Morgan review – a messy thriller that can’t decide what it is

‘A risk assessor is sent to an isolated lab where her company have created their own superhuman.’

For his feature debut, Luke Scott (son to Ridley Scott) has followed in his father’s footsteps and made a self-contained film about a group of people who are isolated and being hunted by an alien element. Set in a research lab in the middle of nowhere, Morgan revolves around a group of scientists who have made an artificial lifeform for a dodgy corporate company. When their creation attacks one of the team, Kate Mara’s trouble-shooter is sent in to assess the risk this “it”, known as Morgan, possess and even terminate if necessary.

For all the potential Morgan’s premise has, and the expectation of a no holds barred thrill ride the trailer promised, Scott’s execution is all off. What we’re given is a film that can’t seem to make its mind up of what it wants to be, and as a result, is more a combination of other films instead of being something original and different.

At times, it comes off as a thought provoking sci-fi about the morality of genetic engineering. Others, a “Cabin in the Woods (2012)” type horror film, or an action thriller with Jason Bourne style fights. All this gives Morgan a messy tone and a uneven pace with over the first half of the film crawling at a snail’s pace where nothing is really happening. Unable to build up any kind suspense, by the time things do go down, you’re likely to have checked out during chunks of the first and second act and struggle to get back into the story.

Scott certainly has his father’s visual flare as the film does look beautiful and is competently shot, combined with that lush green environment and solid cinematography. He is let down by a poor script though, which gives the film a classic style over substance flaw.

For a low key film that’s barley ninety minutes long, it also suffers from having to many characters to balance. It’s a pity really when considering the calibre of cast that’s on show. Great character actors like Toby Jones and Paul Giamatti aren’t even able to elevate this dull, unimaginative story.

Also, Kate Mara makes an un-compelling lead and gives a very wooden performance (although there is an obvious reveal that makes more sense of her characterisation as the film progresses). Surprisingly, it’s newcomer Anya Taylor-Joy as the titular Morgan that proves the most developed and is able show a variety of emotional range that elevates her above the more experienced actors.

When the film finally does get to the action, what we get is a few fight scenes that are pretty underwhelming and anti-climactic, and a car chase that’s as exciting as watching paint dry. There’s nothing at stake and none of the characters are worth getting behind or rooting for also making the action fall flat and seem rather vanilla. It’s also not very original or fresh and Scott doesn’t take any risks or experiment as if the action was tacked on at the end as an afterthought; it’s all very mediocre and unexciting.

‘Morgan is an uninspiring, forgettable film and mostly makes for a boring experience.’

Scott directs efficiently but ultimately is let down by a poor script and bad characterisation that mixes to many genres together and creating an uneven tone that’s all over the place. It’s a dull movie with your time being better spent watching the films it’s poorly imitating.