Morbius ★

Daniel Espinosa

Starring Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Al Madrigal

Yet again, we are thrown into the SPUMC (genuinely what it's known as) for another Spider-Man villain origin story. This one has been tainted by many a delay due to the success of the MCU's Spider-Man: No Way Home. But was it worth the wait?

The short answer is no. As Dr Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) searches to find a cure for his rare blood disorder, his condition somehow deteriorates when he uses bats in his research. We are pushed through the story without a moment given to take a breath as we meet a "new Marvel legend" who perhaps won't be sticking around.

With unnecessary post-credit stings, little interesting energy and next to no structure to the plot, this doesn't feel like it's ever seen another film or read another screenplay. There are glimpses of a good film in there with an impressive learning-powers sequence and a character that Jared Leto clearly believed in...but those glimpses never last for more than a brief moment.

The inevitable final battle is rushed and becomes a CGI mess of two characters with the same powers flying through the sky. That villain of the villain has no compelling motivation and changes character completely when it's convenient for the rushed plot.

Borrowing from many previous (more successful) vampire films, Morbius doesn't learn to walk before it can super jump, and the performances are dried up into little more than a few unsatisfying confrontations.

Morbius available in cinemas now