MORBIUS

US, 2022, 104 minutes, Colour.

Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Al Madrigal, Michael Keaton.

Directed by Daniel Espinosa.

For this reviewer, quite a surprise. With the early part of the story and treatment, he found that he was enjoying the film, not what he was expecting. In fact, no reading of the Marvel Comics, no knowledge of who Morbius was – except seeing the trailer a number of times and then discovering that it was 100% misleading, especially about the character of Michael Morbius himself.

By way of extra review, this reviewer sat behind four 14-year-olds in the cinema. Those who scoff at Marvel Comics and their range of movies sometimes remark that they were written for 12-14-year-olds. And, judging by this group in the cinema, they were reaching their mark! And, momentarily embarrassingly, they were reaching the reviewer. Which led to the reflection that material for 12-14-year-olds is good for them but why can’t we enjoy at least some of them as well! A further compliment to the boys was that one of them insisted they take all their litter out with them after the film – and an opportunity to ask him whether he enjoyed the film. Yes, he said, it was the second time he had seen it (and this was the morning of its third day of release!).

So, a sobering experience with a real audience. The running time is brief compared with other Marvel epics, delivering what it intends, even though critics might declare that is not what it ought not to be delivering!

The action opens in Costa Rica, Morbius, with walking sticks, confronting a huge cave of bats and seemingly overwhelmed by them. Then a return to Greece, 25 years earlier, Michael in a clinic cared for by a sympathetic medic, Dr Nicholas (Jared Harris). A young patient is brought in, Lucian, whom Michael name is Milo because of the succession of boys in the adjacent bed who have passed through while Michael has been there. They become friendly. And Michael is clever, fixing an elaborate machine with a ballpoint pen and Dr Nicholas recommending him for further studies and a scholarship. So, the human touch after the episode with the bats.

With the adult Michael, he is awarded the Nobel Prize and rejecting it, stating that his attempts so far to find a cure for his condition have been failures. He works in a laboratory, financed by the adult Milo (Matt Smith), collaborating with a young doctor, Martin Bancroft (Adria Arjona). Contrary to the impressions created by the trailer, Dr Michael Morbius is actually a man of integrity, seriously involved in his work. However, during an experiment on a boat in international waters, he succeeds in his experiment but with dangerous consequences.

This is where the film turns into a variation on the Dr Frankenstein theme, wariness of undisciplined scientifical and medical experimentation, and the Frankenstein monster this time the doctor himself – and, as the action progresses, the real villain is a transformed Milo.

And, of course, with the bats who survive on blood, Morbius is transformed by his cure to a vampiric condition, there are many Dracula moments.

With a death in a hospital, as well as the deaths of all the crew on the mysterious boat, there are police investigations, media reports and the audience seeing more and more of Milo and his ambitions.

Which means then that Dr Morbius is a kind of Bruce Wayne figure, wanting the good, but transforming into a character beyond, this time with superpowers of transformation in flight, fangs and gore.

Jared Leto is Morbius and, as mentioned, far more sympathetic and with integrity than initially thought. Despite his transformations, he wants what is best and is prepared to suffer consequences. And, during the final credits, there are two indications of what some of the consequences might be, the introduction of an oddball character seen in prison, Andrew Toomes (for those in the know, Vulture) then transforming himself and confronting Morbius, a character played by Michael Keaton. So, in the future …

1. The popularity of Marvel comics? Or film adaptations? The role of Dr Michael Morbius?
2. The Marvel production values, the narrative, the hero, the villain, superpowers, struggle between good and evil, deaths and injuries, confrontations?
3. The opening, Costa Rica, the exotic scenery, the cave of the bats, the helicopter, crew, Dr Morbius, his walking sticks, his appearance, confronting the bats, overwhelmed?
4. The return to Greece, 25 years earlier, Michael and his illness, the institution, the mockery of the boys outside, Nicholas and his kindness, Lucian and his arrival, his illness, talking with Michael, their friendship, Michael clever, fixing the machine with a ballpoint pen, prospect of scholarship? His making of the paper characters, writing the letter, Lucian called Milo after all the boys in that bed, the letter outside, his being bashed by the boys?
5. The present, the Nobel Prize, Michael rejecting it, considering his experiments failures? His work in the laboratory, with the bats, the variety of experiments with the mice? Seeming failure, then success?
6. Martine Bancroft, work with Michael, the attraction, on the boat, concussion, hospital, interrogation by the agents, at the hospital, keeping the secrecy, the encounter with Michael on the bus, going to the laboratory, bringing him material, confronted by Milo?
7. The experiment on the boat, the bats, Michael transformed, the cure, the need for blood? The vampiric transformation? Attacking all the men on the boat? The boat stranded, Martine rescued, his disappearance?
8. The two agents, Stroud as serious, Madrigal and his remarks, style of interrogation?
9. Michael, returning to the laboratory, interrogations by the police? His need for blood, his timing the space between taking in the blood, meeting Martine, getting the suppliers, with Martine in the diner, seeing the thugs, following them, their drug laboratory, injuring the hands of the boss, the others fleeing, is using the laboratory for his experiments? Martine helping him?
10. The adult Milo, wealthy, living in luxury, financing all the experiments, the meetings with Michael, financing the boat in international waters? Milo, his asking for the cure, for the blood? Is Secretly taking the cure and blood? The death of the nurse in the corridor, suspicions on Michael? Milo, healthy, relishing it, and the lust for killing, the various confrontations? Enjoying the media publicity? The meeting with Dr Nicholas, the confrontation, killing him, Dr Nicholas warning Michael?
11. Michael, becoming more desperate, arrested, in the cell, interrogated, Milo’s visit?
12. Michael free, the pursuit of Milo, the taunts, the breaking of the friendship, the flights (reminiscent of Spiderman), the death of Milo?
13. Michael, integrity, accepting the consequences?
14. The introduction of the character of Adrian Toomes, Michael Keaton, in the cell, the plane, the transformation, confrontation with Michael? The future?