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New Zealand has a proud tradition of gleefully unhinged genre cinema, and The Weed Eaters looks set to earn its place among the cult favourites. The debut feature from director Callum Devlin, the film follows four friends on a New Year’s getaway that takes a grisly turn when a peculiar strain of weed unleashes a craving for human flesh. Low-budget, high-energy, and fuelled by a commitment to doing it all with a tiny crew in rural Canterbury, the result is a stoner-comedy-horror that embraces chaos and never looks back.

Credit: Annabel Kean

For Devlin, the leap into features grew out of his background in music videos and his long-standing creative collaborations.

Let’s get this out of the way: M3GAN 2.0 isn’t remotely a horror film. It’s a sequel of a different flavor, like Happy Death Day 2U or Evil Dead II. Or swapping Windows for Apple. Writer and director Gerard Johnstone and co-writer Akela Cooper reimagine M3GAN 2.0 as an off-the-wall action comedy with artificial intelligence as a topic of controversy. That’s not necessarily a terrible thing, pivoting into 90s-era campy spy games … unless you were hoping for a M3GAN continuation in the same tone, tempo, and genre.

Most surviving players return for M3GAN 2.0, including leads Allison Williams and Violet McGraw. We reunite with Gemma (Williams) as an author and advocate for AI regulation, while Cady (McGraw) wants to follow in her aunt’s computer science footsteps, tinkering with code strings when she’s not practicing martial arts thanks to an affinity for Steven Seagal classics.

M3GAN 2.0 writer-director Gerard Johnstone believes his sassy killing machine has staying power.

When the New Zealander made his major studio debut in January 2023 with M3GAN, he channeled his own parental anxiety regarding the emotional dependence that today’s youngest generations have on their devices. In the franchise-launching film that grossed nearly $182 million against $12 million, Cady James (Violet McGraw) lost both her parents in a car accident, prompting her preoccupied roboticist aunt, Gemma Forrester (Allison Williams), to raise her with the help of a prototype android doll named M3GAN. That decision quickly backfires when Cady becomes too reliant on M3GAN. From there, the AI-powered toy proceeds to kill four people (and a dog) in the name of supposedly protecting Cady.

The critically lauded techno horror-comedy also hit theaters at a time when AI technology, such as ChatGPT, was beginning to take root, and so the 2021-shot film...

As Mattel looks to bring another of their iconic franchises to the big screen, director Gerard Johnstone previews his vision for the live-action Monster Highmovie adaptation. The multimedia doll franchise, which centers on the teenage offspring of iconic monsters and mythical creatures, including Frankenstein's monster and Dracula, among many others, has been adapted for the screen across 15 animated films, two live-action films and an animated series. Johnstone, after making his directorial debut with the horror-comedy Housebound, quickly broke out internationally helming the viral horror hit M3GANand co-writing and directing its upcoming sequel.

During an interview with ScreenRant's Ash Crossan to discuss M3GAN 2.0's release, Johnstone opened up about his upcoming Monster High movie. In addition to confirming the project is "just in the early stages" after being hired earlier this month, the director revealed Mattel and Universal have given him "free rein to reinterpret the characters as...

The sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review Here, get a copy Here) was such a financial success when it reached theatres in January of 2023, it didn’t even take Universal Pictures and production companies Blumhouse and Atomic Monster two weeks to announce that they’d be re-teaming for a sequel. M3GAN 2.0 is set to reach theatres on June 27th – and with that date speeding up on us, a clip has arrived online. You can check it out at the bottom of this article.

Based on a story crafted by producer James Wan, M3GAN was directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) from a screenplay by Akela Cooper (Malignant). Johnstone is working from a Cooper script again for the sequel. The first film has the following synopsis: She’s more than just a toy. She’s part of the family. From the most prolific minds in horror — James Wan, the filmmaker behind the Saw,...

M3GANand M3GAN 2.0director Gerard Johnstone isn't done with dolls yet. He has signed on to helm the live-action Monster High film from Mattel, Universal Pictures, and Akiva Goldsman's Weed Road. The life-like A.I. doll at the center of his cult horror franchise has a few things in common with the toy line that will be brought to life in his next picture: they're both companions for children, they both have an eye for fashion, and they're definitely monstrous (though one is a little more murderous), so the project is certainly in safe hands.

According to Variety, the Monster High film will feature an original story based on Mattel's popular range of dolls that come in a variety of designs and characters imagined as the teenage children of monsters and mythical creatures. The frightfully fashionable figures are quite far removed from those living in the plastic, fantastic world of Barbie Land,...

Universal and Mattel have signed “M3GAN” filmmaker Gerard Johnstone to direct a live-action film based on the “Monster High” doll line, with Akiva Goldsman producing through Weed Road Pictures.

Launched in 2010, “Monster High” is based around the concept of high school students who are the children of famous monsters and mythical creatures such as Frankie Stein, Draculaura and Clawdeen Wolf. The line was launched with a companion web series that ran from 2010 to 2018 and has also spawned animated TV specials, YA novels and video games.

