Brightburn Movie Review

The following is a movie review “Brightburn” by Marc Primo.

Release date: May 24, 2019 (United States)

Director: David Yarovesky

Language: English

Production Companies: Screen Gems, Stage 6 Films, Troll Court Entertainment, The HCollective

Producer: James Gunn, Kenneth Huang

Prior to his success with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 and 2, James Gunn was already known for his proclivity to disturbing genres with such titles as GP Porn, Super, Dawn of the Dead (remake), and Tromeo and Juliet, to name a few. In his latest work as producer of Brightburn, he teams up with director David Yarovesky to bring audiences an alternate universe where a Superman-like being from space falls into the farmhouse property of a childless couple and turns psycho upon reaching puberty unlike any other teenager does.

Reminiscent of his 50s B-movie homage Slither, Gunn goes back to his roots in Brightburn ushering the return of evil aliens to the silverscreen and turning the tables on your traditional superhero movies.

In the film, Elizabeth Banks and David Denman excellently play the husband and wife role of Tori and Kyle who are planning to have a child when an alien ship lands in their barn. Fast-forward 12 years later when Tori and Kyle now have a kid named Brandon who audiences will know early on as the being who came from the alien craft. Thinking that the heavens had answered their prayers for a child, the couple turns into the typical loving parents any kid would die for. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Brandon as the couple’s child as he discovers his superpowers and a dark family secret.

Writers Brian and Mark Gunn (James’s brother and cousin respectively), succeed in building the suspense as we watch Brandon grow up in a stable family life and eventually turn into a one-superman killing spree. The terror gains its momentum at a slow pace and the gore is firmly placed in each brutal scene which makes them all the more effective.

Brightburn presents a refreshing take on both the superhero and horror genres and the plot thickens as you go along. The audience’s knowledge of what went on with Superman and his family helps in how the film reveals its twist during the climax, as if the writers are saying we can’t jump into conclusions with Brightburn. But while Yorovesky gives more focus to the violent deaths experienced by Brandon’s victims instead of his own emotional depth upon realizing the truth, viewers will still be entertained and want more.

Somehow, Brightburn also deviates from the ‘creepy kid’ genre by putting all the chaos into proper context. Brandon’s character is not all evil, after all, and audiences will owe his rebellious attitude more to a troubled childhood than just a mere excuse for an onscreen villain. The film is an origin story you would want to follow even if its sole purpose is to deviate our preconceived notions about superheroes, thanks to both DC and Marvel.

If you want to read the latest movie reviews and find out more about Marc Primo click here.