'Morgan' a cautionary, sci-fi take on the downside of love
Luke Scott's eye-catching science-fiction cautionary tale "Morgan" can't escape the cliched clutches of confusing, flash-edited "Jason Bourne" fights and obligatory car chases.
These commercial action movie conventions do not configure well with "Morgan," an otherwise gothic chamber piece contemplating the scientific ethics of playing God in a corporate laboratory.
"Morgan" appears to be another "Frankenstein"-inspired thriller, like "Ex Machina," but it's considerably less innovative, more derivative and reminded me of David Cronenberg's early horror tale "The Brood" with its homicidal "kids" on the loose.
The titular character, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, possesses subtle, extra-terrestrial features (blackened lips, barely visible brows and huge, flying-saucer-shaped eyes) and lounges around in a hoody listening to classical music.
She becomes so upset over being no longer able to go outside of her glass-walled cell that she takes Jennifer Jason Leigh's eye out faster than a Red Ryder BB gun.
Cue the arrival of Lee Weathers (Kate Mara, Rooney's physically striking sister), a rigidly cold, calculating risk-management consultant dispatched by the mysterious corporation funding the science project that created Morgan from synthetic DNA.
Dr. Simon Ziegler (Toby Jones) gives Weathers the lowdown on Morgan. Weathers interrupts and says she already knows it, yet Ziegler insists on telling her (really us) how Morgan is only five years old, but exponentially grows in size and intellect.
Morgan, unlike earlier experiments, has been programmed with emotions, and she doesn't handle them all that well. Gee, ya think?
It becomes clear that Weathers, who insists on referring to Morgan as "it," has been authorized to continue the program or shut it down (aka, eliminate Morgan).
Scott, son of the producer Ridley Scott, cranks out a workable but indistinctive, muddled thriller.
Seth Owen's screenplay suggests a potential problem for future modern families by giving Morgan a family of scientists who have nurtured her for seven years - inside a crumbling mansion that would fit in at the Munsters' 1313 Mockingbird Lane - and would do anything to protect her.
They have grown to love their flawed creation, especially Dr. Lui Cheng (Michelle Yeoh) who Morgan calls "mother," and Dr. Amy Menser (Rose Leslie), Morgan's perceived best bud.
When the corporation dispatches surly Dr. Alan Shapiro (Paul Giamatti) to evaluate Morgan, he reveals himself to be a bully who, for unclear reasons, pushes Morgan's buttons to the breaking point.
He asks what she likes about living in the laboratory.
"I like my friends," she says coldly, without conviction.
Perhaps "Morgan" means to warn us of the hazards of bestowing unconditional love upon someone (or a synthetic someone) incapable of returning affection.
It didn't work out so well for Scarlett O'Hara with the synthetic Ashley Wilkes. And it fares no better here.
“Morgan”
★ ★
Starring: Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy, Toby Jones, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michelle Yeoh, Paul Giamatti
Directed by: Luke Scott
Other: A 20th Century Fox release. Rated R for language, violence. 92 minutes