Today’s quick review: The New Mutants. After her family dies, Dani Moonstar (Blu Hunt) is taken to a secluded hospital, where she learns that she is a mutant. Dr. Reyes (Alice Braga) helps her cope with her trauma and works to identify her powers. But in spite of Reyes’ treatment, Dani and the other patients (Maisie Williams, Charlie Heaton, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Henry Zaga) begin to experience strange visions based on their deepest fears.
The New Mutants is a superhero horror movie based on the Marvel comic. Set in the X-Men universe, the movie follows five teenage mutants as they work to control their powers and decipher the mystery of the hospital where they are being kept. The New Mutants sacrifices flashy action in favor of mature themes and a more personal story. It successfully carves out a new space in a crowded genre, but its safe execution leave something to be desired.
The New Mutants puts a darker spin on the superhero genre, showing the horrific consequences of uncontrolled superpowers and the psychological scars they leave. Dani and the other mutants are united by their trauma, each one the bearer of a heavy burden. The movie is at its best when it is delving into their issues and the way they cope with them, while their unexplained visions give the movie an edge of horror to it.
However, The New Mutants is not bold enough to capitalize on its strengths. The plot only has the essentials, with a linear progression and very few hints at a larger world. The characters are likable but aren’t given a full chance to shine. The horror is generally handled well, but it doesn’t go as far as purists may be accustomed to. In general, The New Mutants does a weak job of surprising the audience and exceeding their expectations.
The New Mutants is an experimental take on the superhero genre that is only partially successful. It dabbles with potent themes, works horror into the genre in interesting ways, and still manages to work in some enjoyable action scenes at key moments. But the movie lacks the confidence to carry its ideas farther, leaving it caught somewhere between the safety of a formula and the strange territory of its subject matter. Approach with caution.
For a superhero drama set in a mental institution, check out Glass. For a psychological thriller that dives deeper into its characters’ mental states, try The Machinist or Shutter Island.
[5.3 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4682266/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for interesting characters and an underdeveloped story.