“Gerard’s unique vision and genre-blending style make him the perfect fit for this film. This is exactly what we’re building at Mattel Studios as we continue to work with top talent to tell fresh, unexpected stories from our rich portfolio of brands,” Mattel Studios President/Cco Robbie Brenner said in a statement. “‘Monster High’ is a fan-favorite franchise with endless storytelling potential, and...

The sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review Here, get a copy Here) was such a financial success when it reached theatres in January of 2023, it didn’t even take Universal Pictures and production companies Blumhouse and Atomic Monster two weeks to announce that they’d be re-teaming for a sequel. M3GAN 2.0 is set to reach theatres on June 27th – and with that date now just a few weeks away, the final trailer has dropped online. You can check it out in the embed above.

Based on a story crafted by producer James Wan, M3GAN was directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) from a screenplay by Akela Cooper (Malignant). Johnstone is working from a Cooper script again for the sequel. The first film has the following synopsis: She’s more than just a toy. She’s part of the family. From the most prolific minds in horror — James Wan, the filmmaker behind the Saw,...

Time is winding down for the summer movie season. Big releases are nearly here, which means they will be graded with ratings from the MPA due to their content.

Ballerina is finally about to make its way into theaters on June 6. As per Lionsgate, “Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.” Joining Ana de Armas in Ballerina as John Wick newcomers Gabriel Byrne as The Chancellor, Norman Reedus as Daniel Pine, Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Eve’s mentor Nogi and Choi Soo-young, who becomes part of an early mission for Eve. Other than Keanu Reeves and Lance Reddick, Anjelica Huston returns as The Director and Ian McShane is back as Continental owner Winston Scott. The MPA has given the film an R rating – for strong/bloody violence throughout,...

M3GAN will dance onto SteelBook 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital on June 24, just in time for M3GAN 2.0‘s theatrical release on June 27.

Both the PG-13 theatrical version and the unrated cut of the 2022 film are included, presented in 4K with Hdr 10 and Dolby Atmos sound.

Existing special features are included:

New Vision of Horror – Cast and crew break down how the world of M3GAN was created Bringing Life to M3GAN – See how animatronics, puppets, and actor Amie Donald helped make M3GAN as real as possible Getting Hacked – A behind-the-scenes look at some of the film’s stunts and deaths

Produced by James Wan‘s Atomic Monster and Jason Blum‘s Blumhouse, Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) directs from a script by Akela Cooper (Malignant).

Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Amie Donald, and Jenna Davis star.

A marvel of artificial intelligence, M3GAN is programmed...

Blumhouse is bringing some highly anticipated horror sequels our way this year. The first of the bunch is M3GAN 2.0, which is set to reach theatres on June 27th. The Black Phone 2 follows on October 17th, then Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 will help wrap up 2025 with its December 5th release. The Universal panel was held at the CinemaCon event today, and during the panel, Blumhouse was given the chance to promote all three of these upcoming sequels.

The video game adaptation Five Nights at Freddy’s quickly became Blumhouse Productions’ highest-grossing movie when it reached theatres and the Peacock streaming service back in 2023. The first film’s director, Emma Tammi, is back at the helm for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, working from a screenplay she wrote with Seth Cuddeback and video game creator Scott Cawthon. Josh Hutcherson returns for the sequel to play former security guard Mike Schmidt,...

A gay couple are trapped in a haunted Airbnb with their parents in an initially amusing but progressively exasperating genre mishmash

Writer-director Craig Johnson broke out with 2014’s spiky comedy drama The Skeleton Twins, a film that hit familiar Sundance indie beats but hit them better than most. He has struggled a little since, from annoying Woody Harrelson-led comedy Wilson to ho-hum gay high school romance Alex Strangelove, and so one can understand why Johnson might feel like a big swing in a different direction might make most sense.

It has led him to a script by Saturday Night Live writer Kent Sublette called The Parenting, a throwback supernatural comedy horror that tries to remind us of a time when these rambunctious concoctions were far more common. Think Beetlejuice in the 80s or The Frighteners in the 90s or the deeply underrated Housebound more recently, a high-energy rush of...

The sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review Here, get a copy Here) was such a financial success when it reached theatres in January of last year, it didn’t even take Universal Pictures and production companies Blumhouse and Atomic Monster two weeks to announce that they’d be re-teaming for a sequel. M3GAN 2.0 is set to reach theatres on June 27, 2025, and now we’be gotten our first official teaser, which you can watch embedded above. Recently, Entertainment Weekly unveiled a couple first-look images! You can check them out at the bottom of this article.

Based on a story crafted by producer James Wan, M3GAN was directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) from a screenplay by Akela Cooper (Malignant). Johnstone returned to the helm for the sequel, and Cooper has written the script.

The first film has the following synopsis: She’s more than just a toy. She’s part of the family.

