Brightburn
Superhero/horror genre mash-up shows what might have happened if a Superman-like 12-year-old actually turned out to be violently evil. Produced by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy).
Brandon Breyer seems like a normal-ish kid, but like Clark Kent before him (no-one tell DC's lawyers), he was adopted after being found as a baby in an alien spacecraft. His parents (Elizabeth Banks and David Denman) raise him with love and affection in the small town of Brightburn, but are forced to consider whether nature trumps nurture when strange events start to occur, and bodies pile up.
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Steve Newall
flicks
Flicks, Luke Buckmaster
flicksWhat are the most effective parental techniques to deal with the realisation that your child is the spawn of Satan? That is the $64,000 question at the heart of every 'they didn't put Lucifer impregnating me on the brochure' film, from the crib in Rosemary’s Baby to the crossbow massacre scene in Let’s Talk About Kevin. It is also a core question in Brightburn, which swaps the devil’s jizz for Superman’s in service of a curious experiment in genre recalibration and expectation realignment.
Sooo close to Fully Awesome.
As outlined by the other reviewers, this is an entertaining, gripping, chilling ripper of a movie with an outstanding ensemble cast. No point in repeating the details already given. However. I found it ultimately disappointing. I will try to avoid spoilers. Read on at your own risk. The premise "what if superman was evil?" has been explored elsewhere...
Lays its card on the table too early and accelerates from 0 to 100 in no time, but still serviceable
It's quite interesting to note how the synopsis is worded. Emphasis is placed on the involvement of James Gunn (the director of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither), and yet he isn't directing the film; that role went to David Yarovesky. James Gunn involvement is that of Producer, alongside Kenneth Huang. It certainly still seems like a Gunn-led project...
Variety
pressThe premise isn't bad, even if the evil-Superman origin story was done better in "Chronicle." The execution, however, is lacking, particularly in freshness, humour or style.
The New York Times
pressWhat makes "Brightburn" a little better than average is the time it spends observing Brandon with Tori and Kyle, his loving, increasingly alarmed mom and dad, who are played with excellent game faces by Elizabeth Banks and David Denman.
The Guardian
pressBrightburn risks falling into the all-too-familiar creepy kid horror formula but there's just about enough to distinguish it from that ever-expanding subgenre...
Stuff
pressWhile certainly not a bad movie, I was left feeling disappointed that Brightburn has simply turned out to be a dullish entry in the demonic child genre.
Los Angeles Times
pressSeveral visuals - and the accompanying crunches and gurgles - will make appearances in my nightmares.
Hollywood Reporter
pressWhile not exactly original, the premise is certainly effective enough. But Brightburn lacks the visual stylisation or wit to elevate it from the realm of the crudely effective B-movie.
FilmInk
press... manages to keep the tension high and really delivers on the squirmy gore when needed.
Flicks, Steve Newall
flicksFlicks, Luke Buckmaster
flicksWhat are the most effective parental techniques to deal with the realisation that your child is the spawn of Satan? That is the $64,000 question at the heart of every 'they didn't put Lucifer impregnating me on the brochure' film, from the crib in Rosemary’s Baby to the crossbow massacre scene in Let’s Talk About Kevin. It is also a core question in Brightburn, which swaps the devil’s jizz for Superman’s in service of a curious experiment in genre recalibration and expectation realignment.
Variety
pressThe premise isn't bad, even if the evil-Superman origin story was done better in "Chronicle." The execution, however, is lacking, particularly in freshness, humour or style.
The New York Times
pressWhat makes "Brightburn" a little better than average is the time it spends observing Brandon with Tori and Kyle, his loving, increasingly alarmed mom and dad, who are played with excellent game faces by Elizabeth Banks and David Denman.
The Guardian
pressBrightburn risks falling into the all-too-familiar creepy kid horror formula but there's just about enough to distinguish it from that ever-expanding subgenre...
Stuff
pressWhile certainly not a bad movie, I was left feeling disappointed that Brightburn has simply turned out to be a dullish entry in the demonic child genre.
Los Angeles Times
pressSeveral visuals - and the accompanying crunches and gurgles - will make appearances in my nightmares.
Hollywood Reporter
pressWhile not exactly original, the premise is certainly effective enough. But Brightburn lacks the visual stylisation or wit to elevate it from the realm of the crudely effective B-movie.
FilmInk
press... manages to keep the tension high and really delivers on the squirmy gore when needed.
Sooo close to Fully Awesome.
As outlined by the other reviewers, this is an entertaining, gripping, chilling ripper of a movie with an outstanding ensemble cast. No point in repeating the details already given. However. I found it ultimately disappointing. I will try to avoid spoilers. Read on at your own risk. The premise "what if superman was evil?" has been explored...
Lays its card on the table too early and accelerates from 0 to 100 in no time, but still serviceable
It's quite interesting to note how the synopsis is worded. Emphasis is placed on the involvement of James Gunn (the director of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither), and yet he isn't directing the film; that role went to David Yarovesky. James Gunn involvement is that of Producer, alongside Kenneth Huang. It certainly still seems like a Gunn-led project...
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