Review: A cool concept lost in execution in 'Brightburn'

"Brightburn " is a one idea movie. What if a baby from another planet crash lands on earth and is adopted and raised by a nice childless couple living on a farm? This kid doesn't get hurt, never bleeds and, right around puberty starts to discover that he has superhuman strength too. At this point you're probably thinking that you've heard this one before, right? Sure, everyone knows about Superman. But "Brightburn" twists that hero origin story and wonders what would happen if this alien child was not a good person. This is a kind of bad seed with superhero powers and it doesn't bode well for all those around him.

It's an interesting premise, certainly, but the movie around it is wholly unexceptional and rushes through key set up that might make the audience actually care for the characters in order to get to the sadistic gore.

The film introduces Tori (Elizabeth Banks) and Kyle Breyer (David Denman) in their bedroom, surrounded by fertility books and talking about conceiving when a fiery object crash-lands in their field. The filmmakers must assume everyone coming in knows the basic premise because it does nothing to help explain, cutting immediately to grainy home videos showing a little boy growing up surrounded by love. By this point you feel about as attached to the Breyer family as you might the family in a cereal commercial.

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Elizabeth Banks in a scene from Screen Gems' "Brightburn." (Boris MartinSony Pictures via AP)

When the montage ends, Brandon Breyer (Jackson A. Dunn) is about to turn 12. He's a smart kid, far beyond those in his class, and he knows it. Although an outsider with his peers, the positive reinforcement he receives from his teacher, his mom and a pretty girl in his class go to his head and he starts believing he's superior to everyone. So you can only imagine what happens when a strength component and some demonic voices are added to the mix — a supervillain is born, and he is not messing around.

This kid goes from a little quirky to supremely evil and merciless in no time at all. But this is a frustrating evolution to watch, especially considering all the denial that's happening around him. When the adults are witness to some of the disturbing behavior, they chalk it up to puberty. And Tori gets the most thankless job of all as the mother whose unconditional love and support for her son quickly becomes a full on character flaw, since the film has never really earned the audience's empathy.

"Brightburn" was conceived by Brian Gunn and Mark Gunn, the brother and cousin of "Guardians of the Galaxy" maestro James Gunn who hopped aboard to produce with David Yarovesky, another Gunn friend, at the helm. Much is being made of James Gunn's association, naturally, because of the goodwill he's rightfully earned from the endlessly charming "Guardians" franchise. But none of that charm exists here. This is a return to the gritty, sci-fi horror he came of age with.

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Elizabeth Banks in a scene from Screen Gems' "Brightburn." (Boris MartinSony Pictures via AP)

But there's not much to grab on to, as the situation in Brightburn, which is the name of the town, devolves from bad to worse to entirely hopeless. And the excessive gore and carnage is deranged. The faint at heart might want to go in with an empty stomach, or a blindfold and some ear plugs for when things get really gnarly.

Perhaps I'm expecting too much from a high-concept summer horror, but I couldn't help but think of how well a film like "Hereditary" (which was also very bleak) did in making you care about the family at the center of it. It's too bad, too, because "Brightburn" was a good idea. Unfortunately the creativity stopped there.

"Brightburn," a Sony Pictures release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for "horror violence/bloody images, and language." Running time: 90 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Elizabeth Banks in a scene from Screen Gems' "Brightburn." (Boris MartinSony Pictures via AP)

MPAA Definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Elizabeth Banks, left, and Jackson A. Dunn in a scene from Screen Gems' "Brightburn." (Boris MartinSony Pictures via AP)

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Jackson A. Dunn in a scene from Screen Gems' "Brightburn." (Boris MartinSony Pictures via AP)

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Jackson A. Dunn in a scene from Screen Gems' "Brightburn." (Boris MartinSony Pictures via AP)

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Jackson A. Dunn in a scene from Screen Gems' "Brightburn." (Boris MartinSony Pictures via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Bowen Yang bid an emotional farewell to “Saturday Night Live” with music, laughter and help from his “Wicked” buddy Ariana Grande.

