Hollywood is known for the exaggerated petrifying doll movies such as Chucky or Annabelle, but this movie leads with a different approach. Ringing in the new year with a refreshing film on the big screen, “M3gan” brings fear and comedy all within one movie. An artificial doll who’s programmed to be young Cady’s biggest companion. Despite the horror this movie includes it also shows the lengths M3gan will go to protect the ones she loves. The M3gan movie outshines other horror movies, with its intense depth and humorous moments. M3gan is not your average murderous doll, she has a dab of humor and loyalty to go along with her dark side. The beginning of her story is distinctive from most dolls. Cady James is an orphaned child who lives with her aunt Gemma. Gemma is a roboticist who’s determined to advance her Al doll M3gan capable of human tasks, however Gemma underestimated the doll’s power. Gemma, focused on her inventions, was not cut out to be Cady’s caregiver. Instead, she lays M3gan with the responsibility of taking care of Cady. M3gan did not take this task lightly.  

The background story of M3gan makes her intriguing. Despite most dolls intent to kill for the sake of it, M3gan’s motives have depth. With her intense need to love and protect Cady, the audience sees deranged moments in the doll’s attempts to do so. In past horror movies such as Chucky, they tend to miss the mark that M3gan tends to leave. The Chucky movies lack emotional intelligence within the famous doll killer, M3gan, however is personable and audiences connect with her.  M3gan is setting the bar for new horror movies to come, its influential nature leaves the audience wondering about the film days later. 

M3gan’s killings slowly become more drastic overtime. It started off with, “ a dog went missing” or “a child fell into traffic”, the murders started to get heavier. The movie does an excellent job at providing plenty of action to entertain viewers. One particular moment in the film is the murder of Cady’s neighbor Celia. With Cecilia’s dog biting Cady or threatening the family’s well being. The audience sees the complexity of M3gan’s character. The intense devotion she has for loved ones, shines through in the killings of any threats towards Cady. The murder of Cecilia brought chaotic moments to the screen, using poisonous spray to kill, and left the audience with their jaws dropped.

M3gan is not only an intense serial killer, she offers good laughs and advice to her companion Cady. One outstanding scene was the doll trying to distract one of her victims by breaking into a dance before killing him. As outrageous as this scene seems, it ties in all the drama with a good slice of comedy. As dramatic and glorifying horror movies are, not many movies are good at adding comedic value at the rate of M3gan. 

M3gan is the new doll icon, following in Chucky’s footsteps but better. This camp horror movie takes a step out of the classic horror movie guidelines. The movie is admirable because of its campiness and ability to set the bar. Providing emotional depth and complexity, this movie went above and beyond my expectations. The new face of  doll horror, M3gan is exceptional.