M3GAN seeks to be part of the sub-genre of horror films with creepy dolls at the front and center as villains alongside Chucky and Annabelle.

The film’s premise is quite simple: a porcelain doll-looking android has an evolving artificial intelligence that becomes overly over-protective of her owner.

Here is the official synopsis of M3GAN:

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, and Blumhouse, the producer of the Halloween films, The Black Phone, and The Invisible Man—comes a fresh new face in terror.

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 (Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes a friend and teacher, playmate, and protector, for the child she is bonded to.

When Gemma becomes the caretaker of her orphaned eight-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), Gemm’s unsure and unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems—a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.

The film also stars Ronny Chieng (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Brian Jordan Alvarez (Will & Grace), Jen Van Epps (Cowboy Bebop), Lori Dungey (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring), and Stephane Garneau-Monten (Straight Forward). Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) directed the movie from the screenplay written by Akela Cooper (Malignant, The Nun 2) based on the story from Cooper and James Wan.

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With the reality of home robotic servants a few years away, this horror movie will easily streak fear at those who are paranoid and suspicious of artificial intelligence and robots.

Nonetheless, let’s add M3GAN to the lore of creepy dolls in cinema.

M3GAN is in theaters on January 6.

Watch the first look featurette with interviews with the upcoming horror film. Let us know what you think of the featurette.

For news and interview pitches, contact Gig Patta at [email protected].

Source: NBCUniversal