'M3GAN' star Allison Williams wants the horror franchise to "keep going" with more sequels and spin-offs.The scary flick – which follows the murderous robot doll M3GAN – will be expanded on with its sequel 'M3GAN 2.0', and the 36-year-old actress has said she's happy to keep coming back to the franchise so long as the stories are "interesting".Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Williams said: "Let's just keep going as long as they're interesting and each one has its own story to tell."As well as 'M3GAN 2.0' – which is slated to hit cinemas next year – the series is due to receive its first spin-off 'SOULM8TE', and Williams joked the series was slowly turning into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) thanks to its growing filmography.The actress – who is also serving as producer on 'M3GAN 2.0' – was asked what an Avengers-level threat...

When New Zealand-based writer, director, and producer Gerard Johnstone made his feature debut with Housebound in 2014, he'd only had one project under his belt. From 2008 to 2009, he worked with TV personality Jaquie Brown on her sitcom, The Jaquie Brown Diaries, as a director and writer on 14 episodes. Taking a sharp left turn, Johnstone later set out to make a horror film, admittedly choosing the genre because it was the only type of movie to be financially successful in Nz (and most other places) on a low budget.

With a shoestring budget of $250k (eventually ending up at $400k), Johnstone let circumstances dictate his creative direction, deciding to set his story in a single location to save on funds —ultimately landing on the idea of a haunted house. Choosing to make a bottle movie turned out to be a good idea, as even finding a suitable house to film in was financially tricky.

The sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review Here, get a copy Here) was such a financial success when it reached theatres in January of last year, it didn’t even take Universal Pictures and production companies Blumhouse and Atomic Monster two weeks to announce that they’d be re-teaming for a sequel. M3GAN 2.0, which is set to reach theatres on June 27, 2025, has already wrapped production – and producer Jason Blum and returning star Allison Williams were both at the New York Comic Con to hype the sequel up a bit. During the Blumhouse panel at Nycc, Williams said M3GAN 2.0 is bigger and more expansive than its predecessor.

Based on a story crafted by producer James Wan, M3GAN was directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) from a screenplay by Akela Cooper (Malignant). Johnstone returned to the helm for the sequel, and Cooper has written the script.

The first film has the...

Dan Hamill joins ‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ (Photo Courtesy of Starz)

Starz’s Spartacus: House of Ashur starring Nick Tarabay has added 12 guest stars to its cast. The much-anticipated new addition to the Spartacus franchise is in production in New Zealand, with Spartacus creator, writer, and executive producer Steven S. DeKnight guiding the series as showrunner.

“Spartacus: House of Ashur will be a history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit,” reads Starz’s synopsis. “The series poses the question: what if Ashur, played by fan favorite Nick Tarabay, hadn’t died on Mount Vesuvius at the end of Spartacus: Vengeance? And what if he had been gifted the gladiator school once owned by Batiatus in return for aiding the Romans in killing Spartacus and putting an end to the slave rebellion?”

In addition to Tarabay, the previously announced cast includes Lucy Lawless as Lucretia,...

Being married to a genuine bookworm, I know what it’s like to compete for attention with a mountain of thrilling page-turners. My wife has read an estimated 300 novels this year, so I sympathize with Elija Wood’s Strawn as he attempts to appeal to the mind of someone overflowing with information and imagination. In today’s Bookworm trailer, father and daughter embark on an epic journey into the wilderness in search of an elusive Canterbury Panther. However, neither came prepared to find love and the beginnings of forgiveness alongside danger and adventure.

Here’s the official synopsis for Bookworm courtesy of Vertical:

Bookworm follows 11-year-old Mildred (Nell Fisher), whose life takes a wild turn when her estranged father, Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood), a washed-up Las Vegas illusionist, suddenly reappears. Years ago, after a magical encounter with the once-charming Strawn, Mildred’s mom moved back to New Zealand. Now, a...

Like Rian Johnson’s Knives Out Mysteries franchise, casting for Mike White’s The White Lotus is always an event. Fans love to speculate who could join the cast of White’s award-winning series, and now Conan O’Brien wants to put his fiery red quaff in the ring. According to legend, O’Brien bumped into White in a restaurant, and the two started talking about The White Lotus Season 3. O’Brien offered to appear on the show, wanting to be a part of White’s hit project, though his proposed role could raise an eyebrow or two.

Speaking with Walton Goggins for episode 19 of Conan’s podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, the former late-night host recapped his run-in with White, telling Goggins, “Before you guys started shooting The White Lotus, I ran into none other than Mike White in a restaurant. I said, ‘Hey, so the next season of The White Lotus,...

Plot: 11-year-old Mildred’s world is turned upside down when her estranged father, the washed-up magician Strawn Wise, comes to look after her and agrees to take her camping to find a mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther.

Review: I’m not sure what it is about films from New Zealand but they always impress. You could point to the wonderful geography, which adds so much to the look of the film. Or maybe it’s the talent both in front of and behind the camera. And Bookworm certainly isn’t lacking in either. Like Hunt For the Wilderpeople, this takes a whimsical approach that’s just as heartfelt as it is funny. While it’s certainly magical, everything is grounded and hardly ever crosses over into the absurd. And it’s really not afraid to go to dark places.

