Killer machines are a narrative trope about as old as machinery itself, but there’s something especially creepy about metallic killers when they’re roughly human-shaped. And as we’ve seen with the success of Blumhouse’s insanely popular M3GAN, the uncanny valley can still go a long way when it comes to attracting modern audiences.
With that in mind, we’ve decided to celebrate the home release of M3GAN with a list of six other memorable killer androids in horror movies. After all, these man-made movie monsters evolved alongside Hollywood’s understanding of technology, so we’ve seen some pretty interesting homicidal automatons over the years.
Obviously, this list is based on personal opinion, but we’ll still be following a couple of rules. First of all, we’ll be excluding cyborgs from the list, as their human bits make them a completely different kind of character. Second, we’ll only be including one robot per franchise. And though he’s not actually featured here, I’d also like to give a shout-out to Lars Klevberg’s underrated reinvention of Chucky, who only didn’t make it onto the list because he’s not the character’s most recognizable form.
With that out of the way, don’t forget to comment below with your own favorite robot killers if you think we missed an important one.
Now, onto the list…
6. Silver Shamrock Androids (Halloween III)
The black sheep of the Halloween franchise, Tommy Lee Wallace’s H3 may not be a slasher flick, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have imposing stalkers pursuing our protagonists. Of course, instead of a masked bogeyman, this strange example of pagan horror features pumpkin-filled automatons that pursue Tom Atkins as he attempts to uncover the secrets of the Silver Shamrock company.
The Androids’ squash-like innards and goofy origins mean that they’re hard to take completely seriously, but when you couple them with that iconic John Carpenter score, you’ve got a memorable group of robotic villains on your hands.
5. Killbots (Chopping Mall)
Long before Paul Blart, Jim Wynorski gifted audiences with the true definitive mall-cop movie in the form of Chopping Mall. Chronicling the plight of a group of teenage employees who become the target of the mall’s new high-tech security system, the film introduced the world to a trio of lovable killer robots that look like Johnny 5’s militarized cousins.
Of course, this is a Roger Corman production, so the “Killbots” aren’t exactly brought to life by big budget effects work, but their janky movements and haphazard appearance actually helps with the film’s lo-fi charms. I just hope the proposed remake doesn’t stray too far from this silly premise…
4. The Gunslinger (Westworld)
While it’s kind of a prototype for Michael Crichton’s later Jurassic Park, 1973’s Westworld was a rare case of an author managing to write and direct an original movie for the big screen without churning out a massive flop. Depicting a high-tech amusement park populated by near-sentient androids, the film chronicles the mayhem that ensues once a robotic Gunslinger begins to malfunction.
Played to perfection by Yul Brynner, the nameless Gunslinger is the clear highlight of the movie, pursuing our protagonists like an 1800s-styled Terminator and looking cool while doing it. However, the flick is also remembered for featuring the first use of digital image processing on film, with the murderous android’s POV shots being painstakingly pixelized by early 70s computers.
3. David (Prometheus / Alien Covenant)
Ridley Scott’s Alien spin-offs may get a lot of flack for undoing much of the eldritch mystery that made that original film so captivating in the first place, but even the biggest haters have to admit that the British director was onto something when he cast Michael Fassbender as the charming David.
A lifelike android created by Peter Weyland, David’s quest to find meaning as his human companions face literal gods and monsters is honestly more compelling than any of the movie’s xenomorph-related shenanigans, harkening back to the plight of the Replicants in Scott’s Blade Runner. Of course, this doesn’t mean David isn’t above systematic murder and horrific science experiments, which is precisely why he ranks so high on this list.
2. T-800 (The Terminator)
You can’t discuss killer robots without bringing up The Terminator, so it should come as no surprise that this futuristic killing machine places near the top of our list. Allegedly inspired by a nightmare about a flaming skeleton (with a backstory likely influenced by an episode of The Outer Limits), the T-800 remains one of the best fusions of sci-fi and horror.
While half of the android’s memorability comes from a chilling performance by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the other half is due to the amazing design and effects work courtesy of the late great Stan Winston. And as Kyle Reese would say: “It can’t be bargained with, it can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity or remorse or fear and it absolutely will not stop… ever.”
Now that’s a good villain!
1. M.A.R.K. 13 (Hardware)
This is what you want, this is what you get!
While the movie’s origins are the subject of some controversy due to the script’s undeniable similarities to a 2000 AD spin-off comic, Hardware remains one of the best killer robot movies of all time. Sure, it’s a little too deliberately paced for some viewers, but how can you argue with a film that features Cyberpunk drug trips and futuristic gore, as well as appearances by both Lemmy and Iggy Pop?
Of course, most of Hardware’s charms are due to its metallic antagonist, an experimental military robot named after a Bible verse (no flesh shall be spared!). A spidery creation capable of self-repair and hallucination-inducing injections, the M.A.R.K. 13 is the stuff of dystopic nightmares.
Honestly, I think it’s a shame that this homicidal android only appeared in a single movie. However, there’s always time to amend that…
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