War games are given a female touch
Blade of Time
Before Kratos began reappraising his parenting skills in a vast open world, the God of War series had a pleasing if predictable rhythm to its gameplay. Blades of Time could be entitled Goddess of War, as it replicates this largely winning formula with an acrobatic if inappropriately dressed female lead and plenty of imaginative enemies and a similar number of special attacks to dispatch them with. It can’t quite compete with the breath-taking set pieces of its inspiration and some battles become a slog rather than a test of dexterity but if hacking and slashing is your thing, this provides it in scythes.
Ever wonder what would happen if, instead of growing up to be a moralinfused hero who aids humanity, Superman was a young homicidal maniac who peered into a girl’s window at night?
If so, then Brightburn is the film for you – and I fully expected it to be the film for me as it combines my favourite two movie genres; superheroes and horror.
It didn’t quite live up to my expectations overall, but inexperienced director David Yarovesky and writers Brian and Mark Gunn – brother and cousin, respectively, of Guardians of the Galaxy helmer James, who produced the flick – deserve praise for taking the comic bookflavoured film in a fresh direction.
Let’s kick off with the positives; Jackson A. Dunn (Brandon Breyer) is a creepy delight as the alien child who crash-lands on Earth.
He may have classic superhero traits – alliterative name, book smarts, strength – but this is an origin story steeped in darkness; as Dunn discovers his powers and experiences an extreme form of puberty, he makes Damien from The Omen look like a choirboy.
Yarovesky doesn’t scrimp on the horror elements either; there’s a couple of gory moments that will embed themselves in your brain for days.
Despite this only being his second feature-length outing, the director also proves a dab hand at injecting visual flair – witness the excellent point-of-view shot from a blood-filled eye – and tension; although there is an over-reliance on jump scares.
And while it’s refreshing Elizabeth Banks and David Denman recognise their adopted on-screen kid is a bit off most of the time, there are occasions Evil intentionsJackson
Played for laughs for the most part, this wrestling flick also supplies warmth and raw emotion throughout.
But a saccharine climax keeps it from claiming the top title in its genre.
when you seriously question their almost flippant judgement.
Brightburn also takes a bit too long to truly get going with nothing matching the terrific final act, which includes a very intriguing set-up for what could be an even better sequel. The King Arthur tale gets another go-around, but this time cleverly using school kids.
Louis Ashbourne Serkis is ace in the lead role, but the film is sorely lacking in top villainy.