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) — Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni over the movie “It Ends With Us” were dismissed Thursday by a federal judge who left intact three claims, including retaliation, that will let a jury hear many of the allegations anyway.

The written ruling by Judge Lewis J. Liman in Manhattan came after Lively, who starred in and produced the film, sued her co-star and director in December 2024. A trial is scheduled for May 18.

Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios had countersued Lively and her husband, “Deadpool” actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion. The judge dismissed Baldoni’s claims last June.

In his ruling, Liman determined that Lively was an independent contractor rather than an employee. On that basis, he said she was not entitled to bring sexual harassment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That law prohibits employment discrimination on various grounds, including gender.

As to retaliation, the judge said some evidence might enable a jury to conclude that Baldoni's production company planned not only to damage Lively's reputation but to destroy her career amid fear she'd file a discrimination claim. Lively alleges a smear campaign has been “devastating for her reputation and career,” the judge noted.

In an analysis of the sexual harassment claims, the judge said Lively's claims had to be viewed in the context of the movie they were working on.

“Lively claims that during filming, Baldoni leaned in and gestured as if he was intending to kiss her, and that he kissed her forehead, rubbed his face and mouth against her neck, put his thumb to her mouth and flicked her lower lip, caressed her, and leaned into her neck, saying ‘it smells good,’” the judge wrote.

He said there was no question that the conduct would support a hostile work environment claim if it happened on a factory floor or in an executive suite.

However, the judge noted, Baldoni was “acting in the scene” and his "conduct was not so far beyond what might reasonably be expected to take place between two characters during a slow dancing scene such that an inference of hostile treatment on the basis of sex would arise. At least in isolation, the conduct was directed to Lively’s character rather than to Lively herself.”

Liman added: “Creative artists, no less than comedy room writers, must have some amount of space to experiment within the bounds of an agreed script without fear of being held liable for sexual harassment.”

Despite those findings, the judge said some sexual harassment claims may be put to a jury to support two retaliation claims that survived the ruling, including one against It Ends With Us Movie LLC and Wayfarer Studios, and a third claim that was left intact alleging breach of a contract rider agreement against It Ends With Us Movie LLC.

The judge noted that Baldoni once said “pretty hot” after asking Lively to remove her jacket, exposing a lace bra underneath, and that when he was warned that it was inappropriate and distracting to make such comment, he allegedly rolled his eyes and responded: “Sorry, I missed the sexual harassment training.”

Liman also cited a scene in which Baldoni pushed for Lively to perform a birth scene naked and then the scene was filmed over several hours without the set being closed to nonessential personnel.

In a statement, Lively attorney Sigrid McCawley wrote that Lively “looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it become easier to detect and fight.”

She added: “This case has always been and will remain focused on the devasting retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation because she stood up for safety on the set and that is the case that is going to trial.”

A lawyer for Baldoni and his production company did not immediately comment.

“It Ends With Us,” an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel that begins as a romance but takes a dark turn into domestic violence, was released in August 2024, exceeding box office expectations with a $50 million debut. But the movie’s release was shrouded by speculation over discord between Lively and Baldoni.

Lively appeared in the 2005 film “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and the TV series “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012 before starring in films including “The Town” and “The Shallows.”

Baldoni starred in the TV comedy “Jane the Virgin,” directed the 2019 film “Five Feet Apart” and wrote “Man Enough,” a book challenging traditional notions of masculinity.

This combination of images shows Blake Lively at the London screening of the film "It 'Ends With Us" on Aug. 8, 2024, left, and Justin Baldoni at the world premiere of the film in New York on Aug. 6, 2024. (AP Photo)