Film Review: MORBIUS (2022): Jared Leto Sinks His Teeth Into a Juicy Leading Role In an Adequately Made Film

Morbius Review

Morbius (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by Daniel Espinosa and written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless and starring Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Al Madrigal, Michael Keaton, Zaris-Angel Hator, Joe Ferrara, Charlie Shotwell, Joseph Esson, Jason Rennie, Oliver Bodur, Tom Forbes, Clara Rosager and Corey Johnson.

Oscar winner Jared Leto is the type of actor who can really do no wrong no matter what project he chooses. In Morbus, Leto has proven that he can pretty much carry an entire picture on his own. In the title role of scientist Dr. Michael Morbius, Leto comes across as a protagonist who isn’t your typical, every day movie hero. Yet, we keep watching him and find ourselves, as audience members, oddly involved in his character’s predicament. Morbius shares a blood disease with his best friend Milo (Matt Smith), and Morbius is determined to find some sort of cure for this illness. What Morbius ends up finding makes for a wildly intriguing ride that maintains audience interest even if it’s far from perfect cinematic art.

When Morbius experiments and combines his DNA with bat DNA (which is against the law), he is mysteriously cured. Or is he? Not quite. He becomes a bloodthirsty vampire and the plot unfolds as a superhero soap opera of sorts as the doctor has to come to terms with what he has turned himself into and the fact that Morbius pretty much needs to live on blood. Some sailors become his victims as the story slowly unfolds leading to the predictable revelation that Milo wants to be cured and have what Morbius has too–but at what cost and what kind of toll will this take on the bond between these two men?

Director Daniel Espinosa wisely doesn’t overly sympathize the film’s lead character, Morbius, yet makes the audience aware of what is going on in terms of the character’s perception of the events that occur in the movie.  This film keeps us watching as we are left trying to figure out the way this character of Morbius will choose his next actions. Thrown into the middle of the film is the character of Dr. Martine Bancroft (a well-cast Adria Arjona) who serves as the token female lead and there is some nice on screen chemistry between Arjona and Leto that is rather entertaining in a film which never really makes up its mind as to what it truly wants to be–a morality tale, a horror movie or a superhero picture.

Particularly enjoyable are the characters of two detectives who are on Morbius’s trail. They are Agent Rodriguez (Al Madrigal) and Agent Stroud (a terrific Tyrese Gibson). These characters will ultimately serve as reminders that what Morbius has done is both immoral and illegal but Morbius’s quest to live has thrust him into this hell world of initially fighting for survival only to have to rely on blood in order to stay alive.

There are a number of good performances here besides Leto who is admittedly in top form here. Smith is effective as the friend who wants to have the power that he sees Morbius possesses. The real surprise is the performance by Arjona who adds a considerable amount of depth to what could have been a thankless role in a lesser picture. Gibson gives his character Stroud a fair share of personality and, playing the one responsible for all of this through his kindness, Jared Harris is quite noteworthy as Dr. Nicholas. Harris’ character has given Morbius the opportunity to pursue his intellectual ambitions but now these ambitions have undermined his decency all in the name of the quest to live a longer life. Let’s not forget Charlie Shotwell, the kid actor, who plays Morbius as a kid in a quite solid, although brief, turn.

Morbius also explores the dysfunctional relationship between Morbius and Milo. They possess a brotherly relationship but Morbius is forced to confront the fact that two wrongs don’t make a right in terms of him willingly giving the eventually wicked Milo the powers that our protagonist has come to acquire. This film also plays it a bit batty with some intriguing visuals replete with plenty of vampire bats and a compelling music score by Jon Ekstrand adds some definite oomph to the urban action.

A major problem is that some of the action seems oddly edited. Half of the film works perfectly, and half doesn’t but not consecutively. We’ll get an interesting scene and then some time filler then some action but some of it seems muddy and choppy. I did enjoy the film but it works mostly in spurts. It’s inconsistently entertaining but has a center that does, without a doubt, maintain the viewer’s interest. As for the film’s flaws, never mind. This is a movie that will most likely leave you thirsting for more and stay tuned for an ending credits sequence that will definitely surprise viewers.

Morbius is about the dangers of trying to outwit the natural progression of the circumstances one is born into. Jared Leto is a reliable actor and doesn’t disappoint with a compelling performance in an ultimately decent, but flawed, movie.

Rating: 6.5/10

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