#SHOWBIZ: 'M3GAN 2.0' review: Killer doll sequel shifts to sci-fi action comedy
The original was 2023's sleeper horror hit, but does this next-gen android live up to the hype or has she suffered a software glitch in her sophomore outing?
Let's cut to the chase: if you walked into 'M3GAN 2.0' expecting the same campy, unsettling horror-comedy that had us all quoting her deadpan one-liners, you might be in for a surprise.
Or perhaps, a mild shock. The creative team behind this franchise has boldly, perhaps brazenly, pivoted from the cosy confines of a suburban horror show to a full-blown sci-fi action-comedy.
It's a shift so pronounced that it feels less like a sequel and more like a spin-off from an entirely different universe.
The good news? M3GAN, voiced with chilling precision by Jenna Davis and embodied with uncanny grace by Amie Donald, remains the absolute undisputed star.
Her sardonic wit, those piercing eyes and her eerily human movements are still the best reasons to buy a ticket.
She's the delightful, murderous cherry on a surprisingly different sundae.
This time, however, she's not just terrorising a household; she's battling another, even more formidable AI — the military-grade AMELIA, a chillingly efficient android that makes M3GAN look almost... quaint.
The plot, while ambitious, does tend to spiral into a rather convoluted affair.
We pick up two years after the original, with Gemma (Allison Williams, gamely navigating the new narrative landscape) championing AI oversight.
But when M3GAN's tech is weaponised and a rogue AI, AMELIA, threatens global catastrophe, Gemma is forced to reboot her original creation for an epic, high-stakes showdown.
It's a leap from domestic terror to potential world domination, and sometimes, the story struggles under the weight of its own grandiosity.
The pacing, in its eagerness to cover all this ground, can feel a bit like a rapid-fire download of plot points, occasionally leaving you scrambling to keep up.
Where the film truly shines, or perhaps bewilders, is in its full embrace of absurdity.
The horror elements that subtly (or not so subtly) underpinned the first film have largely given way to action sequences — car chases, elaborate technological face-offs — and outright comedy.
Some critics are hailing this as a brave, refreshing evolution; others lament the loss of its distinct genre identity.
Personally, I found myself oscillating between moments of genuine amusement and moments of scratching my head, wondering if I'd accidentally wandered into a different movie theatre.
The visual effects, particularly the seamless blend of animatronics and CGI that bring M3GAN and AMELIA to life, are still top-notch.
It's a testament to the technical wizardry that these artificial beings feel so real, so tangible, even when they're engaging in outlandish acts of violence.
The acting, particularly from Williams and the ever-excellent duo portraying M3GAN, ensures that even when the plot veers into the outlandish, there's a human (or human-like) anchor to ground the proceedings.
So, is 'M3GAN 2.0' worth your hard-earned ringgit at the cinema?
If you're a fan of the first film strictly for its horror thrills, you might find this sequel a tad jarring.
The scares are few and far between, replaced by a more overt, almost slapstick, sense of mayhem.
However, if you enjoyed the first film for its unique character, its campy charm, and its willingness to poke fun at itself, and you're open to a big, bold genre shift, then 'M3GAN 2.0' offers a different kind of wild ride.
It's not the same dance, but M3GAN still knows how to put on a show.
Just be prepared for a show that's less "creepy doll next door" and more "robots battling for the fate of humanity".
NOW SHOWING
M3GAN 2.0
DIRECTED BY Gerard Johnstone
STARRING Jemaine Clement, Allison Williams, Violet McGraw
DURATION 120 mins
CLASSIFICATION 16
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The Sun
07-07-2025
- 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
New Straits Times
03-07-2025
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: 'M3GAN 2.0' review: Killer doll sequel shifts to sci-fi action comedy
THE metallic gleam of our favourite killer doll is back, and this time, M3GAN isn't just dancing her way into our nightmares; she's stepping onto a much, much bigger stage. The original was 2023's sleeper horror hit, but does this next-gen android live up to the hype or has she suffered a software glitch in her sophomore outing? Let's cut to the chase: if you walked into 'M3GAN 2.0' expecting the same campy, unsettling horror-comedy that had us all quoting her deadpan one-liners, you might be in for a surprise. Or perhaps, a mild shock. The creative team behind this franchise has boldly, perhaps brazenly, pivoted from the cosy confines of a suburban horror show to a full-blown sci-fi action-comedy. It's a shift so pronounced that it feels less like a sequel and more like a spin-off from an entirely different universe. The good news? M3GAN, voiced with chilling precision by Jenna Davis and embodied with uncanny grace by Amie Donald, remains the absolute undisputed star. Her sardonic wit, those piercing eyes and her eerily human movements are still the best reasons to buy a ticket. She's the delightful, murderous cherry on a surprisingly different sundae. This time, however, she's not just terrorising a household; she's battling another, even more formidable AI — the military-grade AMELIA, a chillingly efficient android that makes M3GAN look almost... quaint. The plot, while ambitious, does tend to spiral into a rather convoluted affair. We pick up two years after the original, with Gemma (Allison Williams, gamely navigating the new narrative landscape) championing AI oversight. But when M3GAN's tech is weaponised and a rogue AI, AMELIA, threatens global catastrophe, Gemma is forced to reboot her original creation for an epic, high-stakes showdown. It's a leap from domestic terror to potential world domination, and sometimes, the story struggles under the weight of its own grandiosity. The pacing, in its eagerness to cover all this ground, can feel a bit like a rapid-fire download of plot points, occasionally leaving you scrambling to keep up. Where the film truly shines, or perhaps bewilders, is in its full embrace of absurdity. The horror elements that subtly (or not so subtly) underpinned the first film have largely given way to action sequences — car chases, elaborate technological face-offs — and outright comedy. Some critics are hailing this as a brave, refreshing evolution; others lament the loss of its distinct genre identity. Personally, I