Why The Purrpetual Petz Are Scarier Than M3GAN And Deserve Their Own Horror Movie

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Caution: This article might disclose a minimal number of spoilers about the movie “M3GAN“. For those who haven’t watched this sci-fi thriller, please tread carefully, just as you would when exploring any novel technology.

As someone deeply fond of horror, science fiction, and critique that skewers technology – a sentiment I’ve expressed often, like in my response to the 2025 film “Companion” – you might expect me to have been among the first to catch “M3GAN” when it premiered in early 2023, and that the sequel is high on my list of eagerly awaited movies for 2025. Although I’m definitely excited about “M3GAN 2.0“, which will be screened starting June 27, I only recently watched the original film just a few days before writing this piece.

Intriguingly, how did this individual, who has a fear of technology and enjoys both horror and sci-fi genres, react to the thriller featuring an AI-controlled doll acting erratically? Quite a bit (even with the more intense unrated version), but I might have an unusual perspective on the central robot antagonist. Here’s why…

The Purrpetual Petz Are The Most Grotesque Fake Toys I Have Ever Seen

In the opening 60 seconds of the film M3GAN, I was instantly filled with dread due to a captivating advertisement for a line of toys named Purrpetual Petz. These toys are designed as eternal substitutes for typical household pets, but they bear an unsettling resemblance to a lump of old hair with snapping teeth and the haunting stare of a drug addict affixed to them. In his review of M3GAN, Eric Eisenberg describes the title character as a “uncanny valley nightmare, depending on your perspective,” but I’d argue that she appears angelic in comparison to these unattractive-looking creatures.

Yet, these peculiar-looking playthings for children make me feel uneasy not only in their appearance, but also in their design. The advertisement for the Purrpetual Petz illustrates that numerous features of this toy are controlled via a smartphone or tablet application, which seems to be increasingly prevalent in modern toys, and I find it slightly overused. This scene featuring Cady (the 11-year-old character played by Violet McGraw, who was compensated handsomely for her role) highlights why this trend bothers me. To put it simply, I’d rather my child have a toy that can be enjoyed without the need for an additional, costly device.

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The Purrpetual Petz Should Have Their Own Movie

It seems to me that the concept of M3GAN 2.0’s plot, reminiscent of Terminator 2, is quite intriguing. Yet, I can’t help but wonder if others also feel that the upcoming Blumhouse film could have been more impactful and potentially more terrifying, had the Purrpetual Petz been reintroduced as the antagonists in this instance?

Why not dedicate an entire film to those chilling playthings? Imagine this: a malevolent programmer rewrites their code, transforming them into nightmarish, hellish plushies! It would echo the spirit of the timeless horror-comedy classic, Gremlins, but with a modern, tech-savvy twist.

Blumhouse seems fully capable of moving forward with this concept, given that they’re already developing a spin-off of M3GAN called SOULM8TE. I can’t imagine a more fitting way to delve deeper into the horror genre’s success than by offering its primary terror-inducing element a genuine chance at gruesome greatness.

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2025-06-26 02:07