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M3GAN follows a toy engineer as she gives her orphaned niece an artificial intelligence doll that becomes their best friend before it goes berserk and begins killing people. Horror movie dolls typically fall into one of two categories: haunted or sentient.
M3GAN
M3GAN, the latest horror flick about an evil doll that promises both fun and chills, may mark its return as we haven’t seen one for quite some time. Set around an overprotective mother who gives her daughter access to an unsettling, murderous toy dummy plaything named M3GAN who she can call upon at will in this tale of childhood horror.
The two-minute trailer for “Coco” begins as an endearing tale about an aunt and her niece adjusting to their new living situation, but quickly becomes terrifying. Allison Williams (Get Out, Girls) plays Gemma who takes in Cady who has recently been orphaned. Gemma struggles as a parent. With her sloppy, bland meals and limited understanding of child development, it becomes obvious she lacks the experience or tools needed for the role. So instead, Gemma introduces her niece to M3GAN: the uncanny-valley-inducing companion bot from work that features advanced AI, reinforced titanium skeleton, vulcanized silicone skin, and the appearance of a scaled-up Bratz doll with an adorable ribbon bow around its neck resembling scaled-up Bratz with a ribbon bow.
M3gan quickly forms an overprotective relationship with Cady, but she isn’t the only one keeping tabs on them both. A corporate rival keeps an eye on them both; even though M3GAN was contracted by Gemma, she disapproves of its actions very readily.
Though advertised as a horror comedy, this film also contains serious psychological themes. This was intentional on Gerard Johnstone’s part; he wanted the relationship between an aunt and her overprotective niece as more than just another thriller film. This has earned praise from critics such as this therapist from Cinema Therapy show.
M3GAN will hit theaters on January 6th as a co-production between Universal Pictures and Atomic Monster, under James Wan’s direction. The initial trailer went viral and generated much anticipation about this film starring Violet McGraw, Allison Williams, Jenna Davis Ronny Chieng, and Brian Jordan Alvarez.
Day of the Dead
This zombie flick takes a far more thoughtful and intellectual approach. Furthermore, its heartbreaking ending offers hope that there is always hope for better things in the future – making this film essential viewing for those interested in understanding life and death.
Romero’s trilogy may have been financially unsuccessful, yet still has an avid following due to its cutting-edge gore and horror effects, perverse humor, and dark vision of the future. Bub is perhaps best remembered as its protagonist; listening to Beethoven while devouring human flesh while eating people off of walls! Furthermore, one of its dismemberment scenes remains iconic while featuring some of the best dialogue in horror movies.
The film follows a group of scientists and soldiers living in an underground facility as they try to understand what is reanimating the dead. Divided into two factions led by Captain Rhodes (an unpredictable and violent commander) they strive to understand what’s causing the reanimation of zombies; one faction led by Captain Rhodes believes they can survive; however, such confidence can prove fatal as humanity may turn against itself in this storyline.
Christopher Landon revived the slasher genre with 2017’s Happy Death Day and 2020’s Freaky, but here he dials back sexiness for suspenseful effect. Utilizing show-don’t-tell, his home invasion horror feels fresh yet authentically terrifying; drawing inspiration from such classic films as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Signs, and A Quiet Place while remaining unique and captivating.
This horror cartoon is exquisitely animated. It follows three demonic sisters as they accidentally bring forth a young girl from beyond the grave. The animation is truly magnificent, and its ending proves both emotional and memorable.
Blood Dolls
Films featuring creepy dolls have long been a part of horror cinema, beginning with The Great Gabbo (1929). Other movies that followed this trend were often low-budget or slightly silly but over time became more serious, culminating with the 1963 Twilight Zone episode “Living Doll”, featuring Talky Tina who inspired a subgenre of horror films featuring murderous dolls.
Some movies such as Stuart Gordon’s Dolls (1987) & Charles Band’s Demonic Toys & Puppetmaster series can be pretty frightening, while many others can just be campy fun, or poorly performed – especially if Charles Band is involved.
His Blood Dolls (1999) is a weird but quirky film featuring eccentric billionaire Virgil Travis (Jack Matorin), an eccentric doll maker listening to his personal house band of female rockers in a cage. After being betrayed by some associates, Travis unleashes his evil creation – killer dolls which help him exact revenge against them.
This film is quite similar to its predecessors when it comes to killer doll movies, yet still entertaining and offers some strong performances, particularly by Denise Crosby. Unfortunately, its disappointing ending ruins it overall.
Other killer doll films made over time include Tiki (2006) a low-budget comedy about an angry Tiki doll looking for revenge against her owners; The Telling (2009) an anthology featuring stories where dolls play the main character; and Devildolls (2012) which follows two people who encounter various evil porcelain statues that come alive to haunt their lives.
There are also several upcoming horror films featuring dolls, such as Clown Doll (2022), which features the disturbing doll from the recent remake of Exorcist; Killer Dolls (2023), an anthology featuring various types of killer dolls; and The Deadly Dolls (2024), a Japanese film about an unscrupulous doll manufacturer.
The Exorcist
For many, The Exorcist remains one of the scariest movies ever made. It tells the tale of Regan (played by Ellen Burstyn), who begins displaying strange symptoms such as levitation and speaking in tongues. Her mother Chris (portrayed by Ellen Burstyn), seeks medical assistance but no doctor can diagnose their daughter’s condition; ultimately seeking advice from a local priest who suspects demon possession in Regan.
Film audiences will recognize this film for its shocking and disturbing imagery, such as when a priest’s head is severed during an exorcism ritual. Alongside these shocking and violent images, subliminal messaging used throughout the dialogue and shots heightens fear and shocks audiences even further – creating one of the most disturbing horror films ever made.
At a time of frontloaded weekend box-office returns and micro-budgeted in-and-out films, The Exorcist was an iconic cultural phenomenon that terrified audiences and provoked them to question their faith. Even today it continues to haunt audiences decades after first hitting theaters.
What makes The Exorcist such an unnerving watch is its depiction of an ancient evil that can take control of human bodies and do terrible things with them. Alongside supernatural elements, The Exorcist shows humanity’s helplessness against it – its characters experience intense pain and suffering but there’s no escape for them from its grip. Additionally, The film explores faith versus science conflicts as well as differences between Christianity and Freemasonry that play into this tension-filled tale.
Though The Exorcist is frightening, its unnerving scenes distinguish it from modern horror flicks. There’s the unforgettable scene where Blair stabs a crucifix into her womb before screaming “fuck me!”; an amazing feat that continues to stir debate and be debated today. It remains one of cinema’s greatest classics!
The Exorcist has inspired multiple sequels, prequels, and TV series that continue to shock audiences. LIFE magazine published a special issue dedicated to this classic horror flick available both here and at newsstands; The Boondocks parodied its plot in This Is the End, while in 2023 Ellen Burstyn reprised her role as Chris MacNeil for another installment called “Believer”.
