Rob1n

I gave up on watching after just ten minutes. If I'd been in a cinema, I would have walked out-something I've never done before. The entitled, peevish protagonist and his overly agreeable fiancé, paired with an all-too-familiar storyline (I mean there is even a number in the title, how can it get any less original?), made me skim through rather than waste my time. In fact, I didn't even bother skipping to the end-just checked a few parts before closing it altogether. If anything, it left me annoyed-so, well done to the creators for achieving that reaction. Aaand I have to type in thirty more ...

I have read greeting cards with stronger plots. Rob1n is one of the most aimless, confused, and convoluted films I've ever had the misfortune of watching. It has no ideas, and so for 90 minutes it just ambles from circumstance to circumstance, explaining very little. The elements of the story that are explained are overwrought, boring, and purposeless. It would genuinely be more interesting and gratifying to watch paint dry. At least something would happen-the paint would dry! That is nearer to intrigue than anything in Rob1n. It is not fun, it is not good for a night in with your friends, it is not even cheaply scary. It literally does nothing for 90 minutes and then ends. Bad, no good movie.

Rob1n (2025), directed by Lawrence Fowler, is a horror/sci-fi tale that dives into grief and obsession but struggles to escape the shadow of M3GAN. The story follows Aiden, a robotics expert who, devastated by the loss of his young son, crafts a lifelike robotic doll named Robin. When his estranged nephew Leo and fiancée Lexi visit his eerie mansion, Robin's unsettling behavior spirals into chilling events, revealing its dangerous fixation on keeping Aiden to itself. The premise taps into familiar AI-gone-wrong tropes, blending emotional trauma with creepy doll horror, but it lacks the polish and originality to stand out. The film's strengths lie in its ambition and atmosphere. Fowler's direction crafts a foreboding mood, with the isolated mansion setting amplifying tension. The robot's design, though limited to subtle movements like head tilts and eye shifts, is eerie enough to unsettle, and the practical effects are surprisingly decent for a low-budget production. Performances, particularly Simon Davies as the grieving Aiden, add a layer of empathy, making his bond with Robin both tragic and disturbing. For casual horror fans, the film offers a few jump scares and a twist in the final act that, while not groundbreaking, delivers a satisfying payoff. However, Rob1n stumbles in execution. The script feels formulaic, leaning heavily on M3GAN and other killer-toy classics without carving its own path. The pacing is a major hurdle-70 minutes of a 91-minute runtime are spent on setup, leaving little room for the horror to breathe. Some viewers found the story convoluted or aimless, with clunky dialogue and underdeveloped characters, like Leo and Lexi, who feel like plot devices. The lack of a bigger budget shows in the sparse effects and repetitive kills, which pale compared to glossier counterparts. It's a film that tries hard but often feels like a rough draft. Despite its flaws, Rob1n isn't without charm. It's a scrappy underdog that might click with viewers who enjoy low-budget horror or are new to the genre. It's not a must-watch, but it's far from the worst in its class. If you're after a quick, spooky night in and can overlook its derivative nature, it's worth a rental. Score: 4/10.

When I stumbled upon this 2025 horror movie and seeing the cover, my first initial thought was a blatant rip-off of the "M3GAN" movie. I mean, a movie about an artificial being given life, whom kills people, and even the use of a number in the name of the title, it just screamed "M3GAN" rip-off.

But still, since "ROB1N" was a movie that I hadn't already seen, of course I opted to give writer and director Lawrence Fowler the benefit of the doubt.

Writer and director Lawrence Fowler put together a fair enough script. Sure, it was rather generic and formulaic in terms of homicidal artificial toys go, and there are other and older movies about killer toys out there that fared way better. That being said, I am not saying that "ROB1N" was a bad movie, because it is a watchable movie and entertaining enough movie nonetheless.

The narrative is a bit slow paced and you have to sit through 70 minutes of writer and director Lawrence Fowler establishing the story and setting the mood before things start to happen. I am sorry, by 70 minutes into the 91 minute runtime, then it was just too little, too late.

I was not familiar with a single actor or actress on the cast list, and that was something that spoke in favor of the movie. I do enjoy watching new and unfamiliar talents on the screen when I sit down to watch a movie. In all fairness, then the acting performances in the movie were adequate.

As a seasoned horror veteran then I found "ROB1N" to be a mere walk in the park. But I suppose that newcomers to the horror genre will get a much bigger kick out of watching this 2025 movie than I did.

Clearly "ROB1N" didn't have the same budget as the movie "M3GAN" did, and thus don't expect a grand spectacle of effects here. I will say, though, that I actually found the effects in "ROB1N" to be fair enough, and the robot was actually well enough made. And the few effects that were in the movie were certainly adequate enough.

This is hardly a movie that warrants more than a single viewing.

My rating of writer and director Lawrence Fowler's 2025 movie "ROB1N" lands on a generous four out of ten stars.

So let's get this out of the way: This film was obviously, unbelievably, derivative of M3GAN. By premise, style, and even the title where it's a name with a number replacing a letter.

I realize that creativity is largely dead nowadays, and that 99% of filmmakers have resorted to blatantly copying others' work and claiming it to be their own... But I feel like at least SOME effort should be put into making it less obvious.

If you've ever wondered what M3GAN would look like if it were stripped of its charm, budget, originality, and even basic narrative coherence, look no further than Rob1n.

Enjoy the copy/paste.