M3GAN (2022)
09/03/2023
2022 saw a host of sequels, remakes and, finales to well established horror franchises, but with 2023 around the corner many new horror films have been introduced paving the way for future instalments.
One of these films feature a killer A.I. in the guise of a child’s doll.
Gemma’s (Allison Williams) long term goals certainly did not include a child, but when Cady’s (Violet McGraw) parents are killed in a fatal car crash, she must learn to adapt to newfound motherhood in order to keep custody of Cady.
Rather than fill the absence Cady’s mother has left, Gemma opted to create M3GAN (Jenna Davis) an artificial intelligence doll to fill the role of guardian and protector.
M3GAN’s presence throughout the film takes the societal fear we have of technological advancement eventually taking over our jobs, and thrusts it into the role of parenthood.
We already give a lot of our lives to technology; from Self-driving Teslas, to Siri keeping a record of our conversations.
By giving technology the tasks that we find mundane, we are able to focus on the more important tasks.
M3GAN poses an interesting question as to what roles we value and what roles are mundane and thus can be given to technology to complete.
The bond between Cady and M3GAN is a perfect example of mixing drama with thriller to convey these complex societal concerns we have in a horror setting.
Cadys emotional dependency on M3GAN and M3GANs prime directive to protect cady at all costs establishes the heart of the film and creates a tearful musical scene that captivates both the investors listening in, as well as the audience.
That does not mean M3GAN is flawless in its execution; The antagonist and their primary directive becoming warped is nothing new (HAL and VIKI being top contenders), the death scenes were either cut or implied via a new shot, losing its gore value, and finally the adults are just another classic case of not knowing they are in a horror film (Gemma revolutionised the toy industry with her A.I. yet couldn’t connect all the sudden deaths to M3GAN?)
Regardless of these tropes, M3GAN is a welcomed reminder to appreciate what we have and not take it for granted.