Yang starred in the night's final sketch, playing a retiring airport lounge worker working his final shift on Christmas Eve, serving eggnog to travelers. He sang “Please Come Home for Christmas” and was joined by Grande, the night's host, and Cher, its musical guest. The women joined Yang in song and hugged him.

The sketch gave Yang a chance to say goodbye to some castmates — he delightfully sprayed Kenan Thompson with eggnog — and its premise gave a chance for Yang to deliver lines about moving on. “I just wanted to enjoy it for a little longer,” an emotional Yang said. By the end of the performance, he was in tears.

The show closed with a brief photo tribute to slain director Rob Reiner and the cast curtain call.

“We love you so much,” Grande told Yang, who was a constant presence throughout Saturday's show and drew huge applause with each appearance.

Yang joined the show as a writer in 2018, became a featured player the following season and was promoted to the main cast two seasons after that. Yang was a fan favorite with five Emmy nominations over the years.

In an Instagram post Saturday, Yang wrote: “i loved working at SNL, and most of all i loved the people. i was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 rock taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile.”

Yang, coming off a huge year or two of projects, departed “SNL” mid-season.

Grande helped kick off Saturday’s show with a parody of “All I Want for Christmas is You” about buying gifts for people you barely know during her opening monologue. Yang slid onto the stage to huge cheers and helped her complete the song.

The friends appeared together often during the show, including a dance class sketch and a pre-recorded “Home Alone” sketch in which the McCallister family meet violent ends from Kevin’s leftover traps.

Word of Yang's departure came after a major exodus of cast members last summer ahead Season 51's start. They included Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim and John Higgins.

The news wasn't entirely a surprise. Yang had publicly discussed the idea, telling People in September he had mulled it over with the NBC sketch comedy show's creator Lorne Michaels. He got a vote of confidence from Michaels and decided to stay at that time.

“Lorne was like, ‘You have more to do,’ and that means a lot, because I even confessed to him. I was like, ‘I feel the audience is maybe getting sick of me.’ And he was like, ‘That’s not true. There’s more for you to do. I need you,’” Yang said.

Of Michaels, Yang added: “That man has changed my life, and I owe a lot of my life to that show. And I love working there. The people are the best. I really love each of them so much.”

In addition to “SNL,” Yang co-hosts the pop culture podcast “Las Culturistas” with his friend and fellow comedian Matt Rogers. He was in “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good” as Pfannee and co-starred in the remade “The Wedding Banquet” this year.

In 2023, he appeared in “Dicks: The Musical” and “Fire Island” the year before that. He also co-starred in “Awkwafina is Nora from Queens” from 2020 to 2023.

Yang and Rogers hosted the spoof Las Culturista Culture Awards on Bravo last summer. Yang posted on Instagram that the two will be back for more pop culture comedy on the awards next year.

Mid-season departures from “SNL” are not unprecedented. Cecily Strong did it in December 2022.

Among the bits that earned Yang breakout status was his turn as the Titanic iceberg on the recurring “Weekend Update” segment, his favorite place on the show, according to an October interview with Esquire. He also played George Santos, a straight man who hooks up with Gina Gershon and Sydney Sweeney, and a gay Oompa Loompa. And he spoofed Vice President JD Vance.

Yang made a final “Weekend Update” appearance alongside former “SNL” cast member Aidy Bryant, playing characters who offered viewers tips on what trends are in and which are out for the holidays and 2026.

Yang, the son of Chinese immigrants, was Esquire's recent cover star. In an Oct. 28 interview accompanying his cover shoot, he told the magazine: “There’s an idea that all of what I do is queer and Asian, which I don’t think is true. I get sick of people reducing the work I do on the show to those identifiers.”

Work, he said, “is not the most meaningful thing for me anymore. The things I like are spending time with friends, working every now and then, not being caged by it.”

Yang noted some advice he once received from Kristen Wiig when she hosted “SNL.”

“She was like, ‘Have fun. It’s the most fun job in the world, and you’ll miss it when it’s done. You won’t realize how much you miss it until you leave.’”

FILE - Bowen Yang attends The Museum Gala at the American Museum of Natural History on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)