Brightburn aka Superman's origin as a horror film

[Lencho01]

Synopsis: 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? With Brightburn, the visionary filmmaker of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither presents a startling, subversive take on a radical new genre: superhero horror.

Cast:
Elizabeth Banks
David Denman
Jackson A. Dunn
Matt Jones
and Meredith Hagner

Directed by: David Yarovesky

Written by: Mark Gunn & Brian Gunn

Produced by:
James Gunn
Kenneth Huang
Executive Producers: Mark Gunn
Brian Gunn
Dan Clifton
Simon Hatt
Nic Crawley

‘BrightBurn’ Trailer: James Gunn Basically Turned Superman into a Horror Story

BrightBurn has been an incredibly well-kept secret for months. While we’ve long-known that James Gunn was producing the film, and reuniting with his Slither star Elizabeth Banks, plot details have been kept under tight lock and key. We didn’t even know the official title until very recently. Now, the BrightBurn trailer is here, offering us our first real footage of the David Yarovesky-directed horror film. Watch the BrightBurn trailer below.

BrightBurn has had a bit of a bumpy ride. Producer James Gunn was hyping the project up over the summer, and was set to drop a big Hall H announcement at SDCC in in July.


Of course, we all know that didn’t happen. Before the Hall H panel arrived, Gunn was fired by Disney from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 due to some offensive tweets from his past coming to light. The Hall H panel was soon cancelled, leaving the still-untitled project in the dark. Despite the Gunn situation, Sony still has every intention of releasing BrightBurn, although they delayed the release a bit. Now, the first trailer is here.

BrightBurn stars Elizabeth Banks, Meredith Hanger, David Denman, Matt Jones, Gregory Alan Williams, Jennifer Holland and more, with a script from Brian & Mark Gunn. David Yarovesky, a frequent Gunn collaborator, directs while Gunn and the The H Collective produce. Banks’ casting here reunites her with James Gunn, who directed the actress in the cult horror film Slither.

“Elizabeth and I have been on the same artistic page since we first met when she auditioned for Slither back in 2005,” Gunn said when Banks was cast. “She’s since remained one of my best friends in the world, and I’ve been fighting tooth and nail to work with her again. She’s the perfect partner to Yarvo, the H Collective and myself in creating this very special project.”

BrightBurn hits theaters May 24, 2019.

 

[moviedoors]

I'm down.

 

[AResistor]

As a foreign adoptee, this looks like absolute garbage. All of the "bad seed" "evil adoptee" tropes thrown into one while ****ting on an icon. "Bad seed" narratives are part of the reason many adoptees struggle with the question, "is there something inherently wrong with me?"

The existence of this film actually angers me and it's the first film I can name that does that. I think it's because of how important Superman is to me as a foreign adoptee. Superman taught me that despite never knowing my parents, I could be strong, do good, and aim for the stars just like anyone else. So, to see Superman get twisted and gutted like this - not to mention throwing all the "bad seed" adoptee tropes in on top of it all - it's just repulsive on a visceral level.

No thanks, I'll stick to 'Chronicle.'

 

[Mandon Knight]

No, Gunn is attached, so I'll pass.

 

[Infinity9999x]

As a foreign adoptee, this looks like absolute garbage. All of the "bad seed" "evil adoptee" tropes thrown into one while ****ting on an icon. "Bad seed" narratives are part of the reason many adoptees struggle with the question, "is there something inherently wrong with me?"

The existence of this film actually angers me and it's the first film I can name that does that. I think it's because of how important Superman is to me as a foreign adoptee. Superman taught me that despite never knowing my parents, I could be strong, do good, and aim for the stars just like anyone else. So, to see Superman get twisted and gutted like this - not to mention throwing all the "bad seed" adoptee tropes in on top of it all - it's just repulsive on a visceral level.

No thanks, I'll stick to 'Chronicle.'

Yeah, I would be more interested if they play with the idea of how incredibly hard it would be to raise a child that actually had Superman's powers. Think about all the tantrums a two year old throws. Now imagine that two year old could easily punch his fist through your chest.

But then, we essentially got this story with the iconic "It's a Good Life" Twilight zone episode. And I'm not sure if that concept would be intriguing enough to fill an entire movie.

 

[AResistor]

But then, we essentially got this story with the iconic "It's a Good Life" Twilight zone episode.

Never heard of that episode before, but lots of shows do episodes like that. Wonder if 'Twilight Zone' originated it, 'Supernatural' did an episode like that and I'm pretty sure 'X-Files' did as well.

Super tantrums or a kid who rebels before finding his way, something as nuanced as that I could probably get behind depending upon delivery. Here it's basically taking one of the most important adoptee icons that adoptees have to look up to and twisting him to fit the "killer adoptee" trope; I can't really put my emotions in words other than it sickens on a visceral level.

 

[samsnee]

Looks like a snooze fest. No different than The Omen except instead of a demon child it’s an alien one.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Chronicle was the first thing I thought of too. Interesting idea - so long as they do it justice. It could so easily turn out to be a generic horror flick, just one with an intriguing hook.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Looks like a snooze fest. No different than The Omen except instead of a demon child it’s an alien one.

