The New Mutants: A Superhero Horror That Falls Flat
“The New Mutants” introduces us to Daniella Moonstar (played by Blu Hunt), a young Native American woman who survives a devastating tornado, only to find herself in a secluded hospital. Haunted by the loss of her family and the terrifying possibility that she herself triggered the disaster due to her latent mutant abilities, Daniella is placed under the care of Dr. Reyes (Alice Braga) for evaluation and treatment. She soon discovers she is not alone, and that the facility houses four other superpowered teenagers who are learning to control their dangerous powers.
Among Daniella’s fellow patients are Ilyana Rasputin/Magik (Anya Taylor-Joy), a sarcastic and powerful mutant with the ability to teleport and summon a soulsword; Roberto “Bobby” da Costa/Sunspot (Henry Zaga), a charming and wealthy Brazilian mutant who can harness solar energy; Sam Guthrie/Cannonball (Charlie Heaton, fresh off “Stranger Things”), a withdrawn and reluctant mutant who can launch himself through the air; and Rahne Sinclair/Wolfsbane (Maisie Williams, recognizable from “Game of Thrones”), a Scottish mutant struggling to reconcile her devout religious upbringing with her ability to transform into a wolf. Together, they must confront their inner demons, both literal and figurative, while uncovering the dark secrets of the facility and their powers.
Behind the Scenes Drama: More Engaging Than the Movie?
The film’s troubled production and delayed release are arguably more talked about than the film itself. The initial concept – blending the superhero origin story with the teen horror genre was interesting. Over the years there were rumors that Disney, after acquiring Fox was planning to drastically alter the film to achieve a PG-13 rating as opposed to the R rating originally planned…
Josh Boone the director disspelled those rumors claiming Disney did not interfere with his artistic vision, and the reshoots were pre-planned. Boone’s admission paradoxically worsens the perception of the film; it would have been much easier to dismiss the movie as an example of interference from production companies that ruined the visions of talented creators due to commercial necessity.
Furthermore, Boone, known for directing melodramatic studio productions (“The Fault in Our Stars,” “Stuck in Love”), acknowledged his limited enthusiasm for the horror genre therefore influenced by horror films like, “A Nightmare on Elm Street”, “The Shining”, and Steven King novels.
A Formulaic Horror That Fails to Impress
“The New Mutants” despite its genre positioning (superhero horror is rare, as evidenced previously from “Split” or “Brightburn”) falls into the trap of regurgitating well-worn troupes from other already released projects. The idea of children held captive in a clinic and battling a sinister killer found in nightmares from the third “Nightmare on Elm Street” film is blended in this film, that also merges characters and interactions from John Hughes’ school age stories. Films, such as “Joker”, take these borrowed elements but also, capture the attention of filmgoers. It raises the question of whether viewers have any interest in a storyline based on kids battling their own fears.
A Lack Of Cinematic Flair
While imitation can be a form of flattery, copying without style results in a narrative without proper execution, as illustrated in “The New Mutants”, where cinematic flair is minimal. Despite, its focus on adolescence, hidden emotion, and repressed memories lacks the characteristics found in a film. the main idea in the film is conveyed through dialogue instead of action. Adding to the mix are moments which feel poorly planned.
It wouldn’t be right to discredit “The New Mutants”, but is worth noting that it copies the most mundane elements that ultimately make this template unusable. It almost seem like a film crafted on a studio lot that looks to have created teen melodramatic filler. Attempting to imitate the feel from past Steven King horrors or John Hughes content seems antiquated. In such cases, who do we point the finger at? The stars.