By Robert Yaniz Jr.

Marketed as an “evil Superman” film, that premise ultimately gives way to a mediocre slasher film.

THE HYPE

Despite the controversy surrounding his firing and rehiring on Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3, James Gunn has always been a filmmaker with vision. So the notion of Gunn producing a horror film exploring the “what if?” scenario regarding an sinister, ultraviolent take on Superman’s origin story intrigued me, to say the least. After all, between the seemingly unstoppable Marvel Cinematic Universe and the more erratic DC Films side of things, the time felt right for a fresh approach to the genre.

THE STORY

Although the basic setup of Brightburn borrows liberally from the Man of Steel, the film quickly settles into a far less interesting trajectory. The bulk of the film follows a tweenage Brandon Breyer (gotta love that comics-accurate alliterative name) — played by Jackson A. Dunn — as he discovers his abilities and employs them in, how should we say, less than desirable ways. Before long, he launches full-on into an unmitigated rampage that leaves carnage in his wake and his adopted parents (Elizabeth Banks and David Denman) growing more suspicious that Brandon has gone all The Good Son on them.

THE CAST

Not to take shots at a child actor, but perhaps where the heart of the trouble lies is with Dunn himself. While the script certainly does him no favors, the actor — who eagle-eyed superhero fans may remember as a young Scott Lang during an especially wacky sequence in Avengers: Endgame — never sells Brandon’s turn from sweet boy to unapologetic killing machine. Such a drastic turn is clearly supposed to be an analog for puberty setting in. Yet, there’s no apparent inner conflict at play, leaving the subsequent gore (of which there is plenty) feeling hollow and unaffecting. Otherwise, Banks and Denman deliver solid work, again with the subpar material.

THE PRODUCTION

Although the story and Dunn’s lead performance let the film down, Brightburn does boast a very dynamic look. The visual effects are especially impressive considering the $6 million production budget. Moreover, director David Yarovesky — whose only previous credit is 2014 horror film The Hive — proves himself capable of delivering a tentpole blockbuster somewhere down the line. Also, Timothy Williams’ score provides an appropriately eerie tone that attempts to frame the lackluster tale in a more epic fashion.

THE VERDICT

Ultimately, Brightburn is one of those films that sounds great on paper but never coalesces into a satisfying final product. Admirably, Yarovesky’s film does try a wholly different take on superheroes than anything else out there but fails to fully capitalize on its potential to tap into our darkest fears. That being said, hardcore horror aficionados may still find enough to enjoy here, as some of the kills and squishier moments do deliver on a purely visceral level. But Brightburn just doesn’t shine enough to win casual moviegoers hoping for something special.

Brightburn stars Jackson A. Dunn, Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Matt Jones and Meredith Hagner and is directed by David Yarovesky.