Bookworm follows Mildred (Nell Fisher) after something tragic happens,...

The sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review Here, get a copy Here) was such a financial success when it reached theatres in January of last year, it didn’t even take Universal Pictures and production companies Blumhouse and Atomic Monster two weeks to announce that they’d be re-teaming for a sequel. We’ve known that M3GAN stars Allison Williams and Violet McGraw will be reprising their roles in M3GAN 2.0, which is set to reach theatres on June 27, 2025 – and now, with filming underway, Deadline reports that Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps are also returning from the first movie. New additions include Ivanna Sakhno (Ahsoka), who recently landed a major part in the sequel, Jemaine Clement (What We Do in the Shadows), Timm Sharp (Blunt Talk), and Aristotle Athari (Saturday Night Live).

Based on a story crafted by produced James Wan, M3GAN was directed by Gerard Johnstone...

Exclusive: Signature Entertainment has picked up UK and Irish rights to Bookworm, the latest film from Kiwi filmmaker Ant Timpson (Come to Daddy) starring Elijah Wood.

Described as an “adventure comedy”, the film is produced by Emma Slade (Come to Daddy), Roxi Bull (Uproar), and Victoria Dabbs (Malevolent) of Firefly Films New Zealand and Mette-Marie Kongsved (I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore), Laura Tunstall (Nine Days) of Nowhere.

Timpson directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Toby Harvard (The Greasy Strangler). Starring alongside Wood are Michael Smiley (Free Fire), Nell Fisher (Evil Dead Rise), Morgana O’Reilly (Housebound), and Nikki Si’ulepa (Same But Different: A True New Zealand Love Story). The film’s plot tells the story of a 12-year-old whose life is turned upside down when her estranged, washed-up American magician father comes to look after her.

The deal was negotiated between Signature Entertainment’s Chief Commercial...

Ukraine is calling out HBO’s “The White Lotus” for casting Serbian actor Miloš Biković in Season 3, claiming that he is the “Kremlin’s foreign mouthpiece.”

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs took to X/Twitter, on Wednesday to express its disappointment over the casting.

“Miloš Biković, Serbian actor who has been supporting Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion, is now set to star in HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3,” the post reads. “@HBO, is it all right for you to work with a person who supports genocide & violates international law?”

The post is accompanied by a video accusing Biković of supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The clip shows the actor receiving a medal of honor from Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018 for his contribution to Russian arts and culture. Biković has held Russian citizenship since 2021 and referred to himself as an “active member of...

Good lord, White Lotus. Save some actors for the rest of Hollywood. The third season of the HBO series is set to begin filming in Thailand next month with a massive ensemble cast, but hell, why not add a few more? The latest addition to White Lotus season 3 includes Walton Goggins, one of my favourite actors, as well as Patrick Schwarzenegger (Gen V), Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education), Sarah Catherine Hook (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It), and Sam Nivola (Maestro).

As with the previous cast announcements, there are no details on the character Walton Goggins and the rest will be playing in White Lotus season 3. The rest of the cast includes Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age), Leslie Bibb (The Babysitter: Killer Queen), Jason Isaacs (The Death of Stalin), Michelle Monaghan (Mission: Impossible – Fallout), Parker Posey (Scream 3), Miloš Biković (The Challenge), Dom Hetrakul (Bangkok Dangerous), Christian Friedel...

“The White Lotus” Season 3 at HBO has added five new cast members, Variety has learned.

Miloš Biković, Christian Friedel, Morgana O’Reilly, Lek Patravadi, and Shalini Peiris have all joined the highly-anticipated new season of the series.

They join previously announced new cast members Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, and Tayme Thapthimthong. It was also announced that “The Gilded Age” star Carrie Coon is joining Season 3, while Natasha Rothwell will return to the show in a reprisal of her role from Season 1.

Biković is repped by Artist International Group and at Sv Casting. Friedel is repped by UTA, United Agents, Players Agentur Management, and Narrative. O’Reilly is repped by Link Entertainment and Johnson & Laird Management. Peiris is repped by Insight Management & Production.

The show is set to begin production in and around Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok, Thailand, in February. Exact plot details...

One of the biggest horror hits in recent memory (and one of the biggest original hits of any kind for that matter) was "M3GAN." Produced by modern horror master James Wan and directed by Gerard Johnstone ("Housebound"), the film about an AI caregiver gone wrong captivated audiences in 2023, becoming the year's first bonafide blockbuster hit. Naturally, that means a sequel is on the way. Get ready for "M3GAN 2.0."

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions were quick to give the green light to a follow-up after the first movie had a massive opening weekend at the box office en route to a $181 million worldwide total. Not bad for a movie made with a mere $12 million budget. As is almost always the case in horror, a franchise has now been born. With development currently underway, we're here to give you all the details you need to know about the sequel. Here is...

