The New Mutants is a horror movie filled with the fears of five mutant teens! The film is a survivor, first set to be released on April 13, 2018, then delayed to February 22, 2019, then August 2nd, then April 3, 2020. Next, there was the acquistion of Fox by Disney and then finally it was set for August 28th! Is it worth the wait?, yes! The New Mutants is directed and co-written by Josh Boone who also directed the romantic film, The Fault in Our Stars (2014) and he is also writing episodes of The Stand series based on the Stephen King novel. His co-writer, Knate Lee, is also the screenwriter for the action movie, Kidnap (2017) and also working on The Stand.
The film is based on the Demon Bear storyline that was in New Mutants #18-20 (984) by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz. They are given prominent credits in the film and also co-creator Bob McLeod. The opening scene, previewed in full with the trailer on July 23rd, it begins with snow against a night sky. There is narration by Dani Moonstar (Blu Hunt) who explains that there are two bears inside everyone, one of “compassion” and the other of “fear”, fighting each other. Hunt was in the supernatural show, The Originals. The parable is similar to the two wolves story that was in Tomorrowland (2015). Dani is wakened by her father, William (Adam Beach) and taken outside to snowy destruction. Beach played Snipknot in Suicide Squad (2016). He hides her in the gap of a tree, then his body falls, and Dani starts to run. Dani is our protagonist, she is trying to discover her mutant power, not a mystery to comics fans.
Dani wakes up in hospital bed handcuffed, she sees someone in the overhead grate, this is the lycanthorpe form of Rahne Sinclair (Maise Williams) with a security camera like a hexagon watches them. Rahne is the shy girl who is traumatized by Reverend Craig (Happy Anderson). Dr. Reyes (Alice Braga) mentions that Dani is a mutant. Braga was in the horror movie adaptation, I Am Legend (2007) and she will be in the The Suicide Squad to be released next year. Dr. Reyes tries to control the mutants for a mysterious organization tied to the X-Men films. The doctor is charge of the unknown hospital, Mid-County Medical Center in the comics, in an undisclosed location.
Dr. Reyes at group therapy, in a circle is Sam (Charlie Heaton) with a cast on his arm and a blackeye. Heaton is known for playing Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things. He starred with co-star Anya Taylor-Joy in the drama, Marrowbone (2017). Illyana Rasputin (Taylor-Joy) who has a hand puppet dragon she calls Lockheed. Taylor-Joy is in the adaptation of Emma this year. She is known for her role in the horror movie, The Witch (2015). IIlyana is the girl with the superior attitude and she enjoys manipulating others. Her character is actually the younger sister to Colossus of the X-Men who was in Deadpool 2 (2018) voiced by Stefan Kapicic. She became Magik in Magik #1 (1983) and was trapped in a dimension for years in Uncanny X-Men #160 (1982).
Next is Roberto da Costa (Henry Zaga), Zaga was in the comedy show, Trinkets, and will be Nick Andros in the upcoming The Stand mini-series. Roberto is an arrogant teen believing his family’s wealth puts him above the others. The actor is Brazilian, but the character was Afro-Brazilian. The character is not as developed and the actor is not able to give the charm of his comic book counterpart. His power is slightly different from the comics. IIlyana calls Rahne “doggie” and Roberto gives Dr. Reyes attitude. Dani joins them. Dr. Reyes gives them the hope that they will move to another facility and asks them about their first time using their powers. Rahne says that she had her powers until confronted at church. Sam says his fellow miners were hurt by his power. The original New Mutants team had Sam, Dani, Rahne, and Roberto debuting in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 (1982).
Dr. Reyes sends Illyana to show Dani around the school. She tries to insult Dani calling her “Pocahontas” and shows her the open gate, Dani runs towards it, a wolf runs by her. Dani crashes into a force field. This is a dome that covers the entire grounds. She runs at Illyana, but she disappears, teleporting away, a wolf watches her. Dani breaks through the boards on the clock of the church tower. She climbs out and is about to step out when she is stopped by Rahne who holds out her hand and reassures her that things will be better. This is the start of the close bond between Dani and Rahne. They find Sam attached to a chain, he activates his power with a pinkish energy that shudders around his arms, he blasts off and spins around held by the chain. The group is in the cafeteria. Illyana gets into a conflict with Dani again and her arm becomes armored, but this is broken up by Dr. Reyes.
In the showers, Rahne is showering and Dani joins her, she remarks about the “W” mark on her back. Rahne walks away. Later, Dani sees the boys and Illyana walk towards their meeting place. It is in the attic where they believe is no cameras. This is a Breakfast Club (1985) moment and there are others later in the film. Illyana hooks up Sam to a lie detector, he tells them about the time he worked in a coal mine. Next, is Roberto who has to change how many women he has been with and has to admit three, which is a lie. Then, Illyana questions Dani, but this turns to her, and she admits to killing eighteen people, the truth. This is all seen by Dr. Reyes. We learn about the powers of everyone of the group and their fears. One of the fears is voiced by Marilyn Manson's song. This is the best X-Men film because it is not about supervillain battles or taking over the world, it is about five mutants. New Mutants is about our deepest fears, the struggle of growing up as a teen, and the dangers of institutions and how we need to deal with our fear to move on.
Four Lockheeds out of Five!
#NewMutants, #JoshBoone, #BluHunt, #MaisieWilliams, #CharlieHeaton, #AnyaTaylorJoy, #HenryZaga
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