#Gerard Johnstone

[horroredits]

M3GAN (2022), dir. Gerard Johnstone

[in-love-with-movies]

M3GAN (2022)

[brokehorrorfan]

M3GAN is joining Mezco Toyz's Living Dead Dolls line. The 10" doll has 5 points of articulation and is packaged in a die-cut window box. Priced at $50, it's expected to ship in June 2025.

[fyeahmovies]

M3GAN (2022)  dir. Gerard Johnstone

[moviesycho]

every movie I've watched in 2023 [31/?]:

M3GAN (2022) directed by Gerard Johnstone

[stannisbaratheon]

Studies indicate that a staggering 78% of a parents' time is spent dishing out the same basic instructions so we found someone else to pick up the slack.

M3GAN (2023) dir. Gerard Johnstone

[pennywises]

This is the part where you run.

[mythtakens]

Housebound (2014) dir. Gerard Johnstone

[thelastfinalgirl]

I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose Fire away, fire away Ricochet, you take your aim Fire away, fire away You shoot me down, but I won't fall I am titanium

M3gan (2023)

[c0ldturkey]

[yagodichjagodic]

She is the moment!

[filmap]

M3gan Gerard Johnstone. 2022

House 5 Meanda Gardens, Sunnyhills, Auckland 2010, New Zealand See in map

See in imdb

[nihillist-blog]

M3GAN (2022)

[brokehorrorfan]

Mondo has released a M3GAN 1:6 scale action figure. The 9.5" PVC toy is designed by Hector Arce. Expected to ship in October, it costs $215.

Two interchangeable heads (standard and battle damaged), six interchangeable hands (neutral, fists, torn ear, and gripping), paper cutter blade, pen, figure stand, and head display stand are included.

[ittakestwopod]

We mentioned our love of New Zealand horror in our latest episode - so here are some of our favourites! (These all at least have comedy elements because kiwis can't make horror without turning it into a horror comedy.)

Loop Track (2023) Dir. Tom Sainsbury A four-day journey turns into a fight for survival. This is a psychological thriller about Ian, who wants to get as far away from humanity as possible, into the New Zealand bush. Some other individuals get attached to him. And he has the feeling that they are being followed. Is that real though? Housebound (2014) Dir. Gerard Johnstone A young woman is forced to return to her childhood home after being placed under house arrest, where she suspects that something evil may be lurking.

The Frighteners (1996) Dir. Peter Jackson After a tragic car accident that kills his wife, a man discovers he can communicate with the dead, and he uses that gift to con people. However, when a demonic spirit appears, he may be the only one who can stop it from killing the living and the dead.

Black Sheep (2006) Dir. Jonathan King An experiment in genetic engineering turns harmless sheep into bloodthirsty killers that terrorize a sprawling New Zealand farm.

What We Do in the Shadows (2014) Dir. Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav are vampires who are struggling with the mundane aspects of modern life, like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts.

I've added these to a Letterboxd list also

[adamwatchesmovies]

M3GAN (2023)

Beneath the dark laughs, memorable scenes and the sort of scares you expect from a killer robot doll, M3GAN actually has some surprisingly poignant moments. While you might recognize the overall plot, this movie by Gerard Johnstone is not just “another one of those”. It’s loads of fun. With strong performances, great special effects and smart satirical jabs throughout, this film effortlessly wins you over.

After surviving the car accident that killed her parents, eight-year-old Cady (Violet McGraw) is sent to live with her aunt, Gemma (Allison Williams). Struggling to bond with her niece and eager to prove to her boss that the funds she’s been diverting towards her pet project haven’t been wasted, she puts the finishing touches on M3GAN (pronounced “Megan”), a robot doll. The child-sized gynoid bonds with Cady and soon the two become inseparable - much to the delight of Gemma’s co-workers - but is the seemingly perfect companion too good to be true?

M3GAN begins strongly by showing us the kind of toy M3GAN will be competing against: an ugly, Furby-like creature that poops a lot. It’s juvenile, but that’s the point. You take one look at that thing and you understand why kids would love it. You also know that their parents will curse whoever bought the electronic pet. Compared to M3GAN, it’s as sophisticated as a pail of sea monkeys. The doll (played by Amie Donald and voiced by Jenna Davis) is every parent’s dream come true. Megan helps Cady develop good habits (like washing her hands and flushing after using the toilet), is a fountain of information that can help her owner with her homework, recognizes emotions and responds to them accordingly. One of the film’s best scenes is a pitch to the Funki toy company’s investors. You think the scene is going one way and it goes in a completely different direction. It’s shockingly emotional.

For a second, you think “Every child should have one of these”, and then you remember all the sinister traits M3GAN has been developing. While this is a film about a domestic robot that eventually develops an unhealthy obsession with its owner and rebels against its creator, it’s also a commentary on children and screens. M3GAN makes taking care of Cady so much easier for Gemma but at the end of the day, she isn’t real; when M3GAN's perfect, it’s too perfect. With only circuits and switches to guide her actions, she’s unable to make the same moral choices as a person. The topic of parenting and which style is best for children comes up several times - often with ironic twists. An example is a scene where Gemma meets the mother of a nasty boy named Brandon. I didn’t expect this sort of movie to make me pause and think about much besides “How awful it would be to die like that” but writer Akela Cooper (working off of a story she co-wrote with James Wan) brings a lot to what could have been an ultimately forgettable but fun romp.

One of the best things about M3GAN is that it knows exactly what kind of movie it is. There are many silly scenes that embrace the outlandish premise. That doesn’t mean it can’t have great characters brought to life by terrific performances - Allison Williams, in particular, is a standout. She gives so much humanity to a character that you could easily dislike because she sort of pawns off her niece to an A.I. that eventually learns to kill. Instead, you come to fully sympathize with her. The violence and gore are delightfully ghoulish. The action scenes are surprisingly well done - I wasn't surprised to hear that many who worked on Malignant also worked on this picture.

I've repeatedly said that M3GAN surprised me and it's worth saying again; I expected to have a good time but I did not expect to love it as much as I did. (April 26, 2023)