found myself oscillating between moments of genuine amusement and moments of scratching my head, wondering if I'd accidentally wandered into a different movie theatre. The visual effects, particularly the seamless blend of animatronics and CGI that bring M3GAN and AMELIA to life, are still top-notch. It's a testament to the technical wizardry that these artificial beings feel so real, so tangible, even when they're engaging in outlandish acts of violence. The acting, particularly from Williams and the ever-excellent duo portraying M3GAN, ensures that even when the plot veers into the outlandish, there's a human (or human-like) anchor to ground the proceedings. So, is 'M3GAN 2.0' worth your hard-earned ringgit at the cinema? If you're a fan of the first film strictly for its horror thrills, you might find this sequel a tad jarring. The scares are few and far between, replaced by a more overt, almost slapstick, sense of mayhem. However, if you enjoyed the first film for its unique character, its campy charm, and its willingness to poke fun at itself, and you're open to a big, bold genre shift, then 'M3GAN 2.0' offers a different kind of wild ride. It's not the same dance, but M3GAN still knows how to put on a show. Just be prepared for a show that's less "creepy doll next door" and more "robots battling for the fate of humanity". NOW SHOWING M3GAN 2.0 DIRECTED BY Gerard Johnstone STARRING Jemaine Clement, Allison Williams, Violet McGraw DURATION 120 mins CLASSIFICATION 16
Hype Malaysia
27-06-2025
- Hype Malaysia
M3GAN 2.0 Review: An AI Robotics Horror Turned 'Spy Kids' Movie
The sci-fi horror genre of how AI will be taking over the world has now become a common trope in movies, playing into the fear factor that the computing systems we use might grow to have their own consciousness. Yes, it's scary and downright creepy; however, how well could you portray a killer robot to have as much character development as an actual human? After its success in 2023 with its first movie, M3GAN returns to the box office with a big character development in her system. From a horror murder bot to a turned empathetic spy bot, M3GAN 2.0 follows the revival of the sensational Megan, but this time, she's not out for blood. Written and directed by Gerard Johnstone, the returning cast includes Violet McGraw, Allison Williams, Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps are joined by Aristotle Athari, Timm Sharp and Jemaine Clement. Two years after going rogue and embarking on a murderous rampage to protect Cady (Violet McGraw), and was later destroyed, M3GAN's creator, Gemma (Allison Williams), has become a successful author and an advocate for government oversight of AI. Without their knowledge, the core technology behind M3GAN has been stolen and repurposed by a powerful defence contractor to create AMELIA (Ivanna Sakhno), a deadly, high-tech infiltration weapon. However, as AMELIA gains self-awareness, she begins to rebel, losing interest in following human commands or even preserving human life at all. With humanity's survival at stake, Gemma realises she has only one choice: bring M3GAN (Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) back online and equip her with major upgrades to make her faster, stronger, and more dangerous than ever. Now, as these two advanced A.I.s face off, the original tech terror is about to face her most formidable rival yet. Yes, AI is here, and it's out to get you. But shaking off its camp-like quality, M3GAN 2.0 adopts a more empathetic nature, as though she had a system reboot after her destruction, and she installed a character development code in her system. We have to admit, what pulled viewers in from its predecessor was its play on the fear factor of rampaging demon robots who always know your next move. We get glimpses of that in its second edition, but what started as a play on horror turned upside down to what seems more like a 'Spy Kids' movie than anything. If you're looking for the original horror trope, don't be surprised since you won't find it here. M3GAN 2.0 plays heavily on its character development trope, where our protagonists learns that free will comes with great responsibility. Yes, our demonic conscious robot has softened up around the edges, but is that necessarily bad for the plot? Not really, as the direction brings forth a new direction on where the plot may expand to, rather than confining it to the premise of M3GAN wanting to kill everyone around her, she might just be one heck of a weapon to save the world. But is it refreshing and new? Probably not, as we're greeted by a plot that we've seen time and time again in any sci-fi action thriller out there. While the fighting scenes and sarcastic comebacks prove to be the highlight of entertainment for the movie, that's where it ends to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, since its plot has nothing of interest to bring forward the unique factor of what could be the next ground-breaking box office hit. The film displayed some amazing graphics with a full-fledged robotics fighting scene straight out of a game. The gags are quite funny, but with how the plot was stylised, it almost felt like a kids' movie, but with some blood splatters here and there. What differs from this movie is that the directors seem to have wanted to open up the film for a bigger set of audience, which was to minus the gore and horror completely from the movie. Not the best take when you introduced M3GAN as a demonic, on all fours running towards you in the woods type beat character. We do catch glimpses of its original horror feel when M3GAN tries to reach out to Cody by waking him up in the middle of the night by letting him know that she 'sees him', playing on the comedy factor of how our devices can track us wherever we are. There are a handful of moments which we found to have maintained their outright absurdity of the first movie, such as M3GAN literally dancing posed as a robot, her sarcastic comebacks (she's become chattier than ever) and M3GAN soothing Gemma by singing Kate Bush's 'This Woman's Work'. Overall, M3GAN 2.0 is amusing at times and morale-boosting at others. It's a new concept from what was introduced as a horror sci-fi, which has many rooms for improvement in retaining its viewership with its new plot line. It's amusing and could borderline on 'Spy Kids', but a great sit-at-home movie when you've got nothing else to stream. Watch the trailer here: M3GAN 2.0 premieres globally in cinemas tomorrow (27th July 2025) Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article. What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
