The DC cinematic universe is set for a reboot as Superman soars back into cinemas under the stewardship of filmmaker James Gunn.
Gunn, along with his new studio, are aiming to emulate some of the success he experienced while working on Marvel projects.
However, there are elements from Gunn’s early filmography that suggest why he is the right choice for the task.
Throughout his career, he has successfully merged genres ranging from horror to sci-fi and action adventures, always with a sharp focus on visuals and poignant musical moments.
While only time will reveal where Superman and Gunn’s future DC titles rank among his other works, here is a brief ranked list of his early films as writer, director or both.
Super.
Super featured Rain Wilson at the peak of his popularity following his role in The Office, portraying an ordinary man who has led a disappointing life. He decides to reinvent himself as a superhero and combat crime when his wife, a recovering addict, leaves him for another man, reports the Mirror.
That other man happens to be a drug-dealing Kevin Bacon who commands an army of henchmen. Crimson Bolt, lacking superhuman abilities, resorts to brutal violence and embarks on a mission to rescue his wife from a drug dealer.
While promoting Superman, Gunn expressed his belief that he had never made a superhero movie before. While audiences might consider this to count, the hero we encounter in Super does not possess any actual powers.
Despite its mixed initial reception, the film has grown in stature to become a cult favourite among those who appreciate its unique take on the superhero genre. Its release in 2010 got overshadowed by Kick-Ass which shared its theme of dissecting comic book heroes, but it still manages to fascinate fans.
Commenting on its allure, one enthusiast remarked: “I love how this movie is messed up and it’s exactly why i like it. it’s definitely not for everyone. The main characters are sadistic and delusional. While the movie challenges the moral stuff in superhero genre by putting it into the real world context in a sick, disturbing manner, still doesn’t take itself too seriously.”
Super can now be rented on Apple TV and Amazon Video.
The Belko Experiment.
Crafted by Gunn during his stints with Marvel blockbusters, The Belko Experiment bears the hallmark of his earlier works through the lens of violence and grimness.
It throws eighty Americans into a brutal survival game as they’re trapped in their corporation’s office building, listening to a mysterious voice that commands them to slaughter each other to live.
A viewer enthused: “Underrated film, this idea has been done before but The Belko Experiment executes the movie better than its predecessors in my opinion. Reminds me of Battle Royale but in an office setting with adults.”
The Belko Experiment is streaming on Prime Video.
Dawn of the Dead.
Before taking the director’s helm, James Gunn was no stranger to screenwriting, penning the unexpected live-action adaptation of Scooby-Doo and then taking on the daunting task of remaking a zombie horror classic.
Interestingly enough, it was Zack Snyder, whom Gunn eventually succeeded as the creative force behind DC’s film universe, who directed the 2004 zombie flick which Gunn had scripted.
Adhering to the original’s plotline, the film portrays survivors seeking sanctuary in a shopping mall amidst an epidemic converting people into ravenous zombies. Their struggle for survival is compounded by internal conflicts and the undead’s threat.
This version introduced quicker and more ferocious zombies, prompting one enthusiast to label it an ‘instant classic’ and another to gush that “24 years later, still no other film can top this masterpiece. The best zombie film ever created in my opinion.”
Fans should brace themselves as Dawn of the Dead is poised to make its way onto Netflix soon.