The Horror Show
Morgan
by Luke Scott
In his directorial debut, Luke Scott stands behind a sci-fi/thriller potboiler; a much told monster story that comes to add to the chorus of the technology-gone-wrong theme.
Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy, Paul Giamatti, and Toby Jones star in Scott’s sleek Morgan and tell the story of a hard-hearted risk-management consultant, Lee Weathers (Kate Mara). She investigates the sinister case of “L9 prototype” also known as Morgan (Anya Taylor-Joy), a lifelike humanoid that is locked away in a corporate top-secret bunker in the woods.
Amid the threat of a bioengineering crisis, Lee is sent off to the woods to determine Morgan’s fate. While the humanoid is only 5 years old, her cruel, emotionless instincts are enough to cause a lot of Hannibal Lecter-inspired trouble. Ironically, the group of scientists, who in reality have raised Morgan, see her as part of their family - murderous urges aside.
Lee’s arrival to the bunker stirs up a lot of chaos, and Morgan is not willing to go down without a fight. Up until that point, Scott’s story is fairly engaging. It is not really about the conflict between technology and human emotions. In fact, it is about how strongly intertwined these two are and how terrifying this mix-up can get. However, once the movie kicks into savage action-mode and the bodies start to pile up, the previously powerful suspense gives way to unimaginative action.
As ambitious as Morgan might be with its flashy casting roster, it fails to surpass excellence on several levels. Even though the story is generally worth telling - and seeing - the uninspired climax is a reminder that storytelling is no easy feat.
Yet, there are still a couple of moments that strike a chord. Those who are seeking a smart, and kind of edgy flick, will find plenty to savour in Scott’s well-cast moody thriller.
Maria Kriva, HMS
The Horror Show Menu.