![hero-image_megan-is-a-fun-and-freaky-crowd-pleaser.jpg](https://images.ctfassets.net/xa93kvziwaye/1vZ9L3P60LYHea6IWNycsL/c130340a273c3e2ebc7d48bf450645b7/hero-image_megan-is-a-fun-and-freaky-crowd-pleaser.jpg?fm=webp&f=top&fit=fill&w=48&h=16)
M3GAN is a welcome entry into the killer doll genre
Glenn Cochrane
STACK Senior Editor
Horror chieftains Jason Blum and James Wan joined forces to deliver M3GAN, a cautionary comedy-horror tale that offers a fresh take on a well-oiled genre.
Killer doll movies have been a staple of the horror genre for eons. From the iconic Child's Play and Puppet Master franchises, to lesser known treats like Dolls (1987) and Dolly Dearest (1991), they make childhood things violent, tapping into the irrational fears of viewers. M3GAN is the latest to send chills down spines, and although it resembles so many others before it, it's a riotous affair nonetheless.
Gemma (Allison Williams) is a toy engineer whose work is revolutionary. She specialises in artificial intelligence and has created an all-new robotic companion for children, which has smart home technology and encyclopaedic knowledge. It’s called M3GAN (Model 3 Generative Android) and Gemma bestows her prototype to her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), whose parents died in a tragic accident.
![article-image megan-is-a-fun-and-freaky-crowd-pleaser-1](http://downloads.ctfassets.net/xa93kvziwaye/7JtIPZ1lRVdva7rKVAFAJb/1bb4a8c6d4b1926a99776165a9d29bc3/article-image_megan-is-a-fun-and-freaky-crowd-pleaser-1.jpg)
M3GAN is responsible and has been programmed to protect and educate Cady. She offers conversations and reminders to do chores, and she sings songs when Cady is feeling sad. It's a strong friendship in which the recently orphaned little girl finds solace and comfort, and it would be a touching, albeit unusual, friendship were it not so darn funny.
The comedy is intentional and New Zealand director Gerard Johnstone executes it with precision. He was hired on account of his ability to blend horror and comedy, as proven in his indie hit Housebound (2014), and he brings dark and disturbing hilarity to the table.
![article-image megan-is-a-fun-and-freaky-crowd-pleaser-2](http://downloads.ctfassets.net/xa93kvziwaye/6WKUwNP8ZrwKWCS7V6SQEB/1f03e8c1483a5c03dca5530b3826e9ad/article-image_megan-is-a-fun-and-freaky-crowd-pleaser-2.jpg)
Naturally M3GAN becomes overprotective and will do anything to guard her young owner, resulting in a fun and freaky romp that sees characters bumped off in all kinds of gnarly ways.
As previously mentioned, Wan, Blum and Johnstone are not reinventing the wheel with M3GAN – naming comparable movies is like shooting fish in a barrel.
It’s essentially Chucky with the added twist of AI tech, and were it not for the fact that the 2019 reboot of Child's Play had already explored the very same theme, there might have been merit to the makers’ claims of being the first to exploit it. Nevertheless, they have approached their story with more levity and it plays out at a breakneck pace with no signs of fatigue.
![article-image megan-is-a-fun-and-freaky-crowd-pleaser-3](https://images.ctfassets.net/xa93kvziwaye/52sy2JXBCnfPslUa8eWwhR/34de8aad460d3e2307fdc6c8da149dab/article-image_megan-is-a-fun-and-freaky-crowd-pleaser-3.jpg?fm=webp&f=top&fit=fill&w=48&h=34)
The character of M3GAN is a wonderful creation and checks all the boxes for being creepy and especially icky. She has the appearance of a mail order adult companion doll, which is made all the more disturbing by the fact that a real girl was used to depict her. And what a difference it makes that the filmmakers have resisted the temptation of using CGI, instead casting a real actor inside heavy prosthetics.
Just like the aforementioned Child's Play reboot, the ultimate effectiveness of M3GAN is its relatability. Most viewers interact with smart tech on a daily basis; whether it’s Alexa or Siri, or commanding your home to adjust lighting and security, we rely on AI assistance.
Therefore, watching a little girl grow attached to her high-tech friend is not at all far-fetched, and we can empathise. And most of us have also experienced tech malfunctions, which further allows us to sympathise with Cady and Gemma as M3GAN develops a mind of her own.
![article-image megan-is-a-fun-and-freaky-crowd-pleaser-4](https://images.ctfassets.net/xa93kvziwaye/4kmYiqiZMvnEy5qGTGAqJi/3c9b961e0fac5512af00430e9783f6d7/article-image_megan-is-a-fun-and-freaky-crowd-pleaser-4.jpg?fm=webp&f=top&fit=fill&w=48&h=21)
Ultimately, M3GAN is another crowd pleaser from Jason Blum's Blumhouse production company, which has been responsible for horror hits like Get Out (2017), Halloween (2018), and The Black Phone (2021), and James Wan's Atomic Monster, the company behind The Conjuring franchise, Lights Out (2016), and Malignant (2021).
It’s the first formal collaboration for both and will not be the last, as they have their sights set on more instalments, plus a plethora of other twisted horror movies in the pipeline.
More deadly dolls
Looks like this shelf is empty
We’re restocking this section... in the meantime check out our other deals.
^Discounts apply to previous ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. As we negotiate, products will likely have been sold below ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. Prices may differ at airport stores.