M3GAN: Slasher’s New Villain

Hello, readers! This article will include minor and major spoilers for the film M3GAN. If you haven’t seen the film and don’t want it spoiled, turn back down. Go watch it on Peacock then come back to read a dissection of the character M3GAN.

Note: This discussion is based on the PG-13 version of the film.

M3GAN started 2023 off strong, offering us a funny and campy horror film reminiscent of Scream and Evil Dead. Audiences found themselves laughing through a slasher flick. On reflection, M3GAN offers existential fear that hits harder the longer a person sits with it.

Part of the horror in the film M3GAN comes from the audience’s ability to relate to the eponymous doll. In many ways, the character M3GAN walks the line between an antihero and a villain. She follows a relatable prime directive: “Protect Cady from physical and emotional harm.” This presents in different ways throughout the film.

At various points, M3GAN acts with compassion. She is painting, playing, and dancing alongside Cady. She hyper-focuses on Cady’s emotions, taking steps to comfort her when she’s experiencing negative emotions. M3GAN even records Cady’s recollection of her mom to ensure Cady never forgets it. 

However, later in the film, M3GAN retaliates against the school bully, Brandon. She follows rigid definitions of words like “protect” and “harm.” In her AI mind, Brandon bullied Cady and hurt her hand; therefore, he must be eliminated.

As M3GAN grabs ahold of Brandon’s ear, audience members don’t know whether to cheer, gawk in horror, or both. “You know what happens to bad boys that don’t mind their manners?” She asks rhetorically, “They grow up to be bad men.” 

She pulls on his ear, stretching it until it rips clean off his head. Brandon backs away, hand clutching the bloody hole. M3GAN rises like a cobra, eyes locked on her prey. She flicks his ear aside and says, “This is the part where you run.” Brandon flees through the woods. Then, M3GAN—still dressed in her fashionable, fur-trimmed peacoat—crouches onto all fours. She darts after him in an animalistic chase. 

Brandon trips over a tree root and tumbles down a dropoff onto the road. M3GAN watches as a truck runs over him, leaving only a shoe behind. This shot parallels an earlier scene where Brandon towers over M3GAN, slaps her across the face, and throws her shoe to the side.

The similarities in these scenes force the audience to consider the nuances. Brandon did bad things. He is also just a kid though with the propensity to change. Should they feel happy that the bully got his just dues? Should they feel shocked and horrified that M3GAN helped cause his death? There is no one right answer for the audience to latch onto. The film M3GAN forces the audience to grapple with their own morality. 

As the film progresses, M3GAN only harms people who she believes get in the way of her prime directive. Sure, she tries to kill people who want to deprogram her. She also kills two Funki employees. They took her away from Cady though, preventing her from performing her prime directive. 

M3GAN’s methods show a deviousness and lack of humanity typical of a villain. However, she still seeks out Cady’s well-being above all else, pushing M3GAN further into the antihero category.

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD! This is your last chance to exit out of the page.

This pattern only truly changes towards the end of the film when M3GAN gains true autonomy. She no longer works to protect Cady. Instead, she makes herself the primary user. With this pivot, we see a much more evil version of M3GAN. She’s prepared to harm both her creator, Gemma, and her paired primary user, Cady. 

The final battle shows character growth for all the main characters. Gemma begins to understand her role as Cady’s guardian. She steps up as Cady’s protector. Cady, meanwhile, fights back against the doll she loved so dearly. She seemingly bonds with Gemma, and she’s empowered by the beloved third family member Bruce. Most notably though, M3GAN grows into the fully-fledged villain horror lovers hoped would come. She attempts to kill the child she once vowed to protect.

While the ending wrapped up with the seeming destruction of M3GAN, we got hints that this won’t stick. It will be exciting and interesting to see what path the greenlit sequel will take. Will M3GAN rebuild herself? Will she enlist the help of other AI machines? Hopefully, we will get to see her stylish, slasher queen presence again.

If you can’t wait to see M3GAN 2.0 in 2025, you can go watch the unrated and PG-13-rated M3GAN film on Peacock now.