Starring Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn

Directed by David Yarovesky

Sony, out now

 

When Brandon hits his 12th birthday, something awakens inside him, making his adoptive parents fear for their lives.

This James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy)-produced horror movie is based on a simple, high concept – what would happen if the alien adopted by the Kents in Smallville was not actually a benevolent extra terrestrial superman who wanted to protect mankind, but rather a ‘sleeper’ being who when awoken started to use his powers for bad? Instead of the Kents we have the Brewers (Elizabeth Banks – The Hunger Games is mom Tori Breyer and David Denman – Power Rangers is dad Kyle, with Jackson A. Dunn as Kal-El substitute Brandon) and Smallville is transposed to Brightburn, Kansas.

Things start low-key as Brandon accidentally throws a lawnmower across a field, but things escalate quickly when he crushes a young girl’s hand and he begins committing murder to cover his tracks or sate his curiosity. He’s soon drawing geometric symbols on paper or walls and is drawn towards the outhouse where his alien craft (reported at the time as part of a Kansas meteor shower) has been hidden for the past 12 years.

Dunn is good as Brandon, relishing the opportunity to have the upper hand in fighting back against those who previously mocked him for his intelligence or small frame. He soon loses any moral compass, dispatching those in his way in particularly gory ways, including glass fragment in the eyeball and jawbone being smashed away. Once the Brewers have realised the consequences of their mistake and that there’s really only one way to put things right, you know there’s little hope for them.

Verdict: A dark ‘what if?’ tale that feels like a ‘demon child’ horror movie from 70s, but with modern effects, Brightburn is a satisfying alternative to most horror fare, boasting some good jumps and grisly deaths. The end sets things up for a possible sequel, courtesy of some world building by James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy star Michael Rooker, and there’s certainly room to take this further – there’s plenty to explain. 8/10

Nick Joy