Superman has been a staple in the universe of superheroes for decades, as long as pretty much anyone can remember.

A symbol of justice and morality, he inspires hope to the world.

But what if Superman’s path didn’t go as planned?

What if, fueled by the unstable emotions of puberty and the lies surrounding his upbringing, things went terribly, horribly wrong?

This is the concept that is explored in the movie BrightBurn.

BrightBurn is loosely based (quite obviously) on the tale of Superman and plays the what if card in a darker, more horrific fashion. I originally heard about this movie through an ad and simply had to see it immediately (it wasn’t available at the time)!

This movie came out in May, however, being my forgetful self, I completely spaced that this was not only out of theaters, but available for rent until very recently. As you can imagine I totally freaked and had to watch it right away.

Without further ado, let’s dive into this dark superhero tale!

Movie Blurb:

What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister?            

My Review:

This movie was a clever blend of superhero action and horror, and true to form, I couldn’t get enough of this movie!

It all started in the small Kansas town of BrightBurn. A happily-married couple who can’t conceive are shocked one night when a spaceship crash lands in the forest behind their house.

When they find an infant, they decide to raise it as their own as a chance to have a child all their own.

However, when their son Brandon reaches the age of puberty, things start to get a little, well off.

Soon Brandon begins sleepwalking to the old barn out back and hearing voices at night. Voices in a strange language. Voices that seem to be trying to tell him something.

Can Brandon’s parents prevent the truth from coming out while protecting their baby boy, or will Brandon come face to face with the darkness surrounding his arrival on Earth?

This movie was everything that a horror movie should be if you ask me. The story of Superman was familiar to me, and there were a lot of similarities, so the movie was that much easier to watch.

I felt that the characters were well fleshed out, especially Brandon’s mom played by Elizabeth Banks (aka Tori).

I’ve never seen her in a horror movie before, but her unshakeable faith in her son was really great and inspiring. She was probably the most solid character to me.

The plot was simple, yet intriguing. In a nutshell, Brandon discovers the powers he has while helping his dad on the farm, and things spiral from there when he gets a superiority complex going. I mean, how could you not, knowing that you’re a God amongst men? I think this take on things was actually pretty realistic.

Lastly, this movie was simply entertaining. My eyes were hooked on the screen the entire time, especially once things started going south. It’s a horror movie, so expect some pretty gruesome scenes. I personally enjoyed them. They were original and best of all, chaotic! I’m not going to spoil the ending for you, but it is hinted that there is more chaos to this alternate imagining of Earth, and I am desperate to know if it will spawn more movies from (though I’m not expecting it).

Overall, BrightBurn was a unique and dark retelling of the classic Superman tale, filled with chills, thrills, and buckets of blood. A must watch for any die-hard horror and superhero fan. I give this movie a 9/10!

Wrap-up

Well, that’s it for this horror movie review.

Did you enjoy this post? Have you seen this movie? Did you love it? Hate it? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments!

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