A forgotten Zack Snyder action fantasy film starring Oscar Isaac, John Hamm and Emily Browning went under the radar when it was first released, but now fans are flocking back to re-experience the thrill. But reviews are mixed with some saying it should be a classic, and others branding it misogynistic slop.
Snyder himself has agreed that his 2011 film Sucker Punch is “so movie”, after YouTuber Mike’s Mic branded the film with a 10% Rotten Tomatoes score as “the most movie ever.”
Snyder posted to X saying “Mike’s right.” It would be easy to misinterpret this film as a tacky, psycho-sexual horror bound to titillate wrong’uns.
One reviewer on IMDb rated the film a solid 7/10 saying “it’s not for everyone.”
They added: “It has been called any number of things in derogative fashion, which since I enjoyed the film a lot means I’m a misogynist fetishist gamer, which to the best of my knowledge is not true. Lest I’m in the closet and now in middle age about to unleash traits and feelings previously untapped.”
However, there is also a case for this film being somewhat of a feminist romp. The truth of the film lurks under the plot line until the last moment, glueing you to the edge of your seat. We follow the on-the-nose-named “Babydoll” (Browning) as she is sent to away from her abusive stepfather to an abusive asylum where she is leered over by seedy stereotypes of repulsive men.
It becomes clear the asylum is not what is seems, and the girls (Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish) are being trained for something more sinister.
One fan said under Mike’s video saying “‘Movies that film bros hate because they can’t imagine a movie isn’t for them or about them’ is my favourite genre of movie”.
However, we watch as the women band together in an action-laden parallel universe, complete with machine guns, burning ruins and slow motion punches, to wipe out the hideous men they come across.
The ending is haunting, and open for interpretation, with a second “Snyder-cut” ending that may or may not be released, fuelling the fire of what on earth the film really means.
Browning’s performance is arresting, with her wide watery eyes and pigtails making a clear comment on the viewer and the “viewed.”
However the skimpy outfits turned some off from the off, with critic Justin Brown posting to Rotten Tomatoes saying: “This was god awful. There was a lack of depth in the female characters so it’s just eye candy with some dope action scenes. But without any substance, the gimmicks get old very fast.”
Brandon Collins said: “Despite some incredible visuals and eye candy, this movie executed so poorly and backwards that it’s offensive. The actresses were clearly sold a different movie than what was ultimately put on the screen. Emily Browning was greatly miscast.”
Although Browning’s comments during the press run of the film in 2011 suggest otherwise. When asked if she thought Sucker Punch was really about the fantasy of a young girl she told IndieLondon: “I think that idea that girls fantasise about Barbie and having a husband… that’s so something that society puts onto us to sell pink toys! When I was three-years-old I told my mum that I wanted to be a truck driver.
“You know, I used to play with guns with my brothers and play catch the flag and go paintballing… so, this is totally a girl fantasy to me. And the fact that we’re wearing awesome outfits at the same time just makes it like ideal girl superhero. It’s so something I would imagine.”
Sucker Punch is streaming now on Amazon and available to rent on Apple TV.