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The Sun
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
From killer doll to AI armageddon
M3GAN 2.0 is not the same high-camp horror-comedy that turned the internet upside down in 2023. While the original leaned into its absurdity with razor-sharp satire and meme-worthy dance breaks, this sequel shifts gears both in tone and scale. The upgrade is clear: the story is grander, the stakes are higher and the tone is... surprisingly sombre. Gone are the TikTok-ready theatrics and tongue-in-cheek chaos. In their place: cyber-espionage, global politics and existential debates about artificial intelligence. Yes, the killer doll still kills, but this time she does it in a world that feels more like Black Mirror than Chucky. It is a sequel that dares to be different, but one that might leave fans of the original wondering whether bigger really means better. Short-circuiting expectations It is hard not to admire the ambition. Director Gerard Johnstone and co-writer Akela Cooper clearly decided that a simple 'doll gone rogue' rerun would not cut it. So they dialled everything up: more tech jargon, more military secrets and more philosophical ponderings about man versus machine. However, in doing so, M3gan 2.0 trades in the quirky unpredictability that made the first film so watchable. Where the original thrived on its bizarre sense of humour and satirical tone, this follow-up plays it straighter, attempting to craft a deeper narrative about the ethics of AI control. The problem? It sometimes forgets to have fun. And when your film is built around a robot in a wig who used to twerk before murder, fun is kind of the point. Decent acting, spotty characters The performances are serviceable, if not standout. Allison Williams returns as Gemma, still convincingly neurotic and guilt-ridden, while Violet McGraw shows some maturity as the teenage Cady. Ivanna Sakhno's addition as the new robotic threat is intense, though her character remains more of a symbol than a person. Some returning side characters help ground the plot, but new additions feel like filler there to explain things, run tech or conveniently disappear when no longer needed. That is not to say there is no character development, there is and some of it works. But compared to the first film's tightly focused emotional arc, this one feels scattered. A few roles lack real dimension and even the returning faces struggle to find the same chemistry they once had. The result is a cast that looks great on paper but feels uneven on screen. Bigger budget, smaller charm M3gan 2.0 is certainly more expensive. From high-tech labs to underground bunkers and flashy hacker conferences to militarised AI bunkers, the production value is undeniable. It wants to be a sci-fi thriller and it wears that ambition proudly. But in expanding its world, the sequel loses some of the intimacy and bite that made its predecessor memorable. The original's focus on one girl, one aunt and one malfunctioning doll gave it a relatable, almost claustrophobic tension. Here, the plot sprawls across locations, introduces multiple factions and dabbles in geopolitical drama. It is a lot. For viewers expecting another slice of horror-camp with just the right dose of absurdity, this might feel like a bait-and-switch. The camp is still present, but it is buried under layers of exposition and a tone that occasionally borders on self-importance. Dare to be different To be clear, M3gan 2.0 is not a disaster. It is competently made, moderately entertaining and refreshingly bold in its attempt to avoid being a copy-paste sequel. There are moments of cleverness, a few well-choreographed set pieces and hints of that signature dark humour peeking through the cracks. But the shift in genre from horror-comedy to sci-fi action thriller may alienate those who adored the first film's chaotic energy. The camp is dialled down. The satire is less sharp. And while there is still a killer doll, she is sharing the screen with more traditional blockbuster tropes. Whether that evolution is good or bad will depend on one's expectations. M3gan 2.0 deserves credit for trying something new. But it also serves as a reminder that not every upgrade improves performance. Watch with right mindset M3gan 2.0 works as a sci-fi tech thriller with horror elements, just not as the sharp, meme-ready spectacle that made the original a viral hit. There is enough action to keep things moving and just enough heart to give it weight. But the charm that once defined M3gan feels like it has been written over by code. It is unlikely to inspire a cultural frenzy like its predecessor and repeat viewings might not offer the same payoff. But for those curious to see what happens when a murderous android gets a philosophical upgrade, this sequel might still be worth the runtime. DIRECTOR: Gerard Johnstone CAST: Allison Williams, Jenna Davis, Ivanna Sakhno, Amie Donald, Violet McGraw E-VALUE: 5/10 PLOT: 6/10 ACTING: 6/10
Screen Geek
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Screen Geek
'M3GAN 2.0' Review: A New Skin Doesn't Quite Work This Time
