M3GAN | MOVIE REVIEW | SYLVIA PARK

The movie M3Gan director and screenwriter have crafted a frighteningly fun and excitingly creepy horror-comedy.

It starts with an intense emotional introduction to Cady (Violet McGraw)  and delves straight into the feelings of Cady’s loss and uncertainty when she has to go live with her Aunt Gemma (Allison Williams) who is unsure and unprepared of how to live with an 8-year-old child.

Gemma’s lack of emotional understanding and intense focus on work sets the stage for her decisions and the horror-filled consequences of them.

(from left) M3GAN and Cady (Violet McGraw) in M3GAN, directed by Gerard Johnstone.

Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems. M3GAN’s prime purpose is to protect Cady, emotionally and physically, so when things start to go wrong, M3GAN becomes a little overprotective, leaning more into Terminator territory.

While the jump scares and gore are a little slow to come, it builds the anticipation through the movie to create an emotional tense movie keeping you on the edge of your seat.

The real star in the move is M3GAN herself. Created via puppetry, animatronics, special effects and a real girl (actress Amie Donald), she surpasses her cinematic murder-toy cohorts like Chucky and Annabelle and owns the screen as an unholy cross between Teddy Ruxpin, Regina George and Freddy Krueger.

(from left) M3GAN, Gemma (Allison Williams) and Cady (Violet McGraw) in M3GAN, directed by Gerard Johnstone.

M3GAN is a technological marvel, and as the movie progresses and she learns to think for herself, she begins to talk back, goes feral when hunting her prey (I’ll never look at a pressure washer the same again) and busts out TikTok-ready dance moves before wreaking violent havoc.

M3GAN is a cautionary tale of what happens when something that’s supposed to help parents instead replaces them and the consequences of an overreliance on technology, with that lesson coming in the form of a highly entertaining mean-girl machine.

Check times & dates for Hoyts HERE, then head to Sylvia Park for a delightful family movie to go with your popcorn.