Film Reviews & Movie Analysis

Morbius: The Perfect Urban Fantasy Movie Wasted On The MCU

I think we can all agree to be thrilled about the release of Morbius. It’s been what feels like years of Marvel/Sony beating us around the head with trailers and I for one have a massive headache.

As a quick little summary, Jared Leto plays Michael Morbius, a man rapidly running out of time as he searches for a cure for his lifelong illness. Morbius goes one step too far when he combines his genetics with a Vampire Bat. Cured of his initial ailments, Morbius develops supernatural abilities paired alongside an uncontrollable lust for blood.

The storyline is pretty basic, and to be honest edges on over fantastical. Yes, I can accept a teenager being bitten by a radioactive spider, but a grown man becoming some sort of ‘Vampire-Bat-Man’ I can’t quite reconcile. Go figure.

I will say that I did very much enjoy the performances of Jared Leto, and especially Matt Smith, the antagonist of the movie. The Keyser Söze act was very convincing as was his general wickedness. He was the other side of the coin to what it looks like when the weak become strong. Are they content or do they take vengeance when given uncontrollable power? Quite harrowing and humbling.

Like I said, Jared Leto did a good enough job as protagonist Michael Morbius, but I can’t help but wonder why he chose to join the MCU/SSU (Sony’s Spider-Man Universe) – or rather why he was chosen. It reminded me of Jack Gyllenhall’s addition to Spider-Man Far From Home. Fun, but fickle.

Morbius was passable as a movie, and a couple of notches below that as a Marvel movie. However, as I became used to the dark shadowed concrete jungle of Manhatten and the secrets she kept, respected the undeterred loyalty and intelligence of Dr Martine Bancroft (Adria Arjona) and quietly rooted for the lustful looks that soon blossomed between her and Michael Morbius, I thought – Damn. This would have made a fantastic Urban Fantasy movie.

For those uninitiated to the world of urban fantasy fiction, they are a subgenre of novels that feature supernatural elements in a modern setting. Whether they be Werewolves, Witches, Vampires or Goughls at the forefront, they live in secret or on the fringes of society, predominantly with a female lead. If you’ve seen the Underworld film series or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then you’ve got a good idea of what I’ve spiralled about.

Part of my disappointment with Morbius by the time those confusing easter eggs ended, was that it didn’t fulfil its true urban fantasy destiny.

At this point Morbius has such negative reviews it’s hard to say what its future will be. As I’m sure you can guess, my plan will be to make Bancroft the lead, turn up the heat between her and Morbius and have the two of them fight the Vampiric hoard Morbius has accidentally created by leaving those bloody vials carelessly lying around.

Now do excuse me while I peruse my bookshelf. I have a sudden hankering to re-read Jeannine Frost’s Night Huntress series.