She is the Moment: A Review of M3GAN

January is usually a dud for horror movies. They are low budget and usually low effort, leading to box office bombs and terrible, forgettable pictures. Therefore, it is a shock when we have a film in theaters that has people buzzing. It’s positive buzz as well, rather than the so-bad-it’s-good kind of buzz. Therefore, I had to go see for myself if it really is what everyone is making it out to be.

It ended up being all I wanted. The latest release from Blumhouse: M3GAN is the moment, and exactly the moment we needed this January. With its only big flaw being the first act, M3GAN is a worthwhile one-time watch that will make a great franchise for Blumhouse to expand on and also encourage the company to go with more independent projects due to this financial success. Let’s get into it.

When it’s meta, anything goes

The biggest factor that led to my enjoyment of M3GAN is its self-awareness. It never takes itself too seriously once it kicks off and knows what people want and expect it to be. Sometimes when films are anticipating poor or lackluster reception, they brace themselves and try to throw in some major twist in hopes things seem profound. Nothing is worse than watching a film that doesn’t know it’s a bad film.

Shot of M3GAN

M3GAN clearly anticipated its reception and instead went the meta route. This allows a film to laugh with us rather than just us laughing at it. It knows exactly what it wants to be and knows what we expect it to be, therefore it’s going to give it all to us unapologetically. What we get is a film filled to the brim with camp, but its message doesn’t get lost in all of it because it allows us to laugh and interact with it. It’s playing with its audience the entire time.

And the OScar Goes to… the girl who played M3GAN!

New M3GAN Featurette Serves As Reminder For M3GAN's Imminent Arrival -  Fangoria

Yet again, we have another example of younger actors knocking out of the park, and then some. We have another complex, kind of cold character in the always brilliant Allison Williams. However, I’m giving the credit to Violet McGraw who played Cady as well as the two actresses who collaborated in creating M3GAN herself: Amie Donald and Jenna Davis. The physical comedy of this film is top notch; therefore, Amie Donald deserves so much credit for playing such a crazed, unhinged AI android. There is a scene in which she full on runs on all fours that had me cackling and impressed that someone could do it so smoothly.

On top of that, Jenna Davis contributed her vocal chops quite a few times–which is arguably my favorite moments of the film. Whenever M3GAN broke out into song, I wheezed. On top of the delivery of M3GAN’s dialogue, the film knew that the robot was the star of the show and casted it accordingly. Paired with some more over-the-top performances from the gullible people asked to back M3GAN’s development, the performances really sent this film home after, again, a slow start.

The Dangers of AI: The MEssage REmains

Exclusive Clip: Watch M3GAN Show Allison Williams Who's Boss – Rolling Stone

Was I laughing almost the entire time? Yes. Was the meaning lost in all of it? Absolutely not. M3GAN has a very crystal clear, Black-Mirroresque message of the dangers of AI and becoming attached to technology. It also has introspection on grief and trauma with talks of attachment theory and children’s exposure to unfiltered technology for too long, too early. Whether it be Gemma’s diminishing empathy due to overworking with robots or Cady’s extreme emotional attachment to M3GAN, the message is heard loud and clear.

One of the most important parts of this movie was M3GAN confronting Gemma on messing with code that Gemma herself didn’t understand. It is a harsh reality of AI–almost every unmoderated instance developed much faster than expected. If AI is unchecked, it could turn dangerous really fast as a ‘conscious’ should not have access to all of this information. We also shouldn’t rely on AI to provide us things either. AI art may seem harmless, but we don’t know the extent of how much data it consumes and how many adjustments these systems have left before they’re out of control of the people who made them.

Final Verdict

M3GAN, Universal Studios, Blumhouse
M3gan: Solid 7/10

Rating: 7 out of 10.

While I sing its praises high, M3GAN is one of those films that will remain great if we keep the amount of watches low. I think it is a highly effective first-time watch with unsurmountable camp. However, I don’t necessarily want to go through the first fifteen minutes of the movie again, as that part was the weakest part of the whole thing. They’ve already set a sequel up for M3GAN. It quietly started production and announced itself opening weekend. I think this is the first time that a franchise is a smart move, as its villain can be in different mechanisms. Also, I want to hear “Titanium (M3GAN’s Version)” one more time.

Anyways, thanks for spelunking this void with me. If you’re new to the Void of Celluloid, welcome. Feel free to spelunk some other voids while you’re here and follow me on other platforms by clicking the buttons below. We post regularly and stay up to date about what’s going on in horror today, reflect on what went on yesterday, and plan for a better, horror filled tomorrow. See ya next time.

What’s Coming Out This Month: January Horror 2023

This is the first January I’ve seen in a while that I am actually excited for the films that are coming out. January is a notorious month for horror fans alike as it seems like studios purge their bad horror movies in the first month of the new year. However, 2023 is starting off with some decent picks. If not, there are plenty of classics and recent favorites that are on streaming that you can check out in the meantime.

Let’s kick it off some new releases that are both releasing theatrically and streaming. These films are exclusively premiering for the first time. Let’s get into it.

