M3GAN

US, 2022, 102 minutes, Colour.

Alison Williams, Violet McGraw, Amie Donald, Ronnie Chieng, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Stephane Garneau-Monten, voice of Jenna Davis.

Directed by Gerard Johnstone.

If Mary Shelley was living today, she would be eager to see M3gan. It is the latest version of the archetypal novel, Frankenstein. But, here it is, in the age of artificial intelligence, and progress in robotics. So, the basic story is not new, rather, centuries-old. And the world of AI and robotics has been the world of many dramas and thrillers in recent years.

M3gan (Model 3 Generative Android) has been promoted as a horror story, coming from Jason Blum and his Blumhouse productions, specialising in horror thrillers, more prolific in recent years, and more upmarket.

But, it is somewhat misleading to type M3gan as a horror film. Rather, in the vein of several of the films of 2022, film is more of menace and fear rather than blood and gore, though they have their moments, of course, Smile, The Black Phone, Barbarian, Sissy…

In fact, production notes indicate that a decision was made during production to get in an American PG 13 rating, toning down the violence, aiming for a wider audience. And, this works. There is much more going on than any excursions into horror moments – although, there are a couple of deaths during the film and, as expected, quite a buildup in the last 15 minutes to menace, violence and destruction.

In fact, most of the film works as a psychological drama. Cady is a young girl whose parents are killed in a car smash. Her mother’s sister, Gemma, takes on responsibilities for her care. But, Gemma has very few parenting skills, is a career woman, in fact, something of a genius, creating robots, with an especial aim of creating a robot doll who can be a companion to a child, always gathering information, adjusting the information to be able to relate to the child personally, empathy and understanding.

Rather neglecting the grieving Cady, Gemma spends her time perfecting her prototype robot, called M3gan, working with her team to impress the go-getting boss (Ronnie Chieng, popular as a comedian in Australia). M3gan is constructed to be a companion to Cady – but, in the psychological issues of the film, becomes a substitute mother-figure, understanding, ever-present, and protective. And we know that the protection will be assertive and, eventually violent.

When the prototype is approved by the company and a promotion video screened, and preparation for a spectacular launch, matters come to a head. And, by that time, the audience is prepared for M3gan asserting herself, over-protective, and then a matter of survival!

The scientist creating this 21^st-century little girl robot Frankenstein monster is played by Alison Williams, sympathetic but the audience wishing she could be more motherly. Violet McGraw is very convincing as the young Cady. M3gan has two performers – Amie Donald acting but with the voice of Jenna Davis, just the right blend of sympathy and menace.

The film works well because of the psychological dimensions throughout, the tantalising sequences as Cady and M3gan become more interdependent, the atmosphere of menace culminating in the PG 13 violent confrontations.

1. A menace horror film? Moderate in violence? The Blumhouse films?
2. The 21^st century version of the Frankenstein story? The scientist, IT laboratories, robotics, the monster, the consequences?
3. The film as a psychological story, the death of the parents, the little girl orphaned, grieving, her aunt’s care, around busy, the psychiatrist and observation, M3gan as her doll, companion, dependence?
4. The tone, the opening, Cady and her constant attention to her computer, the toys, screen time? Tantrum behaviour? The parents, jovial, the snow, no chains, waiting, the crash?
5. Cady, age, in her aunt’s care, the house, Gemma busy, left alone, the toys, the introduction to the robot, Bruce, its abilities, Gemma controlling it, the ending, Bruce confronting M3gan, Caddy manipulating Bruce?
6. Gemma, her work, skills, age and experience, her team and the bond with them? Creating Bruce early, demonstrating it, controlling it? The plan for M3gan, the acronym? The mechanics, the IT, the brain, programmed for information, adaptation and behaviour? The face, the skin?
7. David, his company, his manner, costs, assistant, Kurt? Confronting Gemma, the time limits, finance?
8. Gemma, the success with M3gan, introducing her to Cady, M3gan programmed to understand Cady, the information, the adaptation, gauging the moods? The voice, intonations? Being able to be turned on and off? Keeping guard over M3gan, protecting her? The companionship, two little girls together?
9. The next door neighbour, the vicious dog, intruding through the whole, biting Cady, M3gan and her vengeance? The neighbour, her continued complaints, calling her dog with the food? The police and complaints? Her going onto the street, knocked over by the car?
10. The work with the psychologist, observing Gemma and Cady, wondering about interdependence? M3gan’s behaviour?
11. Education, an alternate homeschooling, the cheery leader with the children, the cook and chatting with Gemma, Brandon and his violent behaviour, paired with Cady, tormenting Cady, M3gan on the shelf the toys, coming to Cady’s rescue, the confrontation with Brendan, his attack, her pursuit, is rolling down the hill, run over? Police inquiries?
12. Gemma and her assistants, the concern about M3gan and mothering? Gemma and mothering?
13. Kurt, transferring all the data to his computer, David and his treatment? The later confrontation between M3gan and Kurt, killing him?
14. David, the enthusiasm, the demonstration, M3gan and caddy talking, unscripted, the consolation, the observers, the woman weeping? The boss, agreement to the contract, to be ahead with toys, the $10,000 pricetag, upping Gemma’s salary?
15. Cady, tantrums, dependence on M3gan, the demonstration, Gemma taking her home?
16. David, wanting crowds for the demonstration, the enthusiasm with the video screened?
17. David, the confrontation with M3gan, her confronting Gemma’s workers but their being saved? The pursuit of David, the elevator, Kurt, the deaths? The crowd and the reactions?
18. M3gan, the house, playing the piano, her explaining herself, gauging the situations? The fights, the confrontation with Gemma, with Cady, M3gan resenting her? Cady, the manipulation of Bruce, destroying M3gan?
19. The psychology throughout the film, parenting, dependence? With the 21^st-century robotic Frankenstein monster?