The idea of using a doll as a homicidal horror antagonist in film had been done to death for some time. Chucky has pretty much cornered that market for decades, but Blumhouse Productions and creator Akela Cooper decided to come for the king. Cooper's creation, M3GAN , was a massive hit released in 2022 and warranted the return of an AI doll. M3GAN 2.0 promised to step from the horror element into more of an action thriller and succeeds in some parts. The movie goes hard in the 'silly' factor, yet the new direction almost makes it forgettable. New Zealand director Gerard Johnstone directs M3GAN 2.0 . Johnstone takes up writing duties for the sequel, and we see the return of Allison Williams as Gemma, alongside Violet McGraw as her niece, Cady. This time around, the two are forced to work with M3GAN, voiced by Jenna Davis and played by Amie Donald, to stop the more dangerous robot, AMELIA. AMELIA, played by Ivanna Sakhno, is on the hunt for something that will destroy the country, and it's up to our two humans and one robot to stop her. If the familiarity of the plot of M3GAN 2.0 rings of the Terminator 2: Judgement Day elements, you're not delusional. The script from Johnstone takes parts of the 1991 James Cameron film and gives them a more updated, ridiculous spin. The script works for about 50-60% of the time and adds more humor this time around. Gemma doesn't believe that this somewhat new M3GAN's intentions are good, while Cady falls on the trust side of the fence a little more easily. There are numerous instances where M3GAN has to prove herself repeatedly, which becomes tiresome by the middle of the second act. It detracts from what made the first film work, and that's the chemistry between Cady and M3GAN. It hurt the film at numerous points and didn't allow M3GAN 2.0 to showcase the emotional stakes that some of the plot points promise. Don't get me wrong; I enjoyed some of the parts where M3GAN and the gang were trying to be one step ahead of AMELIA, but it lacked a bit of soul. However, the comedy aspect of the movie wasn't lacking. Several comedic beats work well for M3GAN 2.0. Johnstone's writing allows Davis to take the Deadpool route with her level of snark and comebacks. That notion works well with Williams and McGraw playing their characters as the 'straight men.' It mixes well with some of the action and brings it home with a ridiculous singing number that starts awkwardly funny and turns into all-out hilarious. Unfortunately, some of the foundations that work for M3GAN 2.0 are outweighed by the poor directing choices from Johnstone. The filmmaker has worked on action projects, but this film is a step back from his previous work. There are times in the movie where the action set pieces featuring M3GAN and AMELIA really work. The scenes are well thought out and have an even peace. However, the further they go along, the more frequent the quick cuts become. I started getting lost in what was going on at a certain point, and it even left me a little disoriented. It's as if Johnstone was trying hard to hide the lack of impact or ugliness in the scenes, and it only makes things worse, and it doesn't stop there. M3GAN 2.0 runs at a clip. The pacing is RUSHED and gives the movie that 'forgettable' component. The film is nearly two hours long, which could have allowed the entire story some breathing room. I got the feeling that Johnstone desperately wanted that breathing room by the third act when the pacing takes a hard break and almost gives whiplash. This is the part where the villain of the movie reveals themselves and presents their ultimate plan, which often proves to be confusing, convoluted, and downright unintelligible. I wasn't expecting M3GAN 2.0 to be anything more than a dopey follow-up to a ridiculous horror film that could have failed but didn't. I applaud Johnstone for taking a new route with the characters, diving in hard with the concept, and making nods to other robot film classics, such as T2 and Metropolis (1927). Yet, the movie's script and direction feel rushed and, sadly, give it that 'strike while the iron is hot' quality desperately. I don't know where they can take this franchise further, but they might as well continue leaning harder and start genre hopping. That's probably the only way to keep interest in M3GAN going and potentially attract new audiences. Grade: C
The Verge
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
M3gan 2.0 is a fun upgrade that's a little too self-aware
Universal and Blumhouse's first M3gan feature came out of nowhere with a premise so ridiculous and campy that it was hard not to be at least a little intrigued. Equal parts Child's Play and Small Wonder, M3gan was undeniably silly with its story about an AI-powered doll who sang Sia's 'Titanium' and danced around as she chopped people's heads off. But the movie struck a near-perfect balance between straight horror and comedy that made it a delight to see in a crowded theater. M3gan also killed at the box office, to the tune of $180 million against a modest $12 million budget. That made it all too easy for Universal to greenlight and fast-track a bigger, more expensive sequel, but it was unclear where, exactly, the new franchise might go next. There's a pointed cleverness to the way returning director Gerard Johnstone and writer Akela Cooper evolve their murderous doll's story with M3gan 2.0. And you can see in the film's action-forward sci-fi turn how much more money was put into its production. Like many horror sequels, though, M3gan 2.0 has a tough time living up to its predecessor as it brings back the original cast to take on a few new AI threats. It's by no means a terrible movie, but it does get a bit too caught up trying to wax philosophic about the dangers of a robot uprising when it should be more focused on being a scary good time. Though most of the world has moved on two years after M3gan's (voiced by Jenna Davis, and physically portrayed by Amie Donald) first killing