Yeah, that's my concern, that after an intriguing hook it turns into something we've seen many times before.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Is this actually a re-make of MoS, titles, music, shot choice, writing. Jesus.

 

[Black Narcissus]

I dug the trailer. I'm sold.

 

[Mandon Knight]

It's the laziest film making I think I've ever seen.

 

[Infinity9999x]

Never heard of that episode before, but lots of shows do episodes like that. Wonder if 'Twilight Zone' originated it, 'Supernatural' did an episode like that and I'm pretty sure 'X-Files' did as well.

Super tantrums or a kid who rebels before finding his way, something as nuanced as that I could probably get behind depending upon delivery. Here it's basically taking one of the most important adoptee icons that adoptees have to look up to and twisting him to fit the "killer adoptee" trope; I can't really put my emotions in words other than it sickens on a visceral level.

Check it out, it's very interesting. Essentially, a boy has god-like powers, and you realize how hard it would be to discipline a child like that. And the 80s Twilight Zone did a follow up to with the same child actor as an adult I believe. Jessica Jones also touches on this idea with Killgrave.

Like I said, the idea is intriguing. It essentially gets at the heart of nature vs nurture. If you can't discipline your child in any way because they could easily kill you during a temper tantrum, how you can you teach them any kind of lessons? If you can't teach them lessons, how do they learn morality? Etc. The idea being that it's not that his unique-ness makes him bad, it simply makes him hard to teach, and if you can't teach a person anything would they develop the kind of morality we all have to learn to be functioning members of society?

I have no idea if the film will explore anything as nuanced as that, but it's what I would like to see if you really want to twist the Superman trope.

 

[Arachnerd]

Not gonna say that the trailer was the best thing I've ever seen, but... you wanna keep up that hyperbole, Mandon?

 

[Black Narcissus]

Yeah, I would be more interested if they play with the idea of how incredibly hard it would be to raise a child that actually had Superman's powers. Think about all the tantrums a two year old throws. Now imagine that two year old could easily punch his fist through your chest.

But then, we essentially got this story with the iconic "It's a Good Life" Twilight zone episode. And I'm not sure if that concept would be intriguing enough to fill an entire movie.

I think you would like Midnight Special.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Not gonna say that the trailer was the best thing I've ever seen, but... you wanna keep up that hyperbole, Mandon?

Just truth from where I see that trailer. Great if people see differently. Hope those who look forward to it, enjoy it.

 

[Infinity9999x]

I think you would like Midnight Special.

I'll have to check it out. I just googled it and I hadn't heard of it before. I love Michael Shannon though.

 

[Mandon Knight]

I'll have to check it out. I just googled it and I hadn't heard of it before. I love Michael Shannon though.

Midnight Special is a great little film.

 

[Black Narcissus]

I'll have to check it out. I just googled it and I hadn't heard of it before. I love Michael Shannon though.

The plot is basically what If the Kents had to return their son to krypton, and the government was after them. Great flick.

 

[Arachnerd]

I've yet to see that movie. Heard nothing but good things about it.

 

[AResistor]

Check it out, it's very interesting. Essentially, a boy has god-like powers, and you realize how hard it would be to discipline a child like that. And the 80s Twilight Zone did a follow up to with the same child actor as an adult I believe. Jessica Jones also touches on this idea with Killgrave.

Like I said, the idea is intriguing. It essentially gets at the heart of nature vs nurture. If you can't discipline your child in any way because they could easily kill you during a temper tantrum, how you can you teach them any kind of lessons? If you can't teach them lessons, how do they learn morality? Etc. The idea being that it's not that his unique-ness makes him bad, it simply makes him hard to teach, and if you can't teach a person anything would they develop the kind of morality we all have to learn to be functioning members of society?

I have no idea if the film will explore anything as nuanced as that, but it's what I would like to see if you really want to twist the Superman trope.

If that’s what they do or if the parents are abusive which causes him to become this way, that’d make it a lot easier to swallow.

Right now, the trailer just sells it as “he’s evil because he’s adopted and an alien (which in Superman mythos was always a metaphor for immigrants)” - which is what the “killer adoptee” trope is.

 

[Sithborg]

I appreciate the riffing on the first Man of Steel trailer. This is likely the film Snyder always wanted to make.

I will keep an eye on this.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

This is likely the film Snyder always wanted to make.

I never thought of that!

 

[Sithborg]

I never thought of that!

With him not so subtly pushing for evil Superman?

 

[Infinity9999x]

If that’s what they do or if the parents are abusive which causes him to become this way, that’d make it a lot easier to swallow.

Right now, the trailer just sells it as “he’s evil because he’s adopted and an alien (which in Superman mythos was always a metaphor for immigrants)” - which is what the “killer adoptee” trope is.

Yeah, and in addition to reinforcing a damaging sterotype, it's just not very interesting.

What makes the other interpretation interesting to me, is that it's essentially taking the fears every parent has and cranks the dial to 100. "What if I can't discipline my kid right? What if I can't teach them what is right?" Magnified to, "it's actively dangerous for me to attempt to discipline my child."