BRIGHTBURN
US, 2019, 90 minutes, Colour.
Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn.
Directed by David Yarovesky.
The title of Brightburn lives up to its name but certainly not in a way that we might have expected. It is not as glowing or as hopeful as the title may sound.
Instead, this is a small science fantasy, a focus on the family, but a family with an enormous difference.
As we watch Brightburn, we might be reminded of the close encounters tradition, or the Roswell tradition and speculations about UFOs, or the body-snatching-by-aliens tradition – and, we might be reminded of those esionage films from the Cold War period, of Russians trained when they were young, migrating to the S US, infiltrating middle American society, waiting for the right time to be activated.
Most of this is certainly not in the minds of the central characters. Tori and Kyle, a pleasantly ordinary couple, are desperate have a child. They are played very genially by Elizabeth Banks and David Denman. They have something like a Superman-Smallville? experience when, right at the beginning of the film, a small space vehicle lands on their property, a baby as the only passenger. So, nice parallels with Clark Kent as their little boy, Brandon (Jackson A Dunn) bonds with his parents, has numberless photos and home movies taken. Elizabeth Banks plays his mother lovingly-devoted with great zest. David Denman is a hard-working father who bonds with his son, referring to him as “Buddy�.
Who is he really? Why did he come to earth? Will he be another Man of Steel? In a way, he will, but not in the way that any of us, including himself as a child, could foretell.
He is an obedient boy. But his parents puzzle about his not bleeding. We puzzle about his not really showing emotions or weeping. And he is continually drawing a specific develop design in black and red.
His 12th birthday party is not quite a success and everyone notices that he is beginning to change. Is it puberty? Is it something more?
Well, of course, to say anything more would be to reveal spoilers and this is a film which is better seen with successive surprises, twists and plot puzzles – and, it might be said, not a great deal of explanation offered.
Which means, then, that a great deal is about to happen. What will be his parents’ response? How will the sheriff and his assistant become involved? What about the little girl from school that he likes and her aggressive mother?
All this, and more, in only 90 minutes, a fine variation on themes for those who really enjoy this kind of science fiction. And, there are images during the final credits which might delight as well as tantalise conspiracy theorists.
1. The title? The town in the county? Brandon as Brightburn?
2. Science fiction, aliens? UFOs and conspiracies? The apocalyptic ending? The future vision during the credits?
3. The plausibility of the plot, the explanations, the lack of explanations?
4. The parallel with Roswell, UFOs, the Cold War and political Russian sleepers to be awakened in the United States?
5. The introduction to Tori and Kyle, the books on fertility, their attempts at conception, the disturbance in the night, the landing of the spaceship? Their experience, adopting Brandon? The mystery about him, the hiding of the spaceship in the barn? The later memories of the past and the landing, Kyle and his nightmare?
6. The collage of images of Brandon growing up, baby, videos, a loving family?
7. After 10 years, Brandon and his personality, loved by his parents, obedient, but rather impassive, not shedding the blood, not weeping, at school, his continued drawings of the symbol, being able to answer questions about bees and wasps, the approval of Caitlin? The trust exercise and the students fallen, Caitlin moving away, Brandon collapsing and hitting his head?
8. The celebration of his birthday, the candle in the cave, the gift of the gun from Noah, Kyle’s bad reaction, the leaving? Brandon and his defiance?
9. Tori, her character, loving mother, Brandon as her fulfilment, the continued devotion and attention? Her being puzzled about his behaviour, the puberty explanation? His breaking Caitlin’s hand? The visit to the principal? Tori in denial, especially answering Kyle about Brandon?
10. Kyle, good man, work, not wanting Brandon in the barn, Brandon working with him at various jobs, his calling him buddy, his love for Tori, his friends, the drinking and the pool games, an ordinary man?
11. Brandon discovering his powers, the games of hiding in the barn, his continued drawing of the symbol, starting the mother and his being upset, is flying through the air?
12. Caitlin, her hand, Brandon at the window, her being terrified? Erica, the diner, Brandon wreaking his revenge, the cape and mask, the destruction of her eye, the camera looking through her bloodshot eyes? Brandon and his confrontations, able to move swiftly through distances, the experience with his aunt, confronting her, threatening her, Noah’s arrival, the attack, driving his car, Brandon and the car accident, Noah’s death? The family grief?
13. Kyle offering to take Brandon hunting, the past experience when camping, yet Brandon disappearing for vengeance? Kyle attempting to shoot Brandon? Kyle’s death? The sheriff, discovering the drawings, coming to visit Tori, her denial?
14. Tori, discovering the drawings, her decision, phoning the police, Brandon and his threats, creating mayhem? The sheriff and his assistant arriving, their grim deaths?
15. Brandon, Tori kind, trying to reassure him, their going up into the sky, his letting her fall?
16. The apocalyptic consequences and the menace to the earth – with more Brandons planted throughout the world?
