Fearsome and fierce? How creepy robot doll M3GAN become a queer icon
In recent years, fictional movie characters have been hailed as queer icons… Many of these characters are non-human and appear in horror – a genre that has often been associated with queerness.
Even if you haven’t seen James Wan’s latest horror comedy M3GAN, you’re probably already familiar with its eponymous and viral star. We’re talking about M3GAN, the life-size humanoid AI puppet that dances, sings and kills with great enthusiasm. Some say she looks like a young Scarlett Johansson while others say she resembles Renesmee from “Twilight”. Simply put, M3GAN is a legend. She is the moment. And she is undeniable a queer icon.
In the film, M3GAN (voiced by Jenna Davis and portrayed by Amie Donald) is created by Gemma (Allison Williams), a roboticist at high-tech toy company Funki, and designed to be the mate of her orphaned niece, Cady (Violet McGraw). It doesn’t take M3GAN long to adjust to her new life situation – she quickly becomes friends with Cady and helps Gemma with her parenting duties.
But what neither of them know is that M3GAN’s learning abilities have helped her evolve into a silent killer who will target anyone (and everything) she believes poses a threat to Cady. M3GAN soon turns violent, leading to an epic showdown involving a robot and two die-hard human nerds.
M3GAN is clearly no saint. But she has amassed a huge fandom within the online queer community. Shortly after the film’s trailer was released, M3GAN was catapulted into internet stardom through a series of memes, fancam edits, and TikTok clips. There is a video from M3GAN Dancing to Beyoncé’s Alien Superstar before dashing down the hall to kill her victim. There’s a meme from M3GAN that sings David Guetta and Sia’s 2011 hit “Titanium” on a loop. There’s even an ongoing battle between M3GAN and fellow horror queen Annabelle (spoilers: most people think M3GAN would win).
M3GAN is indeed the internet’s newfound queer hero. But how did she get here? And why is her story resonating with so many queer people? Here’s a closer look at M3GAN’s iconic status and popularity in the queer community:
What makes a queer icon?
As Vox’s Alex Abad-Santos explains, “LGBTQ pop culture heroes come in all shapes and sizes when it comes to real people, but those who join the pantheon of legends are often revolutionary, sometimes tragic figures who… inspire the community regardless of their declared sexual orientation.”
Take Britney Spears, for example, whose electropop songs have inspired queer fans for years. Though Spears isn’t overtly queer herself, she has consistently shown her support for the community, once by writing a heartfelt note in Billboard’s viral love letters to the LGBTQ community and signing an open letter opposing two anti-LGBTQ laws. Spears’ story of adversity and perseverance, particularly as it affected her turbulent career and 13-year conservatorship, resonated with many queer individuals as well.
There’s actress Judy Garland, whose camp aesthetic and personal tale of woe resonated with numerous gay men. And in the music industry, there’s Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and Carly Rae Jepsen, whose songs have also turned into queer anthems.
Additionally, Elliott H. Powell, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, NYLON, said that queer icons are “those who consistently and publicly push boundaries and defy racial, gender, and sexual norms.” Their rejection of the status quo makes them “teachers and guides of nonnormativity; they help us navigate the oppression of the present and they help us envision a different world of possibility.”
“[Being adopted later in life] For a lot of people in the gay community, the idea of a found family resonates.”
The idea of a “different world of possibilities” has diversified our understanding of who or what a queer icon can be. In recent years, fictional movie characters have been celebrated as icons because of their distinct fashions, relatable origin stories, and/or factual attitudes. Many of these characters are non-human and appear in horror – a genre that has often been associated with queerness.
In particular, the survival elements of horror have resonated with many in the queer community and their experiences.
“I think as a teenager, your body gives you away. And if you’re queer, you have an additional betrayal. We say wait a second, I’m not like the others. How do I fit in?” Queer for Fear executive producer Steak House explained in an interview with Salon. “And I think horror, as scary as it is, it also has a lot of survival stories and ways we can see ourselves when society labels us monsters. We can also see each other in horror movies. “
What makes M3GAN fit to be a queer icon?
Similar to the icons before her, M3GAN’s story is one of isolation, struggle and perseverance. An early, buggy version of it was dismissed as too expensive to develop. Later, when she came into her final form, we see her, albeit comical, being thrown into a pile of teddy bears and children’s toys when Cady attends an outdoor school program. We see her protecting Cady and attacking her goons like Gemma’s neighbor Celia’s dog, Celia and Cady’s goons at Camp Brandon. We also see M3GAN ruthlessly fight Gemma even after her limbs, face and hair are ripped apart.
There are also the relatable elements of “tense family dynamics, grandiose outfits, themes of loneliness going back to childhood, being bullied and feeling different,” according to The Daily Beast’s Justin Kirkland. M3GAN screenwriter Akela Cooper further boosted M3GAN’s reputation by saying that the film’s theme of finding a family is true for many queer viewers.
“I actually asked one of my friends who is a gay man about this and he said that this setup is actually a found family where this little girl lost her family and she has to live with her aunt,” she said in one Interview with SFX Magazine. “Then this doll is also brought into the situation. That resonates with many people in the gay community, the idea of the founding family.”
M3GAN and Cady (Violet McGraw) in M3GAN (Geoffrey Short/Universal Pictures)
Cooper continued, “Then you get to the dance scene. And it’s like ‘Yes! Yes to all of that!’ and it just got better. So I like to think it’s the emotional aspect that draws people in first, and then M3GAN’s amazing dance moves seal the deal.”
Also worth noting is M3GAN’s preppy yet suit-like outfit, which consists of a bow tie scarf, beige shift dress over a striped long sleeve shirt, and black Mary Janes. Her aesthetic is reminiscent of classic “twee” outfits seen in “Gossip Girl” or worn by Zooey Deschanel’s Jess in “New Girl,” or the awkwardness of certain American Girl dolls. And while M3GAN’s fashion sense is dated, it’s also extravagant and sets her apart from the rest.
M3GAN follows in the footsteps of other queer horror icons, most notably Babadook and Octavia Spencer’s Ma. The Babadook was first celebrated as an icon in the original “Babadook” on Tumblr, which interpreted the storybook character’s story as a story of queer resistance.
“[T]”The new fabulousness of Babadook seems to tally quite sensibly with odd readings of more well-known beasts like Frankenstein and Freddy Krueger,” wrote Eren Orbey of The New Yorker People, who threatened his presence.
M3GAN rises
In response to “M3GAN,” the online queer community released memes and TikTok edits that joke about, but also celebrate, M3GAN. The most popular memes are M3GAN dance and cartwheels to Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion, RuPaul and Charli XCX. Others praise her performance in the film and ridicule her many doubles.
M3GAN even has their own verified Twitter account, in which she types in all lowercase letters and uses slang terms like “kill” and “besties.” There is also the absurd and outrageous “M3GAN” marketing campaign., where several M3GAN cosplayers ran through the streets of New York City. Social media videos have captured some M3GANs on the subway and on top of the Empire State Building. Several M3GANs also appeared on The Today Show and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Speaking of resilience, apparently M3GAN was destroyed by a screwdriver, it’s apparently coming back in a few years because you can’t keep a good killer doll down. A sequel called M3GAN 2.0 is in the works and is scheduled to premiere on January 17, 2025.
Continue reading
on Queer Horror:
