The New Mutants (2020) review

 

Over the years, there have been numerous instances where a film had to be pushed back from its originally intended release date. The reasons for this can often vary from film to film and range from scenarios such as the need for reshoots after poor test screenings or, on a more somber note, circumstances caused by outside forces that are completely beyond their control like, say, a global pandemic. But while this is often a natural thing for films to go through, today’s film, The New Mutants, is quite possibly one of the most infamous films in recent memory if only because of how utterly long it took for it to get released. To put all this into perspective, the latest installment of the X-Men franchise was filmed in the summer of 2017 and was originally set to come out on April 13^th, 2018. It ultimately came out… on August 26^th, 2020. How did this happen, you ask? Well, when its first delay was announced, it was reported that the film was set to undergo some reshoots that would allow it to further embrace its horror elements. However, by the time that the reshoots were set to happen, 20^th Century Fox was purchased by Disney, which meant that the X-Men franchise was now under the control of Marvel Studios. Thus, this retroactively made The New Mutants the final installment of one of the superhero genre’s most prolific franchises as it awaits its inevitable reboot as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And yet, after several months without any major developments, it was reported that the film was finally set to come out on April 3^rd, 2020, with its director, Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars), revealing that the final cut of the film would largely be in line with his original vision… and then came COVID-19. Thus, like almost all the other blockbusters that were set to come out this year, the film was pushed back yet again before finally being set for an August 28^th release, officially putting an end to its release schedule woes. And while it may not be the kind of film whose quality matches its highly publicized reputation, I will still give it credit for what it could potentially do for both the X-Men franchise and the superhero genre going forward.

After an incident involving a mysterious force that ravages the Native American reservation that she lives on, teenager Danielle ‘Dani’ Moonstar (Blu Hunt) finds herself in a hospital run by Dr. Cecilia Reyes (Alice Braga). Reyes informs Dani that she was the sole survivor of this attack and that she’s been brought to her facility because she’s part of the mutant race and must learn how to properly control her abilities. Dani soon meets the four other teenaged mutants at the facility, including Rahne Sinclair (Maisie Williams), who can transform into a wolf, sorceress Illyana Rasputin (Anya Taylor-Joy), Samuel Guthrie (Charlie Heaton), who can propel himself like a cannonball, and rich kid Roberto da Costa (Henry Zaga), who can manipulate solar energy. And just like her, they’ve all experienced moments in their lives where their abilities have resulted in unspeakable tragedies. Through their interactions with one another, the quintet begins to speculate that Reyes is preparing them to be transferred to Professor Charles Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters so that, naturally, they can join the X-Men. At the same time, though, they also start to get inundated with disturbing nightmares revolving around the inciting moments of their traumatic pasts. Because of this, they soon begin to realize that Dr. Reyes’ facility is not the mutant sanctuary that they were led to believe it was. Instead, they discover that Reyes is working for an organization that plans on using their abilities for sinister purposes. And as it turns out, they’re particularly interested in Dani because while she doesn’t quite know what her powers are, they may have something to do with whatever caused the destruction of her home.

One of the biggest selling points of The New Mutants is that it’s a horror-themed superhero film which, if we’re mainly talking about the films that have been released since 2008, is an approach that the superhero genre hasn’t really tackled, for the most part. Now, obviously, there have been plenty of horror-themed superhero projects over the years such as the ongoing Marvel Zombies series and the horror genre, in general, has been a major part of the comics industry for quite some time. However, when it comes to, specifically, films based on Marvel and DC characters, the last major horror-themed superhero films to come from either company were the Blade trilogy, 2005’s Constantine, and the Ghost Rider films starring Nicolas Cage… all of which were made in the time before the Marvel Cinematic Universe truly redefined the genre. With all this in mind, The New Mutants deserves quite a bit of credit for its willingness to tackle a genre that superhero films of the cinematic universe era haven’t really addressed yet. Obviously, one’s thoughts on how effective the film is at being a horror film may vary, but overall, it does deliver some solidly effective horror imagery, which isn’t too surprising given that its cinematographer, Peter Deming, has worked for the likes of Wes Craven and Sam Raimi. And while I’ve very much gone on record about how I’m not much of a comic reader, it seems like making a horror film with these particular characters is an appropriate enough route to take given the serious nature of the source material. This also means that this is a superhero film that intentionally doesn’t try to be a big-budget, action-oriented outing like most of the other films in the genre. As neat as this is, though, the film does suffer from being a bit undercooked in some places when it comes to its story. Nothing in here is ‘badly written’, for the record, but at the same time, those long-rumored reshoots probably would’ve smoothed out a bunch of its rough edges.

It’s also clear that this film was heavily influenced by the classic teen films that were made by John Hughes in the ’80s. Case in point, you very much get a Breakfast Club vibe from these proceedings straight down to it being about five main characters who overcome their differences as they confront their current predicament and the adult authority figure who oppresses them. Overall, it’s nice to see an X-Men film like this that’s based entirely from the perspective of younger characters (and no, not in the X-Men: First Class way), and sure enough, this film’s leads all do great jobs in their respective roles, with the biggest standout of the bunch being the story’s main protagonist, Blu Hunt as Dani Moonstar. Right from the get-go, Dani is immediately established as the most sympathetic protagonist of the bunch, a status that is then further exemplified by the touching romance that forms between her and Maisie Williams’ Rahne. In other words, these two are very much the heart of the film, which is good considering all the dark paths that are taken regarding the main characters’ tragic backstories. Stranger Things’ Charlie Heaton is another solid standout as Sam who, like Dani and Rahne, is one of the more sympathetic leads whereas the other two, Roberto and Illyana, start off by being rather vindictive towards Dani. Illyana is usually the more mean-spirited of the two although this is offset by her having the most disturbing backstory of them all… plus, she’s the one who gets to headline all the film’s big action sequences. And while Roberto (a character who was previously played by Adan Canto in X-Men: Days of Future Past as one of the young mutants in that film’s dystopian future) is arguably the least focused on member of the group, he still manages to provide some solid comic relief by way of his nonchalant persona. Finally, closing out the main cast is Alice Braga as Dr. Reyes, who does a wonderful job of effectively blurring the line between being a seemingly helpful mentor and the malevolent agent that she truly is.

At this point, it’s probably safe to say that The New Mutants will ultimately be known more for all the time that it spent off the release calendar rather than anything in the film itself. Reviews for it have been mediocre at best, but as can often be the case, its low score on Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t quite reflect its overall quality. Yes, I will agree that this is a rather average entry in the superhero genre, but that doesn’t mean that it’s ‘bad’, per se. It’s just that, in this instance, the reshoots that were planned for this film but ultimately never happened probably would’ve been quite helpful in expanding upon some underdeveloped plot-threads. And yes, I stand by that statement even though reshoots have been a controversial subject when it comes to recent Fox-produced Marvel films such as Dark Phoenix and, most infamously, Fan4stic due to how much they have impacted the quality of their films. For what it’s worth, though, The New Mutants benefits greatly from its solid cast and for its noble efforts to be one of the first big superhero horror films of the genre’s modern era. And so, with that in mind, the best thing that I can say about this film is that, while it’s far from perfect, it could very well serve as a great showcase for two potential ways in which the superhero genre can evolve going forward. For starters, I can only imagine the possibilities for future superhero films that embrace the horror genre, especially given the recent rise in quality that the horror genre, in general, has been experiencing. In fact, the MCU is already developing a horror-themed superhero film of their own by way of the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel right down to getting Sam Raimi, one of the most iconic horror film directors in the industry, to direct it. Another key aspect that could help influence future superhero films is the fact that this is a film that largely revolves around a younger cast. Granted, this technically isn’t something that’s new for the genre as it has been applied to films like Spider-Man: Homecoming and Shazam, but if we’re specifically talking about X-Men, I do think that this could be a unique way to redevelop the Children of the Atom for their future debut in the MCU. If anything, it could help remedy one of the most common criticisms that fans have had with the X-Men films in that they often focused on a select few characters (namely, Wolverine, Professor X, and Magneto) rather than emphasize the franchise’s team dynamic.

But on that note, I also want to point out that one of the most surreal aspects of this film is the fact that, as I noted earlier, it is, officially, the final installment of the X-Men franchise. Now, obviously, this isn’t that big of a surprise given that it was the last film in the series that was made before Disney purchased Fox, but it’s still quite fascinating that the final installment of one of the most prominent franchises in the history of the superhero film genre… is a relatively minor spin-off. And to be clear, it’s not like this film doesn’t try to connect itself to the franchise because it does even if its primary connections aren’t the things that drive the plot (i.e. while not directly mentioned in the film, Anya Taylor-Joy’s Illyana is, technically, the sister of X-Men mainstay Colossus). Still, you’d think that the distinction of being the last X-Men film of the franchise’s original run would go to a mainline entry like Dark Phoenix or, heck, even one of the Deadpool films given how successful they were. And yet, given that Dark Phoenix was also subjected to a largely negative reception, some have noted that how the series ultimately concluded mirrors the typically mixed results that it often yielded. In other words, this is a franchise that has had both the highest of highs (e.g. the Deadpool films, Days of Future Past, Logan, and X2: X-Men United) and the lowest of lows (e.g. Dark Phoenix (even though, as you may recall, I personally liked it), X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and X-Men: The Last Stand). Thus, as I alluded to earlier, we’re at a point now where most folks are just waiting to see how the Marvel Cinematic Universe adapts these characters after it had spent the last 12 years operating quite well without them. And yet, as much as I am looking forward to seeing the MCU incarnations of these classic characters, I must admit that the conclusion of the original X-Men franchise makes me rather sad. Sure, I only truly got into it during the latter half of its run, but films like First Class and Days of Future Past helped shape my love for the superhero genre just as much as the MCU films have done. And, of course, regardless of one’s thoughts on these films, they were essential to the process of shaping this great genre into what it is today.

Rating: 3.5/5

Stranger Things: Season 1 Review

(DISCLAIMER: THERE WILL BE SOME MINOR SPOILERS BUT NOTHING TOO MAJOR!)

In 1997, entrepreneurs Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph created the DVD-by-mail rental service known as Netflix. After a full decade of operations, the company then established its own video streaming service in 2007, allowing customers to watch their favorite films and TV shows whenever they want. And while the video streaming service is still going strong today thanks to its vast library of distributed content, nowadays Netflix has become known for producing its own line of films and TV shows. Many of these ‘Netflix Originals’ have gone on to attract considerable critical acclaim and have also covered a wide array of genres that have been geared towards an equally wide range of audiences, from the prison-set dramedy Orange is the New Black to the numerous shows that have been produced in conjunction with Marvel Studios. And in the summer of 2016, Netflix debuted a show that has gone on to become one of their most popular projects to date, Stranger Things. Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, AKA The Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things is a supernatural sci-fi horror series that’s heavily influenced by 80’s pop culture, most notably the works of director Stephen Spielberg and author Stephen King. And thus, with the highly anticipated second season premiering this weekend, it’s time to take a look at this cultural phenomenon which does, indeed, live up to all the hype that has surrounded it.  

The year is 1983. On a quiet fall night in the town of Hawkins, Indiana, a young boy named Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) suddenly disappears under mysterious circumstances. The following day, a statewide search is initiated by Hawkins Police Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour), and despite the growing amount of evidence that suggests otherwise, Will’s mother Joyce (Winona Ryder) and his older brother Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) remain optimistic about the chances of him being found. During this difficult time, Will’s three best friends, Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), and Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin) also get involved in the search as well. And as the lot of them soon find out, Will is somehow trapped in an alternate dimension known as the Upside Down where he is being pursued by a vicious monster, which obviously puts more pressure on his friends and family to rescue him before it’s too late. While all this is going on, a mysterious young girl who calls herself Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) escapes from a nearby government facility. Mike, Dustin, and Lucas end up befriending her and discover that not only does she possess special telekinetic abilities, but that she may also prove to be vital to the process of rescuing Will from the Upside Down.

Now, admittedly, because I wasn’t around during the 80’s, I think it’s safe to say that I don’t have as strong of a connection to the various facets of pop culture that are referenced in this show compared to others. And yet, even with that said, you don’t have to be an 80’s kid to fully appreciate this series for all the great things that it does. Because while it’s obviously influenced by the likes of Stephen King and Steven Spielberg, with a King-like supernatural premise and the kid-oriented narrative that’s often seen in Spielberg films, Stranger Things is ultimately bolstered by a highly engaging story that’s fully steeped in emotional poignancy. Oh sure, this show’s got mysterious alternate dimensions, badass telekinetic children, and terrifying demonic creatures to satisfy the science-fiction and horror crowds, but at the end of the day, this show is mainly about a young boy who goes missing as his friends and family do whatever they can to find him. This ultimately ties into one of the main things that made several of the films and stories that this series is influenced by so memorable; they inserted fantastical elements into a grounded human story, allowing us to connect to the characters even when they get into crazy scenarios. And thanks to a solid visual aesthetic and a deeply-layered plot, the Duffer Brothers manage to give us a story that feels incredibly fresh even when considering everything that’s come before it.

Sure enough, one of the best elements of this show is that you do end up being as fully invested in its wide array of well-layered main characters as much as you do with the main plot, and this applies to each of the show’s 3 age-based tiers of protagonists. Starting off with Stranger Things’ excellent batch of young protagonists, Mike, Lucas, and Dustin are quite the endearing trio and they have terrific camaraderie with each other as they band together to find their friend Will. Of the three, Mike is arguably focused on the most due to the strong bond that he develops with Eleven that even ends up spawning a sweet little bit of ‘young love’. But that doesn’t mean that Lucas and Dustin don’t get as much quality material to work with, as Lucas gets a nice character arc revolving around his initial distrust of Eleven, which ends up causing a rift in his friendship with Mike, while Dustin serves as the lovable ‘middle man’ of the group. Plus, he also gets some of the best lines of dialogue (“I'm just going to get some chocolate pudding! I'm telling you, lunch lady Phyllis hoards that s***!”). Speaking of Eleven, Millie Bobby Brown is easily the biggest standout of the entire show as the badass but tragically sympathetic telekinetic child who loves to eat Eggo waffles. Brown conveys so much despite only having around 42 lines of dialogue, which are mostly made up of one-word exclamations like ‘mouth-breather’.

Moving over to the main teenaged characters of the story, there’s Jonathan, who gets just as involved as his mother does when it comes to searching for his younger brother, and Mike’s older sister Nancy (Natalia Dyer), who ends up becoming tied to the whole ordeal when her best friend Barb (Shannon Purser; and yes, as everyone else on the internet has said, Barb is a memorable supporting character despite only appearing in about three episodes) disappears as well. The two of them eventually team up to deal with the situation, and despite that one creeper scene early on in the season when Jonathan takes pictures of Nancy and her friends while at a party (don’t worry, he improves after that…), they do share a nice chemistry that could potentially blossom into something else in future seasons. Finally, there are the two main adults of the series, Joyce Byers and Chief Jim Hopper. Admittedly, some of Joyce’s early ravings come off as being perhaps a bit too hysterical, but that does go away as the season goes on (e.g. the powerful scene in Episode 4, ‘The Body’, where she insists that Will is still alive even after a body is found). And if anything, Winona Ryder absolutely owns the role of a mother who’s fully devoted to finding her son no matter what. As for Hopper, David Harbour is great as well as the alcoholic police chief who, as we come to learn, suffered an immensely devastating personal tragedy a few years prior. Said tragedy is shown in the final episode of the season, ‘The Upside Down’, where it’s intercut perfectly with another highly emotional moment. In fact, there were a lot of great emotional moments in that episode, hence why it ended up being my favorite episode of the season.

Well, there’s not much else that I need to say about this series other than the fact that if you haven’t seen it yet, I highly encourage you to give it a watch. Like I said before, you don’t have to be an 80’s kid to fully appreciate everything that’s great about this show. With that said, though, if you are an 80’s kid, then this show delivers an excellent dose of 80’s nostalgia thanks in large part to the various bits of pop culture that it’s heavily influenced by. But at the same time, this show also delivers thanks to its strong and emotional story that’s mainly based around a down-to-earth plot of a young boy’s disappearance and the desperate search efforts made by his friends and family to find him. And this story is further elevated by a terrific ensemble cast portraying an excellent collection of likable characters that are just as well-developed as the plot. In short, it’s easy to see why this show has been such a hit amongst critics and audiences during a time where a nostalgic passion for classic films and TV shows is at an all-time high, and I look forward to seeing what happens next in the town of Hawkins, Indiana in Season 2.

Season 1 Rating: 5/5!

And that’s my review of Season 1 of Stranger Things. Thanks for following along and you can look forward to a review of Season 2 sometime in the next few weeks.