spree, memories of what happened still haunt teenager Cady (Violet McGraw) and her roboticist-turned-author aunt Gemma (Allison Williams). While Gemma's involvement in M3gan's creation tarnished her reputation as an inventor, she's become a well-known advocate for stronger controls on artificial intelligence. At Gemma's new foundation, her longtime friends Tess (Jen Van Epps) and Cole (Brian Jordan Alvarez) now work to develop different kinds of technologies, like powered exoskeletons that are meant to help humans stay competitive as simple, efficient robots become a larger part of the labor market. The last thing Gemma — who insists on minimal screen time in their new house — wants is for Cady to follow in her STEM footsteps. But Cady has a knack for programming things in her own right, and she's very good about keeping it all hidden. Like Gemma, Cady's still very traumatized by her last experience with M3gan. She knows how quickly M3gan's hard-coded imperative to love her can turn violent. Cady wouldn't dream of trying to bring M3gan, who was destroyed, back 'better.' But the same can't be said for certain people within the US military. Though most everyone remembers how much of a disaster M3gan was, technically speaking, the remote-controlled Autonomous Military Engagement Logistics and Infiltration Android known as 'Amelia' (Ivanna Sakhno) is a different kind of machine. Amelia's got all of her older sister's same bells, whistles, and killing skills, but none of M3gan's buggy, emotional code. Amelia seems like she's the next generation of unmanned warfare right up until the point when she goes rogue and starts murdering people her handlers don't mean for her to. Whereas the first M3gan was a fairly straightforward horror flick, 2.0 switches things up by leading with a strong sci-fi energy that feels like a cross between Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Alita: Battle Angel. Amelia isn't from the future, but she is very much a terminator who snaps necks and kicks people's jaws off with a cold brutality that feels more vicious than the first M3gan's kills. Despite their gore, Amelia's action sequences are delightfully electric and fun to watch as she sets off on a hunt to find innovators in the AI field. But they often lack a suspenseful quality because of how most of her victims don't have any reliable way of defending themselves. M3gan 2.0 seems to know that there's only so much killer-robot-on-human violence one can watch before the schtick gets a bit boring, and so it telegraphs Amelia and M3gan's showdown basically from the jump. Because the film has to bring M3gan back and can't rush headlong into the machines' confrontation, though, it spends a fair amount of its runtime trying to pad Gemma and Cady's arc out with milquetoast ideas about parenthood in the age of AI. Once M3gan's back and in an uneasy alliance with the humans, the story becomes heavy-handed in its messaging about the emotional rifts that technology can cause within family units. Those beats — many of which play like direct comments on the proliferation of generative AI in the real world — might work a bit better if the movie's human characters didn't feel so stiff. But the most compelling performance here comes from Davis, who played M3gan as a slightly more sophisticated, complicated version of herself. While M3gan 2.0 has its moments, the original's novelty feels lacking here because of how preoccupied it is with aping elements of bigger, blockbuster-type sci-fi features. And despite the increased scale and ambition — and the 2.0 in the title — the sequel doesn't end up feeling like much of an upgrade. M3gan 2.0 also stars Aristotle Athari, Timm Sharp, and Jemaine Clement. The movie is in theaters now.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blumhouse Drops Horror Hit ‘M3GAN' in Full on YouTube
Blumhouse just posted its horror film 'M3gan' to watch entirely free on YouTube. As a way to promote the upcoming sequel 'M3gan 2.0' releasing this summer, the Blumhouse X account fired off a tweet with the entirety of the first film available to watch right then and there. 'Well isn't today your lucky day,' the account said. 'Our legal team let us post the entire 'M3GAN' movie. Enjoy!' Well isn't today your lucky day? Our legal team let us post the entire M3GAN movie. Enjoy! — Blumhouse (@blumhouse) April 28, 2025 The 2023 horror film followed a lifelike doll run by a sophisticated AI meant to be the perfect companion to children. That's just what M3GAN does – until she transitions into a murderous rampage. The movie was a shocking hit for Blumhouse and earned mostly positive reviews and grossed over $180 million at the worldwide box office on a meager $12 million budget. The sequel to the hit is once again helmed by the first's director Gerard Johnstone and is based on a screenplay co-written by him and 'M3GAN' screenwriter Akela Cooper. 'M3GAN 2.0' brings back Allison Williams' Gemma as the creator of the robot who is forced to reboot M3GAN (played again by Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) after a new robot named Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno) goes rogue and begins hunting down everyone involved with the creation of the original bot. 'I'll admit: There were some bugs in my programming,' M3GAN says to her creator in clips for the sequel. The trailer pitches the showdown as 'this b—h vs. that b—h.' 'M3GAN 2.0' hits theaters on Friday, June 27. The post Blumhouse Drops Horror Hit 'M3GAN' in Full on YouTube appeared first on TheWrap.
