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M3GAN is a new alleged horror film, with the title standing for “Model 3 Generative ANdroid”.
Yep, they had to find something to make the title fit.
Starting off with what looks like a spoof ad for Purrpetual Pets – a toy similar to a Furby – it’s the Xmas toy every kid will want, for now, but Gemma (Allison Williams – Get Out) and her team are looking for something even better, with one of her colleagues having ordered a face covering for their proposed AI doll, which then boots up like Robocop, and it’s like the doll becomes sentient when she gets a face, as well as having a voice like GlaDOS from Portal.
An early scene leads to our lead getting custody of her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw) in circumstances I won’t spoil, but there’s a breakdown in communication which requires them to bond, leading to Gemma asking her for suggestions on how to improve M3GAN, whilst also showing her a big prototype robot she has in the house called Bruce.
Along the way, there’s a neighbour has an annoying dog, and it’s easy to spot how M3GAN is treated like a substitute parent, and while the doll is shown in a nice light singing songs such as Sia’s Titanium, when we finally get to the expected murders she carries out, they’re very few and far between. Plus, there’s only one f-word, so despite this being a 15-cert in the UK, the film felt like a PG-13 for the US market, and I turned out to be right. Hence, if I’d known it was basically a 12-certificate I might not have bothered watching it, since how can that be scary?
It was also obvious in the fact that there’s no blood splatter when such events come along, although it was amusing when we see M3GAN acting rather like a Terminator doll.
Plus, it’s weird how Gemma insists Cady uses coasters for her drinks on tables in the house, yet doesn’t mind her wearing outdoor shoes indoors. That’s one of my pet hates in life (pet pun not intended).
M3GAN is in cinemas now, but is not yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD. However, you can buy the Paperback. Yeah, as if…
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 102 minutes
Release date: January 13th 2023
Studio: Universal Pictures International
Format: 2.39:1 (ARRIRAW 4.5K)
Cinema: Cineworld Didsbury
Rating: 4/10
Director: Gerard Johnstone
Producers: Jason Blum, Michael Clear, Couper Samuelson, James Wan
Screenplay: Akela Cooper
Story: Akela Cooper, James Wan
Music: Anthony Willis
Cast:
Gemma: Allison Williams
Cady: Violet McGraw
David: Ronny Chieng
M3gan: Amie Donald
M3gan (voice): Jenna Davis
Cole: Brian Jordan Alvarez
Tess: Jen Van Epps
Kurt: Stephane Garneau-Monten
Celia: Lori Dungey
Lydia: Amy Usherwood
Brandon: Jack Cassidy
Greg: Michael Saccente
Officer Carter: Samson Chan
Sister (singing voice): Natasha Kojic
Ava: Kira Josephson
Holly: Renee Lyons
Police Detective: Millen Baird
Nicole: Chelsie Preston Clayford
Ryan: Arlo Green
Shelley: Natasha Daniel
Screaming Woman: Jaya Beach-Robertson
Elise (AI) (voice): Ellen Dubin
Korean Doll (voice): Eugene Young
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.