There’s something inherently unsettling about inanimate objects that move on their own accord. Especially if they happen to resemble people. Which is what makes dolls so perfect for the horror genre; the uncanny valley of it all heightens the fear response in audiences.

This week’s streaming picks belong to the killer doll subgenre. These pint-sized homicidal maniacs deliver plenty of scares, heart, humor, and occasionally a great fashion sense.

As always, here’s where you can stream them this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

Asylum – Fandor, freevee, Plex, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Screambox, Shout TV, Tubi

This Amicus Production feature sets its wraparound in an asylum, where a doctor arrives for a job interview. His interviewer subjects him to an unorthodox interview process, which entails four tales of terror. The final segment before the epilogue, “Mannikins of Horror,” introduces a mad scientist type in Dr.

The episode of Best Horror Movie You Never Saw covering Housebound was Written by Eric Walkuski, Narrated by Jason Hewlett, Edited by Paul Bookstaber, Produced by John Fallon and Tyler Nichols, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

In January of 2023, cinemas were invaded by M3GAN, a horror-comedy about a feisty, and murderous, android companion that brought a fun new spin to the killer doll genre. While the film was a surprise hit at the box office, it had been in development for quite a while, dating back to the pre-pandemic days of 2018. Intriguingly, its director, Gerard Johnstone, had only one feature film under his belt up until that point. That feature was Housebound (watch it Here), a twisty, humorous thriller that deftly combined chills with laughs. M3GAN producers James Wan and Jason Blum were both thoroughly impressed by the tightrope the movie walked, and found Johnstone was perhaps...

Generally, moms and horror movies do not mix. The gore, the violence, the jumpscares – usually not mom’s cup of tea. But if there is anything all moms have in common, it’s wanting to spend more quality time with their grown, adult, weirdo children. (that’s us)

So invite Mom into your world by introducing us to some horror movies- that she’ll actually Enjoy.

You’ll probably have to convince her a bit, but I’m sure your mom will be eager to spend an afternoon with one of her favorite humans on the planet. Here are ten horror movies you can watch with your dear old mom, without fear of traumatizing her for life. Maybe this Mother’s Day?

Warner Bros.

1. The Others (2001)

Nicole Kidman stars in this psychological thriller about a woman who lives in a mansion with her two children who both have a rare photosensitivity condition.

The Wheel of Time has added four new cast members for season 2. The series, which premiered on Prime Video in 2021, is a fantasy epic based on the novel series of the same name by Robert Jordan. It follows Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike), who is searching for the mythical figure The Dragon Reborn along with a wide ensemble of characters.

During a virtual panel on Saturday at JordanCon, Prime Video announced that they are adding four new cast members to The Wheel of Time season 2, all playing various characters from the novels. This includes Ragga Ragnars as Maiden of the Spear Bain and Maja Simonsen as her first-sister Chiad. Also on hand are Jay Duffy as Children of the Light officer Dain Bornhald and Rima Te Wiata as the powerful Aes Sedai Sheriam Bayanar.

Where You Know The New Wheel of Time Cast Members

The new cast member that is likely...

Exclusive: New Zealand has long been known as a prime destination for big budget films such as Avatar and The Lord of the Rings thanks to its enviable locations, skilled crew base and generous 40% tax rebate. But, earlier this year when Avatar: The Way of Water was on its way to breaking multiple box office records as it climbed to its $2.3Bn tally, there was another New Zealand-shot project that was making a dent in the global box office chart. Universal, Blumhouse and Atomic Monster’s killer doll hit M3GAN amassed an impressive $176M worldwide from just a $12M budget after its January release.

While the film was set in Seattle, it was, in fact, shot in Auckland in 2021 after the pandemic forced the project to pivot from a Montreal shoot to New Zealand’s relatively Covid-free shores.. The nation is home to director Gerard Johnstone and it would be where the project would ultimately would find its 12-year-old star, Amie Donald, who plays M3gan.

“The fact we were able to find her in the moment that we needed to cast someone to play that role is, I mean, I don’t even know what the odds are, but they are very long,” says producer Judson Scott. “And to be able to find someone that is as capable as she is to do what we need to do but then also be as good of an onscreen presence that she is, is something you can’t really teach. You know, you just point the camera at her and the physicality and her presence is there. It’s an X factor – she has it. We’re just incredibly lucky and fortunate enough to have found that person in the city we were filming in.”

Donald, an Auckland native and national dance champion (whose skills came in handy for the doll’s viral dancing), brought M3GAN to life with the help of VFX, puppetry and animatronics. “She reminds me of old movie stars,” says Scott. “She can dance, she can perform all of these incredible stunts. Our stunt coordinator and movement coach was like, ‘This is incredible – we’re seeing something a lot of these people haven’t seen before.’”

The low-budget production, says Scott, was able to benefit from a crew that had worked on some of the biggest films and television shows to come out of the region.

