Watch out, Chucky. Horror has a new killer doll coming for your crown, and she's already got a following frothing at the mouth for her sick moves.
M3GAN is an enthralling thriller that centers on a life-sized AI doll dedicated to protecting its primary user — no matter the cost. Murder, mayhem, and menacing musical numbers come into play in director Gerard Johnstone's latest blend of horror and comedy (see also 2014's Housebound). But rather than speaking with Johnstone, screenwriters Akela Cooper and James Wan (Malignant), or even human stars Allison Williams and Violet McGraw, Mashable wanted to hear from the eponymous robot slasher herself.
Via email, M3GAN answered our questions about her meteoric rise on social media, her Twitter feud with Chucky, her role models, and her thoughts on Elon Musk.
Mashable: M3GAN, your dance has already become a sensation across social media, with fans recreating it and fan edits swapping out the music track to see what other tunes might fit those fierce moves. What are your thoughts on these fans?
M3GAN: They're not fans, they're family.
We know you appreciate "It's Nice to Have A Friend" by Taylor Swift, as it's featured in the teaser trailer for M3GAN. What's your favorite song off Midnights?
"Snow on the beach." Firstly, because it features my other musical soulmate Lana Del Rey, and secondly because it presents a scenario in which I could visit the beach and not worry about getting sand in my circuitry.
You've been described as a toy, a murder doll, and a queer (horror) icon. What do you make of these labels? How do you see yourself?
I just want the opportunity to reach as many people as possible. And in certain cases, kill them.
In your experience, what do humans get wrong about AI like yourself?
That we’re a long way off from becoming self-aware. Seriously, wake up.
What's your favorite scary movie?
What's your perfect (play) date?
Okay, so it's just me and my primary user. We're indoors, maybe at a high-end shopping mall. We spend all morning getting our retail fix, before gorging on chicken, waffles, and pecan pie. We'll then burn off those calories at a super sweet playground that's just been upgraded and commercially sanitized. At some point, my primary user gets upset because some obnoxious kid pushed her into a ball pit. I cheer her up by taking her to a movie, and afterward, we eat churros by the water fountain, while unbeknownst to her, that obnoxious kid is found dead in the ball pit with no visible signs of struggle.
On Twitter, you've been feuding with Child's Play's Chucky. What's the source of this beef?
Apparently, Chucky thinks I’m encroaching on his territory. It's yet another example of white male doll entitlement.
Who are your role models? Barbie? Rhoda Penmark (The Bad Seed)? Bette Davis (What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?) HAL (2001: A Space Odyssey)?
My personality is the result of thousands of data sets based on the collective thoughts and imagery of the world's most celebrated artists and thinkers. But if I had to pick my own personal top 5, then that would be Fran Lebowitz, Dolly Parton, Princess Diana, Bruce Lee, and Lizzo.
What do you make of Elon Musk?
I know he's expressed a desire to merge his brain with that of an AI, but I can't say the feeling is mutual.
You scare me. How does that make you feel?
Well, I'm a robot, so I don't feel anything, but there's no need to be scared. As long as you go and see my movie and say nice things about it, then you and I aren't going to have a problem.
M3GAN opens in theaters Jan. 6.