New Releases

M3GAN – January 6th

M3GAN already dropped this weekend to surprisingly positive reviews. Definitely a better outlook than anticipated. It seems like there is a dose of meta comedy to this film. In the same vein as Child’s Play, the talking doll with an evil spirit has been done before. However, it seems like M3GAN is a modern take that works greatly in its favor. During this slow month for theater releases, go give it a try and don’t take it too seriously.

Skinamarink – January 13th

If you’ve been on the internet, you’ve definitely heard about this one. Skinamarink is an indie darling that recently gained praised due to the pirating of it and the internet praising it. While it is ultimately sad it was pirated, it is something to be said about the excitement and praise that has gathered around a film with a $15k budget. Skinamarink is looking to be the younger depressed brother of the OG The Evil Dead. With its official release, please support this indie darling and rent it, because it’s guaranteed an interesting, psychological watch.

There’s SOmething Wrong With THe CHildren – January 17th

Ah, the kids aren’t alright. Directed by Roxanne Benjamin–a frequent collaborator with the V/H/S group, a family trip goes sideways as some kids go missing. Upon their return, they are acting strange. Not in the traumatized way, but more in the Pet Semetary kind of way. Evil children are always scary, so having parricidal children as the focus of the film is a perfect setup for an unsettling film. This film also stars Zach Gilford, who has been one of my favorites in the past two years–both in Midnight Mass and The Midnight Club. There’s Something Wrong with the Children is set up with experienced creators, so be sure to check it out,

Kids vs. aliens – January 20th

Speaking of V/H/S, this film is a spin-off of a short from V/H/S 2. ‘Slumber Party Alien Abduction’ should ring a bell if you’ve seen V/H/S 2 and it is finally realized in a feature length film that will be available on Shudder. On top of all of this, it seems to have a Stranger Things kind of vibe that might make this film tamer than the inspiration films. Therefore, it might read more like a starter sci-fi horror film–similar to Super 8. Expect a fun, quick time with a colorful explosion.

Teen Wolf: The Movie – January 26th

Now, this is strictly on here for guilty pleasure’s sake. Teen Wolf is an iconic teen horror show that is finally getting a movie spinoff. Almost everyone will be returning for a reuniting battle against evil five years after the show’s strong ending. The only crime here is that Dylan O’Brien will not be returning, which is very sad for Stiles fans like myself. It should be a fun time and is another example of Paramount+ really delivering for 2000’s kids with these revivals.

Now on Streaming

These are films new and old that you need to check out this month to get your monthly dose of horror. These films will be added to these streaming services this month and should offer a variety of classics and newcomers to tide you over this slow month.

The Menu – HBO MAX

Everyone needs to see this film. This was one of my favorites of the year, and while it falls more into the thriller category, there are tidbits of horror. Some of the behavior of the people is horrific enough to qualify it. The Menu is funny, delightful and tense. It’s a great movie and if you have ever worked in the service industry, you will have a profound understanding and appreciation for this movie. If not, this might have you considering how you treat those in the service industry. Watch it as soon as you can.

The Devil’s Backbone – Amazon Prime

A classic film from the legendary Guillermo del Toro. The Devil’s Backbone is a haunting tale that is as visually stunning as it is beautifully written. It’s a creepy ghost story tied to a bloody historical event: The Spanish Civil War. Del Toro loves to focus on Spanish history, especially during wartime. His most acclaimed, Pan’s Labyrinth, is very much a spiritual sequel to this film as it takes place in the aftermath of the Civil War, making Guillermo del Toro the king of tragic child protagonists in Spanish wartime.

The Conjuring – Netflix

You already know this one. The Conjuring marked the fall of the PG-13 horror boom and the resurgence of R-rated horror renaissance. It’s a chilling tale full of family, creepy old houses and possessions. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson kill it as the Warrens, the legendary demonologists. It is a modern classic and is always a great one to revisit if you haven’t seen it in a while.

Zombieland – Hulu

Another classic that has recently had a very decent sequel, Zombieland took the world by storm all the way back in 2009. Horror and non-horror fans alike loved this film, and with The Walking Dead just on the horizon, it was the beginning of the zombie resurgence of the early 2010s. With brilliant comedic performances and enough blood, guts and glory to go around, you better nut up, shut up, and watch this flick again. Preferably with a side of golden Twinkies.

Arachnophobia – Paramount+

It is appropriate that I did a whole series on starter horror, and this is coming to Paramount+. Arachnophobia is one of the classic starter horror films from back in the day and remains so to this day. It’s mildly scary, but enough to startle and creep anyone out. Plus, if anyone legitimately has arachnophobia, this movie is your worst nightmare. Take heed and be sure to revisit this one if it’s been a while.


So, there are the standout films to take note of this month. January is, again, a slow month for horror. But have no fear, we have some releases coming out this year that are sure to stir up the scares. You can read about my five anticipated picks which I discussed right before the new year turned here. Let me know if I missed anything this month and I’ll be sure to add it in a pinch.

Thanks for spelunking this void with me. If you’re new to the Void of Celluloid, welcome. Feel free to spelunk some other voids while you’re here and follow me on other platforms by clicking the buttons below. We post regularly and stay up to date about what’s going on in horror today, reflect on what went on yesterday, and plan for a better, horror filled tomorrow. See ya next time.