Rob1n

After proposing to his girlfriend Lexi (Leona Clarke), Leo (Ethan Taylor) decides to reach out to his wealthy, estranged uncle Aiden (Simon Davies), who has suffered from serious memory loss following a car accident. The young couple are invited to stay at Aiden's country house, and are surprised to find that the old man shares his home with a robotic doll called Robin, built as a replacement for his dead son.

If you hadn't guessed already from the title, which 'cleverly' replaces the letter i with the number 1, Rob1n was 'inspired' by M3gan, but made on a fraction of that film's budget, it's nowhere near as slick. The rather clunky script treads water for much of the time, the acting is weak, and Rob1n's murderous AI child robot is a rather pathetic looking specimen, the only parts that are seen moving being the eyes and the head, which tilts a bit from time to time.

That said, I didn't completely hate the film: it features more gore than M3gan, which is a bonus - M3gan was waaay too dry - and there are a few surprises in the final act that I didn't see coming. And as cheap as it all is, writer/director Lawrence Fowler occasionally achieves something approaching tension (but does rely too heavily on loud noises to scare the viewer). Given that I had absolutely no expectations from this film, I would actually say Rob1n was a less disappointing experience than M3gan, even if M3gan is more entertaining overall.

I have read greeting cards with stronger plots. Rob1n is one of the most aimless, confused, and convoluted films I've ever had the misfortune of watching. It has no ideas, and so for 90 minutes it just ambles from circumstance to circumstance, explaining very little. The elements of the story that are explained are overwrought, boring, and purposeless. It would genuinely be more interesting and gratifying to watch paint dry. At least something would happen-the paint would dry! That is nearer to intrigue than anything in Rob1n. It is not fun, it is not good for a night in with your friends, it is not even cheaply scary. It literally does nothing for 90 minutes and then ends. Bad, no good movie.

Rob1n (2025), directed by Lawrence Fowler, is a horror/sci-fi tale that dives into grief and obsession but struggles to escape the shadow of M3GAN. The story follows Aiden, a robotics expert who, devastated by the loss of his young son, crafts a lifelike robotic doll named Robin. When his estranged nephew Leo and fiancée Lexi visit his eerie mansion, Robin's unsettling behavior spirals into chilling events, revealing its dangerous fixation on keeping Aiden to itself. The premise taps into familiar AI-gone-wrong tropes, blending emotional trauma with creepy doll horror, but it lacks the polish and originality to stand out. The film's strengths lie in its ambition and atmosphere. Fowler's direction crafts a foreboding mood, with the isolated mansion setting amplifying tension. The robot's design, though limited to subtle movements like head tilts and eye shifts, is eerie enough to unsettle, and the practical effects are surprisingly decent for a low-budget production. Performances, particularly Simon Davies as the grieving Aiden, add a layer of empathy, making his bond with Robin both tragic and disturbing. For casual horror fans, the film offers a few jump scares and a twist in the final act that, while not groundbreaking, delivers a satisfying payoff. However, Rob1n stumbles in execution. The script feels formulaic, leaning heavily on M3GAN and other killer-toy classics without carving its own path. The pacing is a major hurdle-70 minutes of a 91-minute runtime are spent on setup, leaving little room for the horror to breathe. Some viewers found the story convoluted or aimless, with clunky dialogue and underdeveloped characters, like Leo and Lexi, who feel like plot devices. The lack of a bigger budget shows in the sparse effects and repetitive kills, which pale compared to glossier counterparts. It's a film that tries hard but often feels like a rough draft. Despite its flaws, Rob1n isn't without charm. It's a scrappy underdog that might click with viewers who enjoy low-budget horror or are new to the genre. It's not a must-watch, but it's far from the worst in its class. If you're after a quick, spooky night in and can overlook its derivative nature, it's worth a rental. Score: 4/10.

So let's get this out of the way: This film was obviously, unbelievably, derivative of M3GAN. By premise, style, and even the title where it's a name with a number replacing a letter.

I realize that creativity is largely dead nowadays, and that 99% of filmmakers have resorted to blatantly copying others' work and claiming it to be their own... But I feel like at least SOME effort should be put into making it less obvious.

If you've ever wondered what M3GAN would look like if it were stripped of its charm, budget, originality, and even basic narrative coherence, look no further than Rob1n.

Enjoy the copy/paste.

This movie is not what it looks like, it's a good horror movie. It may not be perfect, but it's worth the watch. The movie really did a great job with Rob1n. I don't get the negative reviews, this is a perfect date movie. It's not too scary but it will keep you entertained. Some moments were pretty scary. I don't get the negative reviews, this is a perfect date movie. It's not too scary but it will keep you entertained. Some of you movie reviewers are miserable people and hyper critique a movie. You can tell it didn't have the best actors or high budget but it did get me to the edge of my seat. 7/10.