“When we started this film, we were working with a lot of individuals who had done productions that are much bigger than ours on a much grander scale in terms of budget and what’s required of them to do,” he says. “We were incredibly lucky to be making what you would consider a smaller movie at the studio level with people that have won Academy Awards for working on Avatar, working The Lord of the Rings, working on Cowboy Bebop, working on the Rings TV show. So, we’ve been able to have access to those people to work on our smaller movie. We’ve been incredibly lucky that they brought all that knowledge to it.”

Producer Adam Hendricks says Auckland reminded him “in a lot of ways” of Los Angeles. “It’s sprawling, which is nice and also you get a bunch of different looks.”

He adds, “One of the things that I loved about the experience [in New Zealand] is it’s a very holistic idea of working on a film set. In the U.S. and in other places, every one of their different departments feels like they’re part of their different little fiefdoms – they seldom interact, let alone pick each other’s equipment up. But here, when the dolly trucks get moved, everyone comes and helps and when something needs to get done, everyone comes to the aid of the person that needs it and pushes it along. It’s very collaborative.”

Reflecting on the experience, Screen Auckland manager Matthew Horrocks, says the group is “incredibly proud of the role the Auckland screen sector played” in the film.

“M3GAN was shot in Auckland, making the most of our city’s forests, suburbs and city-centre locations, using Auckland studios and Auckland crews. There is even a star in the making in Amie Donald, who plays the M3GAN doll. The film is also a remarkable achievement for our own director Gerard Johnstone.

“From twice wining the 48 Hour Filmmaking competition, through writing credits on Housebound and The Jaquie Brown Diaries to working as a director on The New Legend of Monkey, Gerard has long been recognised as one of our finest talents. M3GAN is a new milestone in what is shaping up to be a stellar international career.”...

The sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review Here) was cut down and had some moments reshot so it could achieve a PG-13 rating for its theatrical release, but the unrated cut of the movie has since been given a digital, Blu-ray, and DVD release (order a copy Here)… and during an interview with USA Today, star Allison Williams revealed there’s a certain unrated moment that makes her sick to her stomach.

Williams said, “The unrated version is a lot of fun, if you have the stomach for it.” When asked if there was a specific scene that makes her squirm, she replied, “Oh, my God. It should be when a child perishes, but at one point, someone’s face loses a fight with a pressure washer and it starts to peel off. Even though I know how it works behind the scenes and I watched all the tests they...

If you've listened to recent episodes of our Corpse Club podcast, then you know we're big fans of the the timely tech-centric horrors that director Gerard Johnstone and screenwriter Akela Cooper cooked up with M3GAN, so we were very excited when it was announced that an "UNRAT3D Version" of M3GAN was being released. Now available on Digital (including Peacock) and Blu-ray / DVD, I recently had a chance to catch up with director Gerard Johnstone to discuss the new version and his experience making the film.

From the Press Release: She’s more than a toy. She’s family. And now she’s Unrated. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 95%, the year’s most unnerving film M3GAN arrives in an all-new unrated version with revealing extras when you buy on Digital February 24, 2023 and on Blu-rayTM and DVD March 21, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The “existentially scary” (Collider) film,...

Brimming with even more gory and gut-wrenching moments from horror's newest deadly doll, the "UNRAT3D Version" of M3GAN is now on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital, and we have a look at a clip that goes behind-the-scenes of how the cast and crew pulled off the creative kills in the film.

You can watch the behind-the-scenes clip below, and in case you missed it, check out Heather Wixson's previous coverage of M3GAN, including her review and interviews with the cast and crew!

From the Press Release: Universal City, California, February 17, 2023 – She’s more than a toy. She’s family. And now she’s Unrated. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 95%, the year’s most unnerving film M3GAN arrives in an all-new unrated version with revealing extras when you buy on Digital February 24, 2023 and on Blu-rayTM and DVD March 21, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The “existentially scary” (Collider) film,...

You would have to be living under a rock to have not heard of M3GAN (check out our review Here). The killer doll has absolutely taken the world by storm and provided a horror villain for Generation Z. I can’t count myself amongst the fans of the film, but I understand why everyone seems so smitten over it. I was lucky enough to sit down with director Gerard Johnstone (who made the criminally underrated Housebound) as well as star Violet McGraw to pick their brains about the killer doll. We discuss Megan 2.0 as well as a certain parting gift that the filmmakers gave Megan herself, Amie Donald. Check out the interview above!

One of the interesting things about talking to Johnstone was the fact that you can get a real sense that he knows and appreciates what a bonafide cult phenomenon the character of M3GAN has become. While...

One of the surprise breakout hits of the year was the fun horror flick M3GAN, which puts a modern twist on a Child’s Play-esque concept with the doll having AI. Promotion of the movie went viral thanks in part to an eerie sequence of the M3GAN doll doing a TikTok dance down a hallway in an intimidating fashion. Not only did the movie score as a big hit for a modest-budgeted studio film, collecting $173.5 million at the box office, but there is now a sequel in development from the film’s director, Gerard Johnstone, that will be titled M3GAN 2.0.

