M3GAN.Photo: Universal Pictures
The Gerard Johnstone-helmed picture centers arounda doll that combines the murderous natureof theChild’s Playmonsterwith the lovable companionship of the nostalgic toy, while taking on themes from horror classicFrankenstein.
Since the films' Jan. 6 debut,M3GANhas shattered expectationswith its$30 million opening weekendand been a social media phenomenon, all thanks to thedisturbing doll at the picture’s corethat has more than just moviegoers obsessed with the possessed.
So why is everybody seemingly so fascinated with the doll (whose name is an acronym for Model 3 Generative Android)? Keep scrolling as we break it all down — but be forewarned, you might start giving the side eye to any Roombas or Alexas in your home.
What isM3GANabout?
Geoffrey Short/Universal Pictures
The problem? What starts as a friendship between M3GAN and Cady quickly takes on a dark turn when M3GAN becomes overly committed to protecting her owner from “emotional and physical harm.”
Thetrailer for the film, set toTaylor Swift’s 2019 song “It’s Nice to Have a Friend,” shows the extreme and violent lengths M3GAN goes to in the name of keeping her human companion safe — escalating from a confrontation with her creator Gemma to an onslaught of murder and mayhem.
Is a real person playingM3GANin the film?
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic, Geoffrey Short/Universal Pictures, Alberto Rodriguez/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty
Amie Donald, 12, and Jenna Davis, 18, split the responsibilities of bringing M3GAN to life: Donald is the young actress behind the doll’s deranged dance moves and Davis provides the haunting voice. The M3GAN seen on screen is also comprised of animatronics, puppetry and VFX.
“We had six or seven different puppets that were capable of doing different things,” supervisingpuppeteer Adrien Morot toldVariety. “We had some of the head moving, eyes moving, the moving torso, and there were a couple that were capable of a full computerized range of movements.”
What is theM3GANdance scene that’s viral on TikTok?
Universal Pictures
Whether you’ve seen it or not, you’ve most likely heard ofM3GAN’s dance scene, the viralTikTok momentusers can’t stop talking about. The paranormal performance, filled with crazed cartwheels and contorted gestures, take place in a dimly-lit corridor at one point in the film and takes place right before she goes on a killing spree.
So what was the genesis of the movement that spawned a million memes?
Well, according to director Johnstone, thechoreography was fully in the handsof Donald and her dance teacher. “I have to hand it to them, that’s all them. Those crazy moves, I don’t know where they came from, but I’m very grateful,” he said in an interview with News Hub.
Donald has a background of competitive dance and gymnastics experience, a set of skills that evidently amplified her “great” —and “weird and disturbing” — number. Furthermore,she did all of her own stunts.
Why isM3GAN’s PG-13 rating causing concern?
M3GAN.Universal Pictures
Moviegoers havequestioned the PG-13 ratingM3GANholds, due toits violent content and terror, some strong language and a suggestive reference. But during an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, two of the producers behind the horror film —Jason Blum and James Wan — defended their decision in not pushing it even further to earn the R rating.
“Some of the scariest movies of all time are PG-13, so I don’t put too much stock in the bellyaching,” said Blum. “Go see the movie and then tell me about it.”
Wan, who has directed R-rated films includingThe Conjuring,SawandMalignant, said, “I think it’s about whatever is most suitable for the film, and even thoughM3GANis a scary movie, teenagers will really dig this. They’ll really like it, and I think it will speak to them in a big way.”
“Yes, that’s right,” added Blum, the producer behind films likeGet Out,Paranormal Activity,Happy Death Dayand more. “We wanted teenagers to be able to see the movie, ultimately.”
source: people.com
