Written and Directed by James Gunn

Rainn Wilson, Elliot Page, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon, Gregg Henry, Michael Rooker, Nathan Fillion, Andre Royo, Sean Gunn, Linda Cardellini.

Frank Darbo (Wilson) is an introverted short order diner cook, who has two great achievements in his life; the day he married one of the waitresses where he works, Sarah (Tyler) a revcovering drug addict, and when he helped a police officer arrest a criminal.

When Sarah leaves him for local drug dealer Jacques (Bacon), he spirals into depression. He gets a vision from God – and the star of a local Bible television show The Holy Avenger (Fillion), which leads him to become a crime fighter called the Crimson Bolt, who vows to stop crime.

He befriends a local comic store clerk, Libby (Page), who becomes fascinated by his new found desire to know about superheroes, and then once she discovers his secret wants to become his sidekick, in order to help get Sarah back.

Very dark black comedy, from Gunn – who would go on to bigger things in the ‘superhero’ genre – and starring his then wife’s The Office co star Wilson – who also narrates his story. There is some solid dramatic moments for the somewhat neurodivergent Frank, as he goes through his arc. Pre transition Page is adorable at times as Libby, who somewhat falls in love with Frank, and wants to be the Robin to his Batman.

The secondary cast, Tyler and Bacon are also very great in their roles. Tyler as the ‘off the wagon’ wife of Darbo, sells her loss of recovery well. Special mention should go to Bacon, who reportedly joined production a week before filming began due to another star going AWOL from pre production. He seems like he is having a lot of fun, as a real world drug dealer, dealing with a ‘superhero’ going after him.

The screenplay is very good, as it does not have a large budget to work with, so the dialogue between characters is what strengthens the film. The setting, which is mostly in and around neighbourhoods, sets the tone a little stronger of the ‘everyman’ that Frank is. At 95m it is quite easy to sit through without losing interest.

This is also incredibly violent, as Frank’s obsession with stopping crime gets out of hand, he even almost (unalives) someone who cuts in line at the movies. The final shootout is both brutal and shocking in the arc of the film too. This is not for kids, despite the fact it mimics the 1960’s Batman ‘sound effects’ like blam, pow etc when characters get hit… or shot, and a cartoon opening credits with the soon to be seen characters having a dance off.

The soundtrack is brilliantly quirky at times, and able to shift focus to dynamic – especially in the final arc. There is also a cool and alternative soundtrack that pairs well with some of the moments within the film that non diegetic sound is needed.

4/5

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