Review: M3GAN

M3GAN is camp. M3GAN is fun. M3GAN is titanium. M3GAN is great.  

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Director Gerard Johnstone's M3GAN is a grand horror-comedy that delivers delicious thrills and laughs. You will hoot and holler from the beginning until the end. Written by the writer of 2021's Malignant (Akela Cooper), so you know that you are in for a treat. How M3GAN works is because it never takes itself seriously. It's unapologetic for its silliness while also knowing how to be entertaining. This all started when M3GAN released its official trailer last fall, took the internet by storm, and already won over so many hearts. The marketing for this film was smart, and I would argue that Universal made the right call to make the theatrical version PG-13.

My theater showing was packed with teenagers of all ages excited to see M3GAN (Model 3 Generative Android) slay. In the end, this film became a box office hit, grossing $94 million in the U.S. and $77.7 million in other territories for a total of $171.6 million, all on a small $12 million budget. M3GAN 2.0 has already been green-lit by the studio. Onto the story: after a tragedy Cady (a strong Violet McGraw) is left to be cared for by her aunt Gemma (a wonderful Allison Williams) in Seattle. Gemma is a roboticist at a high-tech toy company called Funki. Through Cady's grief, Gemma is able to find a way to make an AI to help comfort and protect Cady.

Cue the prototype M3GAN (performed by Amie Donald and voiced by Jenna Davis), which is paired with Cady, while having the potential to be the biggest hit Funki has ever seen. However, this is a horror picture, so all well-intended things will eventually become evil, and so M3GAN turns to her darker side. Johnstone's picture gives us the thrills, laughs, and even some chills throughout this delightful horror-comedy. And to top things off, just this week, Universal released its unrated version of M3GAN, gifting any horror fan who wants to see more blood and gore. I am excited to watch this movie again and gobble up all of the silliness that comes with it. In the end, M3GAN came, killed, and danced to her very last breath. Queen.

M3GAN is rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned) For Some Strong Language | A Suggestive Reference | Terror | Violent Content.

The theatrical and unrated versions are now Streaming on Peacock and available to rent on VOD.

Directed by Gerard Johnstone

Starring Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng and, of course, the star of the film M3GAN herself.