It has been two years since the physical termination of M3GAn, but the leaked AI has evolved into a more destructive military force known as AMELIA. However, can Gemma trust M3GAn 2.0 enough to rebuild her faster and stronger?
Once again directed by Gerard Johnstone, produced by Jason Blum of ‘Blumhouse’ productions and written by Akela Cooper we find ourselves within the realms of the massively popular M3GAn franchise, which positively blew up just over 2 years ago multiplying its comparatively low production cost of $15m giving a mightily impressive $180m returns from a horror film that has been strangely and quite rightly adored and feared by those around the world. Released in the graveyard slot of January 2023, the original film landed comparatively quietly – apart from the viral TikTok dance moves – but was quickly picked up to be my favourite horror film by far of that year.
Of course, Johnstone, Blum and Cooper quickly realised this new style killer doll meant more to people than just blood and death. M3GAn brilliantly reignited this new fear of our current technology and AI especially from adults parenting the mentally impressionable younger generation. Those who are growing up using extremely clever evolving electronic devices as surrogate parents. Cue M3GAn, ‘a highly intelligent childlike doll, which uses artificial intelligence to protect its partnered human from both mental and physical harm.’
With the original M3GAn, which was set to be another throw away film, the entire premise however worked brilliantly. Returning actors and crew made entire sense for this new M3GAn 2.0. We see Allison Williams once again playing aunt Gemma, the brilliant robotosist designer to orphaned Cadey played by the superb Violet McGraw who also starred in the eerie Haunting of Hill House. With Brian Jordan Alvarez as Cole and Jen Van Epps as Tess we so far have a solid grounding for this second part. Of course now we must raise the stakes but this time turn our killer doll into the saviour, much like the superb Terminator 2 did for Terminator. This reference has been made by many online and funnily enough with my original review I did refer to M3GAn as ‘My Little Terminator’.
For the role of M3GAn we see Jenna Davis quite rightly return to provide the unforgettable sassy voice who makes the character so lovable in an uneasy kind of way. For the physicality we see (or rather don’t as she is inside the many costumes) the slightly taller New Zealand born, world class dancer Amie Donald, who provides the literal grown up childlike movement to our titular character. Increasing the intensity of the M3GAn’s role in 2.0 the action have become more physical and dangerous which is where we bring in the Amie’s stunt double Meg Morrison who is more versed in the extremes of martial arts which 2.0 leans into. With Amie’s familiarity being solely with kickboxing and wing chun, the increased action brought increased risk of injury although she did insist on being part of some of the stunts. Bizarrely, the creators of the new doll evolved her movements so lifelike they had to bring her back into the more mechanical way to keep with the menacing doll theme.
As you may gather already, my love is still by far with the original film. M3GAn (1.0) was a breath of fresh air that took the horror world and brought it into today’s technology, giving us more than just a creepy slasher film, it created something quite meaningful that could be re-watched time and again and with each viewing provide something more. BTW I do own the Blu-ray (again please see original review) and was sad to see it leave the big screen cinema. M3GAn 2.0 raises the stakes yet takes us away from what made the first so amazing. Instead of M3GAn being the central character we now have AMELIA meaning ‘Autonomous Military Engagement Logistics Infiltration Android’ played eerily well by Ivanna Sakhno. A rogue agent, larger in stature as a grown adult, her mission very quickly goes wrong as she chooses to ignore her superiors, terminating the subject she was specified to save.
2.0 in itself is actually a good action film although watching the first is a must to fully understand what is happening. The technology aspect of the first act works superbly well bringing M3GAn back to life via Gemma’s home electronics. The comedic side juxtaposes the threatening element that is all too real in a character who has of course physically grown over the 2 years but is still only 5″1′. Jason Blum has stated he felt M3GAn was ‘Superman like’ that he could do as he pleased growing the character so to speak. Waiting over 2 years to see part two with the poster stating “Miss Me? Obviously”, I did, and hoped it didn’t veer too far from the original premise. It unfortunately has.
From Blumhouse productions we have Soulm8te to look forward to which is set for once again the better slot of January next year and will most definitely lean back into the horror aspect of what can potentially be the tricky human/AI interaction. There will hopefully be more M3GAn films as the only thing Blum and Wang did wrong here was to leave our main character fighting for the primary slot in her own film and watering down Akela Cooper’s original darker script.
“Miss Me?”. Already, yes. Bring on M3GAn 3.0
Author: Piers, Maidstone Store
