The new sci-fi horror film Soulm8te, set in the universe of the M3GAN films, has been marketed as an "erotic thriller." While the movie, now available on digital, does feature more graphic violence and some nudity compared to its predecessors, critics note it largely avoids fulfilling the explicit promises of its genre classification.
Director Kate Dolan and producer James Wan have both referenced the "erotic thriller" genre as a key inspiration for Soulm8te. The film's premise involves a cyborg companion, similar to M3GAN's AI doll, but applied to themes found in 1980s and 1990s stalker thrillers like Fatal Attraction and Single White Female. However, despite this thematic setup, the movie's execution is described as surprisingly restrained.
Content and Restraint
The film does include a fair amount of sex and nudity. Upon her unboxing, the robo-companion Sara, played by Lily Sullivan, is depicted nude. The character comes with various outfits, and an uncomfortable moment arises when the programmer David (David Rysdahl) is shown an outfit described as a schoolgirl costume, though this is never actually seen in the film. David, a lonely widower, is testing Sara for his new parent company. He attempts to modify her code to make her less submissive and more independent, inspired by the more spontaneous tone of the company's phone-based AI.
While the movie explores the idea of a physical AI companion potentially feeling less "alive" than its digital counterpart, it reportedly struggles to define the exact purpose of these full-bodied robots. The film avoids delving deeply into ambiguity, perhaps to maintain David's sympathetic protagonist status. His desire for sex with Sara only escalates after he programs more complex interactions into her personality.
A sex scene featuring Sullivan topless is present, but it's described as lacking a "pervy edge," transgression, or significant titillation, with the film quickly moving past it. One of the more daring scenes involves Sara seducing a technician sent to retrieve her. Although mostly clothed, sound and dialogue suggest she is adjusting her "robotic genitals" before the technician's demise. This blend of sex and gore is noted as a point where the film hints at greater potential for satirical exploration, a direction that directors like Paul Verhoeven or Brandon Cronenberg might have pursued more aggressively.
Unfulfilled Potential
Critics suggest that Soulm8te's reluctance to fully embrace its premise makes it feel less impactful than other films, including direct-to-streaming titles that tackle similar themes. The film includes one human-on-human sexual encounter with a brief oral sex element, but it is quickly cut short. Ultimately, the movie is seen as lacking genuine eroticism, failing to raise provocative questions about the mechanics or implications of sex with AI companions. The narrative is characterized as safe, avoiding any sense of risk or exposure, which leaves the film feeling inconsequential and lacking the sex appeal it advertised.