The Remedy Is Worse Than the Disease. 2 / 5
Released in UK Cinemas: 31st March 2022
Directed by Daniel Espinosa.
Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder, and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Michael Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. What at first appears to be a radical success soon reveals itself to be a remedy potentially worse than the disease.
With trailers that have lingered in cinemas since before the pandemic, Morbius is finally released to the world and I can confidently say it was not worth the wait or hearing an edit of The Doors - People Are Strange every time I've taken my seat since cinemas reopened.
Morbius proves that no matter how many famous faces or shiny visuals you squeeze in, Sony will always find a way to impressively misunderstand basic storytelling with a plot ripped from the early 2000s. It rushes through its elaborate story, hastily skipping important character moments thanks to a messy script and disorganised edit.
Leto isn't bad in the lead but doesn't bring anything to the role outside of his usual quirky mannerisms. The real highlight of the cast is Matt Smith as Milo who is loving every second on-screen, there is no doubt that he was picking bits of scenery out of his teeth for days after filming wrapped.
It is astounding how a film with such a focus on bloodlust can be so bloodless thanks to a PG-13 rating which massively hinders the film - not that there is much to save. The visual effects are pretty solid but don't add much to the experience except bringing a literal Batman to the big screen.
The final product is an empty shell of a film that leeches off the Marvel brand and only creates more confusion for fans as Hollywood studios attempt to learn about the fundamentals of setting up a multiverse without sticking to their own pre-defined rules.
If the character of Morbius being a parasite that absorbs energy from those around them to avoid expiring isn't the perfect metaphor for Sony and Marvel's relationship - I don't know what is.
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