Would-be hero takes devilishly dark turn
Ever wonder what would happen if, instead of growing up to be a moralinfused hero who aids humanity, Superman was a young homicidal maniac who peered into a girl’s window at night?
If so, then Brightburn is the film for you – and I fully expected it to be the film for me as it combines my favourite two movie genres; superheroes and horror.
It didn’t quite live up to my expectations overall, but inexperienced director David Yarovesky and writers Brian and Mark Gunn – brother and cousin, respectively, of Guardians of the Galaxy helmer James, who produced the flick – deserve praise for taking the comic bookflavoured film in a fresh direction.
Let’s kick off with the positives; Jackson A. Dunn (Brandon Breyer) is a creepy delight as the alien child who crash-lands on Earth.
He may have classic superhero traits – alliterative name, book smarts, strength – but this is an origin story steeped in darkness; as Dunn discovers his powers and experiences an extreme form of puberty, he makes Damien from The Omen look like a choirboy.
Yarovesky doesn’t scrimp on the horror elements either; there’s a couple of gory moments that will embed themselves in your brain for days.
Despite this only being his second feature-length outing, the director also proves a dab hand at injecting visual flair – witness the excellent point-of-view shot from a blood-filled eye – and tension; although there is an over-reliance on jump scares.
And while it’s refreshing Elizabeth Banks and David Denman recognise their adopted on-screen kid is a bit off most of the time, there are occasions when you seriously question their almost flippant judgement.
Brightburn also takes a bit too long to truly get going with nothing matching the terrific final act, which includes a very intriguing set-up for what could be an even better sequel. The King Arthur tale gets another go-around, but this time cleverly using school kids.
Louis Ashbourne Serkis is ace in the lead role, but the film is sorely lacking in top villainy.