{"id":34331,"date":"2026-07-08T09:26:49","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T13:26:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/r-rated-soulm8te-inspired-by-fatal-attraction-and-robocop\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T09:26:49","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T13:26:49","slug":"r-rated-soulm8te-inspired-by-fatal-attraction-and-robocop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/r-rated-soulm8te-inspired-by-fatal-attraction-and-robocop\/","title":{"rendered":"R-Rated ‘SOULM8TE’ Inspired by ‘Fatal Attraction’ and ‘RoboCop’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This morning, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment unveiled the first trailer for SOULM8TE<\/strong><\/em>, Blumhouse and Atomic Monster\u2019s latest techno-thriller and the first film set within the M3GAN<\/em> universe. While the first two M3GAN<\/em> films embraced PG-13 mayhem, SOULM8TE<\/em> heads into decidedly more adult territory as the franchise\u2019s first R-rated entry, trading killer dolls for obsession, intimacy, and artificial intelligence gone horribly wrong.<\/p>\n

From the studio behind Five Nights at Freddy\u2019s<\/em> and Obsession<\/em>, SOULM8TE<\/em> follows a grieving engineer tasked with testing a ruthless tech giant\u2019s new artificially intelligent android. But when he attempts to program her to be a truly sentient soulmate, she develops needs of her own, unleashing a relentless spree of precision-engineered mayhem.<\/p>\n

The trailer immediately evokes Obsession<\/em>, only with an AI girlfriend, while also carrying shades of Companion<\/em>. It looks like the kind of gleefully over-the-top, high-tech thriller where a love robot goes full Glenn Close, and we\u2019re absolutely here for it.<\/p>\n

Speaking with Dread Central ahead of today\u2019s trailer debut, co-writer and director Kate Dolan<\/strong> explained that while SOULM8TE<\/em> shares thematic DNA with M3GAN<\/em>, it was always conceived as a standalone story that pushes the franchise into much darker territory. <\/p>\n

In fact, Dolan says those more mature themes are exactly what earned the film its R rating, something that immediately separates it from the first two PG-13 M3GAN<\/em> movies. \u201cM3GAN discussed the idea that we\u2019re offloading the care of our kids onto tech. SOULM8TE<\/em> was always intended to be a standalone story that picks up that thread of our reliance on tech but pushes it further into more dangerous territory and adult themes, earning us our R rating. <\/strong>There\u2019s shared DNA in the satirical tone of the two films, but SOULM8TE<\/em> can be enjoyed entirely on its own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dolan also said the film became increasingly relevant as production progressed. What initially felt like speculative science fiction quickly began mirroring the real world. \u201cWhen I first was working on the script, it felt like science fiction that someone would fall for an AI lover. But as we worked on the movie, that became a reality. The film is about our relationship to technology, and how it can be destructive. I think we can get so caught up in a different reality that we become profoundly disconnected,\u201d she tells us. \u201cLike Obsession<\/em>, it\u2019s a cautionary tale \u2013 but one about what happens when you create something without considering the consequences.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the premise naturally draws comparisons to films like Obsession<\/em> and Companion<\/em>, Dolan revealed that she actually looked much further back for inspiration. Revisiting the wave of erotic and psychological thrillers from the 1980s and \u201990s, she found herself influenced by everything from Dressed to Kill<\/em> and Basic Instinct<\/em> to Fatal Attraction<\/em>, To Die For<\/em>, Ms. 45<\/em>, and even RoboCop<\/em>. \u201cDefinitely. I rewatched all my favourite erotic thrillers of the \u201980s and \u201990s prepping this film. Films like Dressed to Kill, Basic Instinct, Fatal Attraction, To Die For, Ms .45<\/em>, but also a movie like RoboCop<\/em>,<\/strong>\u201d she revealed. \u201cThat era really informed the creative decisions in the film. For people who know and love those movies, there are a lot of references to enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s an eclectic and fascinating collection of influences. Fatal Attraction<\/em> and Basic Instinct<\/em> make perfect sense for a story about obsession and desire, but RoboCop<\/em> is perhaps the most intriguing inclusion, suggesting SOULM8TE<\/em> may also have more on its mind when it comes to corporate technology, consumerism, and humanity\u2019s increasingly uneasy relationship with AI.<\/p>\n

Asked what she hopes audiences take away from the film, Dolan said she wants viewers to become more skeptical of technology that\u2019s marketed as the answer to loneliness and human connection. \u201cI would love it if people leave the movie asking what they\u2019re actually being sold when a piece of tech promises to make their life better, promising them connection or comfort. If the film makes someone a little more suspicious of that promise, my job is done.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd remember, go out and touch some grass.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

SOULM8TE<\/em> stars Lily Sullivan<\/strong> (Evil Dead Rise<\/em>, Monolith<\/em>), David Rysdahl<\/strong> (Alien: Earth<\/em>, Fargo<\/em>), Claudia Doumit<\/strong> (Where\u2019d You Go, Bernadette<\/em>, The Boys<\/em>), and Arty Froushan<\/strong> (Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale<\/em>, Daredevil: Born Again<\/em>).<\/p>\n

The film premieres exclusively on digital platforms beginning August 1, 2026<\/strong>, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: Kate Dolan SOULM8TE <\/span><\/p>\n

Categorized:Interviews News Streaming \/ Home Video<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This morning, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment unveiled the first trailer for SOULM8TE, Blumhouse and Atomic Monster\u2019s latest techno-thriller and the first film set within the M3GAN universe. While the first two M3GAN films embraced PG-13 mayhem, SOULM8TE heads into decidedly more adult territory as the franchise\u2019s first R-rated entry, trading killer dolls for obsession, intimacy, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34332,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11617],"tags":[5237,508,1796,24377,24380,24379,24378],"class_list":["post-34331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-horror-global-news","tag-attraction","tag-fatal","tag-inspired","tag-kate-dolan","tag-robocop","tag-rrated","tag-soulm8te"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",0,0,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",0,0,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",0,0,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",150,150,false],"medium":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",300,300,false],"large":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",1024,1024,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",1536,1536,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",2048,2048,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",370,265,false],"kava-thumb-s":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",150,85,false],"kava-thumb-s-2":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",230,230,false],"kava-thumb-m":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",400,400,false],"kava-thumb-m-vertical":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",370,500,false],"kava-thumb-m-2":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",570,450,false],"kava-thumb-l":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",1170,650,false],"kava-thumb-xl":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",1920,1080,false],"kava-thumb-masonry":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",600,999,false],"kava-thumb-justify":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",640,640,false],"kava-thumb-justify-2":["https:\/\/www.dreadcentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-07-at-8.53.03-PM.png",1280,640,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"#RiseCelestialStudios","author_link":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/author\/ralph-c\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"HORROR GLOBAL NEWS<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"This morning, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment unveiled the first trailer for SOULM8TE, Blumhouse and Atomic Monster\u2019s latest techno-thriller and the first film set within the M3GAN universe. While the first two M3GAN films embraced PG-13 mayhem, SOULM8TE heads into decidedly more adult territory as the franchise\u2019s first R-rated entry, trading killer dolls for obsession, intimacy,…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34331"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34333,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34331\/revisions\/34333"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}