viewers won't feel guilty for finding humor in the situation. The robot is paired with the little girl as the primary user and is naturally protective of her. Gemma can take some time off work while the child is under the robot's care.

It's a wonder why Gerard Johnstone took so long to direct another movie after this one. He masterfully combines humor and macabre elements in an irresistible blend. Cooper's script is practically flawless, and the film is an unadulterated joy to watch from start to finish.