02/08/2025

LYFE SATURDAY | AUG 2, 2025

26

MOVIE REVIEW

Oliver’s apparent muteness and shaved head are red flags.

0 Cast: Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips 0 Director: Danny, Michael Philippou E-VALUE 8 ACTING 9 PLOT 6

Foster family blues Barratt (left) and Wong, in her acting debut, anchor the film as its heart. – PICS FROM SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT

COMIC fans are embracing the latest showdown between Marvel and DC as their superhero films Fantastic Four and Superman compete for box office dominance, reigniting a rivalry spanning over eight decades. Whether it is the thrill of seeing the comic book superhero The Thing shout “It’s clobbering time!” before throwing a punch or watching Superman and his faithful pup Krypto save the day, fans are heading to cinemas to support their favourite films. “Well, clearly I am a Marvel fan,” said Danielle Stroski, who was dressed as the shapeshifter character Mystique from Marvel’s X-Men comics, at the San Diego Comic-Con. “But I have a little white dog at home, so I love me some Superman as well. And I know the little white F OLLOWING up on their critically-acclaimed Talk to Me from 2022, brothers Danny and Michael Philippou shift gears ever so slightly for Bring Her Back , the latest film to crawl out of the A24 horror crypt. Following the death of their father, Andy (Billy Barratt) and his stepsister Piper (Sora Wong) are taken in as foster children by Laura (Sally Hawkins). Opposed to being separated from each other, Andy expects their time with their new o Philippou brothers deliver chilling psychological horror Ű BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR

London premiere. “I think we share a lot of similar optimism in our tone and our feeling in the worlds that we are building. And there is room for Superman , there is room for Fantastic Four . I am thrilled. Go see both,” he added. Superman director Gunn, who directed the Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy , said in an interview in Los Angeles that he grew up reading Marvel and DC comic books, appreciating their distinct tones. Superman introduced David Corenswet as the Man of Steel. The movie grossed around US$173 million (RM737 million) globally and US$264 million domestically for a total of around US$437 million, according to Box Office Mojo. to other films under the A24 banner, the film takes a very psychological approach to horror. More impressive than the acting prowess of the film’s leads is how there is no jump scare in the film, which might sound insane to more mainstream horror fans. That is not to say there is nothing horrifying by the time the second and third acts roll in. This film is a product from the minds that brought the scenes of blood and terror in Talk to Me after all. For these, the younger Phillips sibling does some heavy lifting as he churns out a powerful performance as Oliver, warping simple acts such as eating a slice of fruit into sequences that will cause the viewer to cringe and wince. Barratt and newcomer Wong are also equally impressive. The

dog is stealing the show for Superman, so it is going to be close. But I got to go Marvel,” she added. The 42-year-old from California predicted Fantastic Four would outperform Superman at the box office. DC fan Lito Loza, dressed as Superboy, voiced his support for Superman . “I have already seen Superman three times, and I am very, very happy with what James Gunn did with it. It makes me feel hopeful,” he said, referring to the director. The filmmakers encourage fans to support both movies. “I am a huge Superman fan. I am a huge James Gunn fan. I am thrilled that both of us are coming out this month,” director Matt Shakman of Fantastic Four: First Steps said at the foster parent to last only three months, as once he becomes 18 years old, he will be able to take custody of his sister and live by themselves. However, once they arrive at her house, Laura proves to be increasingly eccentric, given how she has another foster child – a mute boy named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips) whom neither siblings were informed about. Things only get worse from then on. Unlike Talk to Me , the Philippou brothers’ latest is a hard tilt into slow-burn horror. Much of what and where the film is heading towards is revealed in fragments, even if it is blatantly obvious for certain fans of horror films. The same extends to the form of horror in Bring Her Back . Similar

Those familiar with Hawkins from the Paddington films are in for a shock.

between absolute sorrow and diabolical insanity. Certainly different from the made-for-mainstream horror film that Talk to Me was, Bring Her Back might not be for everyone. However, for genre purists that do not mind having their nerves slowly burned with an excellently paced and acted story, or just people that want to watch Hawkins turn in one of the year’s strongest performances, the film hits the spot like a well-munched corpse.

two young actors play their roles as siblings very naturally, with how long the film spends on them and their relationship further helping viewers to connect with them before the devastation kicks off. The Philippou brothers must love the themes of not being able to move on from trauma and familial loss that they showed in Talk to Me , as it once again forms the crux of this film through Hawkins’ tightrope performance as Laura, balancing

Superhero films ignite rivalry among Marvel, DC comic fans

The scene at a Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. – REUTERSPIC

well as TV shows for HBO Max. Disney said that by the end of July 18, Fantastic Four , which stars Pedro Pascal, had earned an estimated US$106.2 million globally, including US$57 million domestically and US$49.2 million internationally. – Reuters

Warner Bros has heavily invested in Superman , aiming to launch a new era at DC Studios under Gunn, who has been named co-CEO, alongside producer Peter Safran. Upcoming projects include a Supergirl film slated for June 2026 and a film based on the character Swamp Thing, as