Why is January such a special time of the year for the movie industry?
Dumping ground! In the immortal words of Red-Letter Media… “Endless trash!” Most of the films that are released in the first month of the year can be categorized as one of two types of films. One, awards hopefuls trying to squeeze into the box office in January after the bare minimum limited release for December to qualify for awards. Two, films that the studios don’t feel good about and decide to just dump in January (maybe February). So, when a new horror film is slated for the first weekend of the year…that is not a hopeful prospect.
Can the newfound alliance between Blumhouse (Jason Blum) and Atomic Monster (James Wan) offer up a new horror flick in January that is worth your time?
Shockingly, M3GAN just might be 2023’s biggest surprise hit of the year…and it is the first weekend! With a film focused on an awkward and job-oriented toy designed to take on the parenting duties of her niece after her parents are killed, there is certainly some emotional potential. But when she makes a doll so advanced that it can keep learning and become the caregiver for this young girl. But the issues are M3GAN gets a little too advanced for her own good and the health and safety of the niece are taken to extreme measures. Murder and chaos ensue with the first horror film of the year.
This is not a film that is easy to write off, is it?
Director Gerard Johnstone creates quite the atmosphere and tone for M3GAN. When it comes to seeing a horror-comedy through, Johnstone shows his worth. First off, this film is hilarious from start to finish. There are fake toy ads (which are absurd, to begin with) shown at the beginning of the film and sprinkled in. The sassiness of M3GAN is fantastic to experience and it is so unexpected how clever the dialogue is for this doll as well as the facial expressions are on point. There are a few other characters who get to shine with their comic relief including the boss of our protagonist. But the film also can be scary. M3GAN can come out of nowhere to deliver quite the jump. Johnstone builds quality tension and suspense throughout the film. The film might be a tad less serious and scary which might mess with some expectations but when it tries to be scary, something general clicks.
Besides the laughs and scares, what else does this new horror-comedy have to say?
With the tragic situation that starts off the film, we tackle grief in some interesting ways and that includes our protagonist (Allison Williams) learning how to process loss and build stronger bonds through shared points. There is also plenty of commentary on human reliance and the advancement of technology. The film looks at using technology as a crutch for raising our children. Generally, it takes a hard look at our reliance on machines, to begin with. Throw in plenty of corporate greed and commentary on that, you have quite the vocal and exciting film.
What about the cast who brings it all to life?
I understand that Williams is meant to be distant and awkward, but I am not always convinced by her performance at the beginning of the show. There are a few emotional moments that bring a little bit more life to her character but overall, she is a bit of a miss. Violet McGraw is a sweet little actress who holds her own in this dark and creepy film. The combo of Amie Donald and Jenna Davis makes for a shocking, creepy, and dangerous streak. There are a few other standouts, but few are as funny and fluid as Ronny Chieng. He delivers some of the best laughs in the film and completely owns the role.
Does M3GAN break that cursed mold for films (especially horror films) released in the 1990s?
This is by no means terrible. On the contrary, this is one of the best January horror films. We all saw the spots from the trailer including M3GAN doing a crazy dance and attaching young boys. Trust me…these scenes are even better in the movie. This is a special kind of fun for the new year. Fresh calendar and a clever and fresh take on some familiar tropes.
