The New Mutants (Exclusive Series) (HBO Max - until 7/9) (2ND LOOK!)

***The New Mutants is a 2020 movie that I initially reviewed for the Examiner in 2020. It is one of the many films that I reviewed over the last couple years that I gave a positive take on yet still had a mixed feeling about it. And haven't seen them since. Starting with The New Mutants, I will gradually add a "second look" movie from one of the films that I had mixed feelings about to my monthly "New Release" slate!***

Initial release date: August 28, 2020

Studios: 20th Century Studios/Marvel Entertainment/TSG Entertainment

Tagline: Everyone has demons

There is something new to fear

Plot: Five teenage mutants undergo treatments at a secret institution that will cure them of their dangerous powers. Invited by Dr. Cecilia Reyes to share their stories, their memories turn into terrifying realities as they start to question why they’re being held and who’s trying to destroy them.

Cast

Maisie Williams - Rahne Sinclair

Anya Taylor-Joy - Illyana Rasputin

Charlie Heaton - Sam Guthrie

Alice Braga - Dr. Reyes

Blu Hunt - Dani Moonstar

Henry Zaga - Roberto da Costa

Adam Beach - Dani’s Father

Thomas Kee - Sam’s Father

Happy Anderson - Reverend Craig

Marilyn Manson - Smiling Man (voice)

Writer(s): Josh Boone and Knate Lee

Director: Josh Boone (The Fault In Our Stars)

Rated PG-13 for violent content, some disturbing/bloody images, some strong language, thematic elements and suggestive material (94 minutes)

When ‘The New Mutants’ was first released in 2020, I reviewed it for the Examiner. After initially reviewing it, I haven’t seen it since. So, I decided to give this a second look - which I will be doing for a few movies that I had mixed feelings about before that I reviewed from 2020 to current.

Now, ‘The New Mutants’ wasn’t the greatest of the original ‘X-Men’ franchise - before Fox was bought out by Disney. But, it does feature some exciting action and even a couple good scares. The action sequences and the VFX are really awesome to watch.

One thing they should have done with this movie is expand on the backstories of the lead mutant characters. Since the filmmakers and the studio kept editing the movie left and right, I'm sure they had more back story for these characters at some point.

So, after seeing this for the first time since I initially reviewed it nearly two years ago, it’s still an all right movie. Not the greatest ‘X-Men’ related out there, but at least it’ll still keep you entertained.

‘The New Mutants’ is still available to stream on HBO Max until July 9!

Here are some interesting tidbits for ‘The New Mutants’:

• Boone intended this movie to be the first in a trilogy, with the second film to be an alien invasion featuring the alien mutant Warlock, and then the third and final to be a supernatural, apocalyptic horror movie based on the X-Men comic event ‘Inferno’ (demons invade Earth and Magik plays a major role).

• The vision Dani sees of mutant children contains some reused footage from ‘Logan.’

• It was initially reported that Fox planned to have the film heavily reshot based on feedback from test screenings to make it scarier. Due to the unavailability of many cast members, the reshoots were repeatedly pushed back until ultimately canceled by March 2020 after Disney acquired Fox. The reported reasons for the cancellation differ; some trade publications reported the film was deemed satisfactory by Disney, while others and Boone claim the cast had visibly aged after two years and reshoots were no longer feasible.

• The filmmakers cite the films ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,’ ‘The Shining,’ ‘The Breakfast Club’ and ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3’ as an influence on the film’s production design, due to the closed-in settings each film used for dramatic purposes.

• Comic book artist Bill Sienkiewicz, who worked on the “New Mutants” comics (specifically the Demon Bear storyline), was brought in to provide artwork for the film’s posters and closing credits.

• In 2009, X-Men series producer Lauren Shuler-Donner revealed to Slash/Film her interest in a film adaptation of the “New Mutants” comics but that it had yet to be pitched to 20th Century Fox.

• After completing work on the 2014 film ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ for Fox, director Josh Boone created a comic book with his childhood best friend Knate Lee using panels from the comics to illustrate what a potential film trilogy adapting those comics would be like.

• In May 2015, Fox finalized a deal to have Boone direct. The film was initially intended to expand the universe of the ‘X-Men’ franchise and take place three years after ‘Apocalypse.’

• Boone and his regular editors delivered a cut of the film to Fox that they were happy with, and it tested as well as initial screenings of ‘Deadpool’ did. Three days of additional photography were planned to complete the “young adult movie” that the filmmakers and Fox had agreed to make.

• However, following the successful release of ‘It,’ the studio cut the first trailer to focus on the “scary elements from the film, essentially selling it as a straight up horror movie.” With the positive reception to the preview, Fox decided to make the film more like Boone’s original vision rather than completing the version that they had been making during production.

• The original release date of January 2018 got pushed back to avoid ‘Deadpool 2’ and allow for the reshoots required to make the film more in line with Boone’s original vision.

• In March 2018, Fox again delayed the release, distancing it from the new February 2019 release date for ‘Dark Phoenix,’ rescheduling its release for August 2, 2019.

• ‘The New Mutants’ was finally released in the US on August 28, 2020. Grossed $23.8 million in the US and $24.3 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $48.1 million.