“M3GAN”

When I first began watching “M3GAN,” I thought that “Peacock” decided that I needed to sit through several more advertisements before they’d let me see the film. I was wrong. “M3GAN” begins with a faux, thirty second spot, designed to get children interested in toys called the Purrpetual Petz. In fact, the narrator of the commercial informs children that they can collect all six for their enjoyment. The scene shifts from the advertisement to a vehicle, which is headed up the steep incline of an icy, snow caked mountain with its three occupants: two adults and their nine year old daughter Cady (Violet McGraw), who is on her iPad. Her parents begin to argue over how much screen time she should be allotted. They decide to stop the disagreement, because they can’t drive any further, and are going to wait where they are until the weather clears. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes and Cady’s parents are killed. She is bruised, but survives the terrible accident, and is sent to live with her aunt Gemma, portrayed by Allison Williams (Get Out).

Gemma works as a robotics engineer for Funki, a company located in Seattle. In fact, Gemma helped to design the Purrpetual Petz, along with her engineering team, Cole (Brian Jordan Alvarez) and Tess (Jen Van Epps). The team’s boss, David (Ronny Chieng), is becoming increasingly frustrated with the engineering trio. He wants them to design a Purrpetual Pet that children will have fun playing with, but that is also cost effective. Gemma, and the team, however, are more interested in working on a different creation, known as M3GAN, which stands for Model 3 Generative Android.  M3GAN is an extraordinarily realistic robot, that acts and talks like a person, but the protocols of which are specifically designed to befriend, and interact with children. Gemma will put everything on hold, when she learns that her sister was killed in the accident. As it turns out, in such an event, her sister wanted Gemma to become Cady’s guardian.   

She might be a gifted engineer, in regard to designing toys for children, but when it comes to actual child rearing, Gemma lacks the basics. For example, when Cady walks into Gemma’s house for the first time, she gravitates toward a shelf of toys. Gemma informs Cady that the toys are collectibles, and are not to be played with. During the first evening in her new home, when Cady asks Gemma if she’ll read her a story, before bed, Gemma is at a loss. She has no children’s books, and doesn’t know any children’s stories. What Gemma can do, and  does, is to invest seemingly her every waking moment into finishing her M3GAN robot.  Gemma hopes that the robot will help Cady adjust to her life without her parents, by being there for her, in many different capacities. For example, to listen to Cady, read her bedtime stories, and remind her to do things like wash her hands, when she’s through in the bathroom.  

                                              

Cady becomes very attached to M3GAN, to the point where she wants the robot at her side at all times. M3GAN takes her main protocols of protecting Cady from harm very seriously, so seriously, in fact, that when Gemma’s neighbor Celia’s (Lori Dungey), dog bites Cady, the dog is dealt with by M3GAN, unbeknownst to Cady and Gemma. The incident is only the beginning of M3GAN showcasing that she is willing to do anything to live up to what she was initially programmed for. Will it eventually be too late to stop M3GAN, considering she’s already taking things too far?     

“M3GAN”  was directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound).  The screenplay was written by Akela Cooper (Luke Cage), based on a story she co-wrote with James Wan (The Conjuring). The body movements that the robot couldn’t perform, were done by Amie Donald. Furthermore, Donald did all of her own stunt work The voice of M3GAN, belonged to Jenna Davis. The film premiered in Los Angeles on December 7, 2022.  Parts horror, sci-fi, and thriller, the movie has a runtime of 102 minutes.

                                                                                   

“M3GAN” can be viewed two ways: One, as a cautionary tale to parents and guardians. These days with ever increasing technological wizardry, it is easier for adults to place a child in front of a tablet, or a video game console, and go about their business for a few hours. The hours, however, add up, and instead of social interaction, the child befriends the piece of technology that they spend the majority of their time with. Negative consequences, may or may not occur. Most people I know, who are currently raising young to teenage children, limit their child or teen’s time on streaming devices, as well as on social media. Two: “M3GAN” can be taken the way I took it – as entertainment. It’s not in any way scary in the traditional sense, but it is a good all around entry into the horror and sci-fi genre. As of the writing of this post, “M3GAN” is currently streaming on “Peacock.”