#Movie Review: Batman’s darkest outing yet

The Batman is the darkest big screen outing for the caped crusader yet, both thematically and in terms of cinematography.

Batman is more of a detective, peeling back the layers of a mystery, than he is a superhero playboy seen in most of the other films.

Although this is a refreshing take on the genre, at just a few minutes shy of 3 hours, the mystery is not enough to sustain its bloated runtime.

Nevertheless, strong performances and a well manicured atmosphere make it a worthwhile viewing experience.

Spoilers to follow

The film opens on Gotham City during Halloween and it is a hellscape of crime and filth, with looters running rampant.

Gangs run the streets and Batman’s best crimefighting efforts barely make a dent.

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To add to his problems, prominent public figures, including Gotham’s mayor and district attorney, are murdered, with their killings livestreamed to the world.

Covered in clingwrap and a terrifying mask, the Riddler (Paul Dano) claims responsibility for the murders, leaving behind a trail of breadcrumbs at each crime scene for Batman to follow.

With a Twitch-streamer, conspiracy theorist and loner persona, the Riddler is truly a villain for the 21st century and his actions are easily believable in the context of the USA’s recent history of mass-shooting and serial killings.

A grand scale deception with Wayne Enterprises at its center further adds to the supposed conspiracy, not unlike the widely proliferated QAnon or Pizzagate conspiracies.

Although the Riddler is the central villain, the film also introduces the Penguin (played with glee by an unrecognisable Colin Farrell) and mobster Carmine Falcone (John Turturro).

Together, the rogues’ gallery terrorise Gotham, and Batman has to figure out a way for relative peace to be restored.

He is joined by Zoë Kravitz, who gives the best performance of the film as an alluring, but untrustworthy Catwoman.

The film matches the current darkness of the world and can be difficult to watch as a result, but it is never bad.

There is a truly great 2 hour movie in here, but at almost 3 hours, it is simply too long.

A final scene sets up the potential for more films in the series, and if first-outing nerves can be overcome, this has the potential to match Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy.

Rated 16 for drug content, strong disturbing content, strong language and violence.

3.5/5.

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