The Mosley Review: The New Mutants
I'm all for multiple layers in a story. Your central plot is a horrific event that catapults a character’s journey into self discovery. That right there is the most compelling part of this film and I dug it. It may be cliche, but it works for a reason. From that point on you can explore the tone. You can go from a coming of age story that is full of heartfelt moments or you can twist it and take it down a horror/thriller road that works perfectly in a teenage story. Another avenue you can take is of mystery and a down right action film that these types of films are known for. All of what I just described surrounds the central plot of this film, but weighs it down because of its uncertainty of what it wants to be. I loved the horror aspect of the film and it was a chance to really explore something new in the X-Men film franchise. I wish it stayed that way, but in the end you get the same old stale ending that tries to wrap up the themes introduced prior while delivering an action heavy ending. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to see each characters' powers on full display, but it detracted from what could've been a darker and more fun version of the X-Mansion.
The cast in the film are stellar across the board. Blu Hunt was great as Dani Moonstar and I liked her journey of self discovery. Her intense story is the catalyst of the film and she delivered the characters' stress and intrigue with ease. Maisie Williams is always a class act and I liked her as Rahne. Her backstory was the most interesting and traumatic as her religious beliefs are tied to the discovery of her powers. Her Scottish accent was good in most of the film, but you can tell where she dropped it at times. It’s not an easy accent to pull off. Her chemistry with Dani was nice and brought out the lighter moments of the story. Charlie Heaton was really good as Sam. Charlie is really good at portraying the type of characters that have some form of shame or fear when it comes to being apart of something. I liked Sam and his willingness to help and to face his past. Henry Zaga was good as Bobby and I liked that he quickly turned from your stereotypical "player" to someone more vulnerable and brave at times. Anya Taylor-Joy is always a powerhouse on screen and she was no different as Illyana. Even though she had a very tough and mean exterior, she shows her true colors by the end. She was a hell of a fighter and I would love to see more of her someday. Alice Braga was excellent as the head of the medical facility, Dr. Cecilia Reyes. She always delivers in her performances and she was charismatic and powerful in many scenes.
The score by Mark Snow was eerie, dream like and intense at the right moments. Its a great horror/thriller score on its own. There are many references that hardcore X-Men fans will catch and they're fun. I loved the tie into one of the best X-Men films in the franchise and it was very satisfying. There are many films that get stuck in limbo before they're released and this film was locked in limbo for so long that it became a running joke. Now that it is finally released, I'm happy that it got the release it deserved. As I stated before, this film has all these great story elements, but it just really needed to focus on one. The film would’ve benefited more from diving into the horror aspects instead of being an amalgamation of action, thriller and young adult. Director Josh Boone did a good job with the film and for a swan song to the Fox X-Men film universe, it wasn't bad. I would recommend checking this film out for a decent time at the theater, but keep your expectations low.
