M3GAN reminds us that dolls are scary and technology is evil

If chucky When Girlfriend if there is a love child M3GAN—movie When toy.Killer Doll’s latest creation, from the heart James Wan, Akela Cooper,directed by Gerald Johnston, M3GAN Accomplishes what some horror movies can do. It understands the concept is silly and isn’t afraid to make fun of itself like the original. scream, and in doing so, the film manages to hit an apt and relevant note when it comes to all things scary about technology.In 2023, beloved Dolly doesn’t have to be possessed by an evil spirit. All you need is an operating system with unlimited Internet access.

M3GANabbreviation Model 3 Generative Androidis an artificial intelligence doll prototype designed by a roboticist. Gemma (Allison Williams), working for a luxury toy company. Gemma is single, wealthy, and obsessed with her job.But her life came to a standstill when her sister and her stepbrother died in a tragic (and very predictable) accident, and she became the guardian of her young daughter. caddy (Perfectly played Violet McGrawspooky fans will remember as a child possessed by ghosts crooked lady of Hill House Tatari).

McGraw plays Cady, who is understated in pain and anxiety. A child too young to fully comprehend the death of her parents, who struggle to make sense of her loss, her new home, and her aunt. Under Williams’ near-robotic control, Gemma, apparently not planning on having children, appears completely lost. , chronicle memories of Cady’s parents, and eerily (laughing) sing lullaby pop songs as we learn about attachment theory. Shea When David Guetta‘s “titanium” never sounded so alien. Who needs a loving adult when you can have a know-it-all, seemingly sentient, doll friend?

The rest happens as you would expect. After all, there is a formula for this.the same as Girlfriendof Samantha, M3GAN gets smarter by the day. She also develops a connection with Cady and acts as her protector until the death of the kind of person who frowns on girls. M3GAN It collects body counts that are a bit brutal, but not too violent. These scenes were cut to secure a PG-13 rating.

The plot is predictable down to the dead dog, but formulaic doesn’t necessarily mean bad. Like the iPad’s pet, it never dies, but somehow it’s shit. My biggest complaint, aside from the dead dog (which is lazy and unnecessary), is that at the end of the movie, the filmmaker uses his CGI to make his M3GAN like any other humanoid his monster. , when moved in a way that ignores the human body’s capabilities. One of the most terrifying aspects of modern horror is the way humanesque bodies move in decidedly inhuman ways. It feels primitively wrong. However, M3GAN is a puppet, and puppets don’t have joints like we do (it’s made of plastic, not skin and bones). So when her joints bend at odd angles, it feels forced and out of character. M3GAN is scary because it’s a puppet, not a human.