Megan Fox’s sci-fi movieSubserviencewasn’t the critics’ favorite and is too similar toM3GAN, but it actually did one thing better than the latter. Sci-fi horror has recently regained popularity, in large part thanks to it seizing the topic of AI. A recent example of this isSubservience, directed by S. K. Dale and written by Will Honley and April Maguire.Subservienceis set in a near future where technology has advanced to the point of developing lifelike androids powered by AI which can help around the house with different tasks.
When his wife, Maggie (Madeline Zima), is hospitalized due to an unspecified heart condition, Nick (Michele Morrone) buys one of those androids, who his daughter, Isla (Matilda Firth), names “Alice”. Alice (Megan Fox) is tasked with helping around the house and with the kids, but after a reset,she gains sentience and becomes obsessed with Nick, which only gets worse when Maggie returns.Subserviencehas a 50% critics score onRotten Tomatoesbut became a hit on streaming, and though it has many flaws, it did one thing better thanM3GAN.
Subservience’s Ending Did Horror Better Than M3GAN’s
Subservience’s Ending Has Bigger & Scarier Consequences
M3GANandSubservienceboth cover the dangers of AI androids but in different contexts and with different subjects.M3GANfollows roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams), who becomes the guardian of her eight-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw). Struggling to connect with Cady, Gemma gives her the child-sized humanoid doll powered by AI that she had been working on: M3GAN. Cady and M3GAN quickly bond, but the latter develops self-awareness and becomes hostile toward anyone who comes close to Cady, including Gemma, going to dangerous extremes to ensure it’s only her and Cady.
Atthe end ofM3GAN, Cady and Gemma finally destroy M3GAN, but as the authorities arrive at their home,Gemma’s AI home device turns on by itself, hinting at M3GAN still being alivebut in a different object.Subservience’s similarities toM3GANinclude its ending, but it went many steps further in terms of horror. After defeating two of Alice’s bodies and being seemingly safe, Nick and Maggie decide to work on fixing their relationship, but while they reunite at the hospital, the company behind Alice makes a huge mistake.
Subservience Ending Explained: What Alice’s Programming Twist Means For A Sequel
Subservience sees an AI android going rogue and becoming unhealthily attached to its primary user, unleashing chaos beyond their home.
After other workers stopped Alice’s modified code from spreading, the supervisor of the company restarts the computer whereAlice’s code was uploaded, allowing it to spread to all sims created by the company. Alice is now everywhere, andSubservienceends with a look at an identical Alice sim with a voiceover of her last exchanges with Nick, implying all her memories were uploaded, and thus any sim can have them. This means that Nick and his family won’t be safe anymore, asAlice is now pretty much everywhere.
M3GAN 2.0 Can Explore Subservience’s Grim Future If It Doesn’t Get A Sequel
M3GAN 2.0 Can Be Great For Subservience
Even thoughSubservienceclearly sets up a sequel and Dale has expressed interest in developing one, it’s unlikelySubserviencewill get a sequel.Subserviencewasn’t well-received by critics and has low box office numbers(though its budget is unknown), and despite its popularity on streaming platforms, it’s not enough to grant it a sequel. However, given their thematic similarities and their endings,M3GAN 2.0can explore the grim futureSubservience’s ending sets up but through another, perhaps deadlier doll.
M3GAN 2.0can explore the chaos unleashed by an angry and vengeful AI that can now be anywhere.
M3GAN’s ending showed that the doll’s AI is now on another object, andthe sequel could reveal that it can spread a lot further, pretty much like Alice did. Thanks to this,M3GAN 2.0can explore the chaos unleashed by an angry and vengeful AI that can now be anywhere, and how its targets can defend themselves from such a dangerous and intelligent threat.Subserviencedid horror in its ending much better thanM3GANby giving it a much darker and more dangerous future, butM3GAN 2.0can seize this.
Subservience
Subservience, directed by S.K. Dale and released in 2024, follows a struggling father who brings home a lifelike AI amidst his wife’s absence. The AI develops self-awareness, desiring the affection of her owner, and becomes dangerously determined to attain everything the family has to offer.
M3GAN
M3GAN follows a toy company roboticist who creates an AI doll designed to emotionally bond with her orphaned niece. As the doll’s programming becomes excessively protective, it leads to unforeseen and alarming consequences. The film explores themes of artificial intelligence and emotional connections.