Johnstone was gracious enough to sit with us for an interview, which will be dropping soon. However, here are some good tidbits he’s revealed to us to whet your appetite until then.

As M3GAN inevitably draws comparisons to Child’s Play, it was asked if there would be a M3GAN vs.

This year’s box office hit M3GAN will be released on Digital this Friday, February 24 from Universal, with both the Theatrical Cut and the brand new Unrated Cut being offered up.

The Unrated Cut will also begin streaming on Peacock on February 24.

While you wait, preview the bloody M3GAN Unrated Cut with a couple sneak-peek clips below, the first of which shows how much gorier some of the scenes originally were…

And yes, a sequel is on the way. It’s titled M3GAN 2.0, releasing in 2025!

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to.

When Gemma suddenly becomes the...

Universal City, California, February 17, 2023 – She’s more than a toy. She’s family. And now she’s Unrated. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 95%, the year’s most unnerving film M3GAN arrives in an all-new unrated version with revealing extras when you buy on Digital February 24, 2023 and on Blu-rayTM and DVD March 21, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The “existentially scary” (Collider) film, presented from Universal Pictures and Blumhouse and produced by Atomic Monster in association with Divide/Conquer, has crossed $167 million at the global box office. M3GAN is produced by masters of horror—Atomic Monster’s James Wan and Blumhouse’s Jason Blum and directed by Gerald Johnstone (Housebound). The M3GAN UNRAT3D Version delivers more distressing violence and profanity and features never-before-seen bonus content including a breakdown of the creation of M3GAN and behind-the-scenes featurettes showcasing the film’s complex stunts and gory deaths.

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence,...

Last week, we learned that an unrated cut of the sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review Here) – which was cut down and had some moments reshot so it could achieve a PG-13 rating for its theatrical release – will be included with the film’s digital release, which is scheduled for February 24th, and its Blu-ray and DVD release, which is scheduled for March 21st. (Order a copy Here.) Now a new M3GAN trailer has been cut together to promote the unrated cut, and you can check it out in the embed above!

Based on a story crafted by producer James Wan, M3GAN was directed by director Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) from a screenplay by Akela Cooper (Malignant). The film has the following synopsis:

She’s more than just a toy. She’s part of the family.

From the most prolific minds in horror — James Wan, the filmmaker behind the Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring franchises,...

The final full week of February is upon us, and with it comes seven more brand new horror movies – including the at-home releases of this year’s two big theatrical horror offerings.

And one of those movies will be a bit bloodier this time around…

Here’s all the new horror arriving February 21 – February 24, 2023!

M. Night Shyamalan‘s latest thriller, Universal’s Knock at the Cabin was released in theaters on February 3, and we’ve learned that the film is Now Available on PVOD at home!

You can rent Knock at the Cabin for $19.99 or digitally purchase the film for $24.99.

Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin has made $47.9 million worldwide in theaters these past several weeks, with $31 million of that worldwide total made here in the United States.

In Knock at the Cabin, “While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four...

If you've listened to recent episodes of our Corpse Club podcast, then you know we're big fans of the the timely tech-centric horrors that director Gerard Johnstone and screenwriter Akela Cooper cooked up with M3GAN, so it's especially exciting to share the news that an "UNRAT3D Version" of M3GAN is coming to Digital (including Peacock) on February 24th (followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release on March 21st) with even more gory and gut-wrenching moments featuring horror's newest deadly doll.

We have the official press release with more details below, and in case you missed it, check out Heather Wixson's previous coverage of M3GAN, including her review and interviews with the cast and crew!

From the Press Release: Universal City, California, February 17, 2023 – She’s more than a toy. She’s family. And now she’s Unrated. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 95%, the year...

You know you want to have all your friends over for a M3GAN dance party. Here’s the very latest word on exactly when and where the hit horror flick will be streaming.

M3GAN hit theaters on Jan. 6 and generated a surprising 38.5 million (U.S.) with its opening weekend, making it the first film in over a decade to open to more than 30 million in the first week of a new year. As of Feb. 15, it has racked up a global box office of 168.1 million (against a ~20 million budget).

More from TVLinePoker Face Renewed for Season 2Vampire Academy,...

Released into theaters with a PG-13 rating, we had been hearing than an Unrated version of box office hit M3GAN was on the way, and indeed it has been officially announced today.

M3GAN arrives on Digital February 24 and on Blu-ray & DVD March 21 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, including the Theatrical Version and the Unrated Edition!

The Unrated Cut will also begin streaming on Peacock on February 24.

u watched the censored version the suits put in theaters, now watch what rly happened in the unrated cut. see u on @peacock next fri 2/24 pic.twitter.com/xTf03T8mrf

— M3GAN (@meetM3GAN) February 17, 2023

Writer Akela Cooper had revealed to Los Angeles Times last month that the original rated “R” incarnation of the film was a bit different. For starters, it was “way gorier.”

“No shade to Universal, love them, and I understand that once the trailer went viral, teenagers got involved and...

Created by writer Akela Cooper, M3GAN is on her way to becoming a bona fide horror icon, with her first movie making 125 million to date and a second movie already on the way. In the past few days alone, M3GAN has danced her way onto at-home PVOD platforms, and the killer doll was even featured in a spoof sketch on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend.

Aubrey Plaza played M3GAN for the “Saturday Night Live” sketch, and Drew Barrymore just took over the creepy role for a segment on “The Drew Barrymore Show” this week!

Barrymore surprised guest/M3GAN star Allison Williams during their interview, showing up in full costume as the AI companion. Barrymore even nailed M3GAN’s viral dance moves.

Watch Drew Barrymore embody the role of M3GAN in the video below!

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll...

This entire month has been loaded with fresh new nightmares, and we’re not slowing down in the final full week of January 2023. We’re getting Eight More new releases this week alone!

Here’s all the new horror releasing January 24-January 27, 2023…

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

First up, Universal and Blumhouse’s theatrical horror hit M3GAN is now available at home, the fan favorite film surprise-released for PVOD rental and/or purchase this morning.

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to.

When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece,...

Less than a month after being released in theaters, Universal and Blumhouse’s horror hit M3GAN is now available at home, surprise-released for PVOD viewing this morning (1/24)!

You can rent M3GAN now for 19.99, or digitally purchase the film for 24.99.

M3GAN has proven to be a massive hit in theaters, thus far scaring up 124.6 million at the worldwide box office. 74 million of that total was made in the United States alone.

And yes, a sequel is on the way. It’s titled M3GAN 2.0, releasing in 2025!

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to.

When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece,...

Even if you haven't seen "M3GAN," chances are, you've seen the meme of the killer A.I. doll dancing down the hall in the hit horror comedy from director Gerard Johnstone ("Housebound") and screenwriter Akela Cooper ("Malignant"). For better or worse, we're living in a time when movies are often reduced to memes, and the faces that hold sway over the box office belong to blue aliens and humanoid robot girls (as opposed to actual humans). It almost feels like something out of a "Black Mirror" episode, where the culture at large is filled with so much white noise that it takes a bizarre, out-of-context image like M3GAN dancing to hijack its attention.

When the first trailer for "M3GAN" dropped last October, the shot of the titular doll doing her self-possessed dance was soon memeified across Twitter and TikTok, with even celebrities like rapper Megan Thee Stallion getting in on the conversation.

In case you haven't heard by now, "M3GAN" is the moment. Even though the film was one of the first notable releases of 2023, this haunted doll take on the killer artificial intelligence film has been an internet sensation ever since the first trailer dropped. The smart marketing campaign of this film, coupled with the bountiful reaction images and memes of the titular doll dancing along to various songs, feels like a "lightning in a bottle" moment — leading to the relatively low budgeted flick making a killing in its box office debut. The film has now passed 100 million worldwide, and is still going strong.

If you're a real bestie and have been following this film's production, however, you could have probably guessed that the forces of producer James Wan, "Housebound" director Gerard Johnstone, and "Malignant" writer Akela Cooper combined are a horror dream team, and that the internet's obsession with "M3GAN" was only inevitable.

This article contains major spoilers for "M3GAN."

If you couldn't already tell, the world has been set ablaze with "M3GAN" fever. Not only has the sophomore effort from "Housebound" director Gerard Johnstone earned nearly 100 million at the box office against a 12 million budget, but has earned plenty of critical acclaim, with /Film's Jeff Ewing calling it "a horror comedy blast" in his review. Whether it was the meme-worthy dance that led the marketing team to glory, or Akela Cooper's smart screenplay, "M3GAN" had all the makings of a hit. On top of having the involvement of James Wan, the Blumhouse flick also featured a pretty spectacular cast with Allison Williams ("Get Out"), Violet McGraw ("Doctor Sleep"), Brian Jordan Alvarez ("The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo"), and Ronny Chieng ("Crazy Rich Asians").

You also have Jenna Davis and Amie Donald, both of whom gave a considerable contribution to...

Last weekend's box office power couple are set to continue their reign heading into the four-day Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. James Cameron's venerable, undefeated sci-fi sequel, "Avatar: The Way of Water," will easily keep its throne with a projected 36 million gross over the four-day weekend, per Variety. 

Meanwhile, our new queen, "M3GAN," is expected to hold strong in second place, adding another 20 million to her total between Friday and Monday. Of course, those projections should be taken with a grain of salt given that "M3GAN" was initially expected to gross 17-20 million in her opening weekend, but instead danced her way to a 30.2 million debut. The PG-13 horror film from "Housebound" director Gerard Johnstone and "Malignant" screenwriter Akela Cooper has proven to be successful counter-programming against "The Way of Water," providing moviegoers with a choice between eye-popping sci-fi action and ear-ripping sci-fi horror.

Fortunately, there is still...