LOUISA: 
MATT: 
LOUISA SAYS:
The cold, generic and completely forgettable film “Morgan” is a pretty pitiful excuse for a science fiction ‘thriller.’ Even the lame twist ending (itself quickly predictable from the get-go) can’t save the film’s previous 90 minutes of lackluster exposition.
Corporate troubleshooter Lee Weathers (Kate Mara) is sent to a top secret location deep in the woods to investigate a violent incident and assess the danger of a lab created semi-human, Morgan (Anya Taylor-Joy). When their Frankenstein creation escapes, all hell breaks loose. Lee meets resistance from resident scientists and bunker staff Amy (Rose Leslie), Ted (Michael Yare), Skip (Boyd Holbrook), Simon (Toby Jones) and Cheng (Michelle Yeoh), a crowded acting field of folks that aren’t given much of anything to do except stare into space and repeatedly ask “where’s Morgan?”
This is a disappointing, dull movie with lackluster dialogue and completely wooden, robotic performances from all of the actors (Paul Giamatti being the sole exception, but who doesn’t love to watch him yell and cause a ruckus on screen)? This could’ve been a smart thriller with thoughtful themes, a movie with something important to say if only it had a better script and a better vision. I stopped caring before the film neared its halfway point.
There’s really not much to say about this boring movie because not much happens. It’s a one sentence plot that’s drawn out to craft a feature length movie. This whole exercise made me long for last year’s far better sci-fi gal in the glass box movie, “Ex Machina.” It’s unfair to compare the two because “Morgan” isn’t intelligent at all and relies mostly on violence and cheap horror tricks to keep viewers interested. Any attempt at suspense is squandered and the overall lack of storytelling ability from director Luke Scott (yes, Ridley’s son) is astounding. Don’t waste your time or money on this one.
MATT SAYS:
Artificial intelligence and genetic engineering are tools to achieve profit and increase returns in “Morgan”, the new film from director Luke Scott (son of Sir Ridley).
Sometimes timing helps movies; sometimes it hurts them. “Morgan” has been released in the shadow of the massive cult hit “Stranger Things,” and having watched the trailer for “Morgan” repeatedly over the summer, the comparison is unavoidable. As we learn in the trailers, Morgan is a genetic experiment that has been engineered in a secret lab somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. When Morgan (a fast-aging female) starts to experiment with the powers that come with her genetic mutations, profits and humanity are put at risk. It is up to corporate risk management consultant Lee Weathers (Kate Mara) to stop Morgan and save the company.
“Morgan” is a strictly by-the-numbers techno-thriller. There’s not much new or exciting in the film, and not much worthy of remembering or discussing. That’s not to say it’s bad — it’s not — but it’s not really worth your time, either.
Screen Zealots 
I was looking forward to this review. This was a terrible movie. The film could have been over half way through. But no. We had sit through another 45 minutes watching incredibly stupid characters do so incredibly stupid things to get themselves killed. I was ready to throw something at the screen at the hour mark. Let’s start with Paul Giamatti – who insists on conducting a psych evaluation with the subject behind unbreakable glass – and then he berates the subject mercilessly, as if he *wants* her, er….it…. to attack and kill him. Dumbass!
After watching nonstop stupidity (i.e. “Stop!! Don’t move any further” — Me: “Just shoot the damn bitch! Would you?) for too long – there was a moment during a fight scene in the woods that caused me to OPENLY APPLAUD the demise of one of the characters. (I don’t think the other 3 people in the theater were bothered too much.) But sadly, my enthusiasm was met with genuine disappointment at the end.
And this brings me back to “Don’t Breathe”, a film I very much enjoyed. The big difference between “Morgan” and “Don’t Breathe” was after realizing their predicament, the characters in “Don’t Breathe” didn’t resort to idiotic and boneheaded decisions to evade the monster that was stalking them. (I’m not talking about the decision to burglarize a blind man’s house) In “Morgan”, those characters all but begged to be killed.
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Oh yes, that STUPID redhead girl! Haven’t these characters ever seen a movie before? Don’t talk, SHOOT! –Louisa
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Agreed.
Louisa, dang I completely forgot how stilted and expository the dialogue was when I was writing my review! It was pretty lame (and so was I for forgetting).
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Steve, all of the characters constantly asking “where’s Morgan?” reminded me of the “is he is buying more bread?” discussions from “Eye in the Sky.” Ha ha! –Louisa
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Lol these kind of things don’t really bother me, it’s more the awkward dialogue where they’re explaining things about themselves where it was unfitting.
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Wow.. This is so different to alot of reviews I have read.. I still think it is worth a watch though..nit is strange to see how people’s views differ so much..but aso very interesting.
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