When it was announced that indie horror directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead were set to direct several episodes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Moon Knight series on Disney Plus, a lot of people had no idea who they were. For those who did there was probably a reaction of surprise, and definitely excitement. The trajectory of the MCU and the trajectory of Benson & Moorhead couldn’t be more different, and for that reason, there should be a lot of excitement for what they could bring to the franchise.
Benson & Moorhead first came on the scene with their 2012 film Resolution. It’s a quiet, genre-bending horror film made on a microbudget and the majority of the film was shot in under three weeks. Since then, they’ve released three other films, one in the same universe as Resolution, and the directors have definitely made their mark with a very distinct style. All of their films would fit into the horror genre, but are very quiet and heavy on the drama and science fiction. They all take a very raw and relatable situation, and give them a somewhat Lovecraftian twist, creating really uniquely fantastical yet grounded works. Spring, their second feature film, has a similar setup to Before Sunrise. A boy meets a girl while on vacation and they fall in love. It’s nearly a romantic drama, until we learn that the girl has a very dark secret and certainly isn’t what she seems.
All four of their films are like this. They’re very “indie” and all feature a huge idea, done with very little money. Their latest film, Synchronic, still fits into this pattern even though it’s certainly their highest budget film, with more elaborate sets and effects. It’s also their only film with real star power, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s own Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan of Fifty Shades of Grey fame in the lead roles. Even though this is the closest they’ve come to a big Hollywood kind of moment so far, it’s still an indie film and you can spot their signature style from a mile away.
This is all notable because the MCU is anything but indie, quiet, low budget, or raw. It’s a Marvel Comics franchise, backed by Disney, and one of their films (Avengers: Endgame) currently holds the record for the highest-grossing box office run of all time. Some of the biggest names in the business of movies have worked on these films, of which there are currently 23 with at least 11 planned for the future. Directors like Benson & Moorhead don’t necessarily mesh with something like the MCU, and that’s why this choice is particularly interesting. Though it may seem like this unlikely pair could be doomed for failure, there is enough hope to actually get people excited.
What the MCU and Benson & Moorhead have in common is big ideas. In the past, both parties have made works with big ideas and a lot of creativity. They’ve just executed them differently. While the MCU has had literally hundreds of millions of dollars at their disposal to achieve their visions, Benson & Moorhead had to achieve theirs with next to nothing. This has made works of the MCU very flashy and pristine, and the Benson & Moorhead features a lot more rough and raw. If Marvel is looking to add a bit more of a raw tone to their Moon Knight series without sacrificing the big ideas, this really was a smart move. It’s a bit of a risk, but it could prove to be a worthy one and they might be able to make something that really stands out in their franchise.
If their first endeavor into the Disney Plus MCU television series world, WandaVision, is any indicator as to the direction Marvel is taking their stories, then audiences are likely to see the MCU changing things up a bit. WandaVision so far has been entirely different to everything they’ve done before in both style and tone and, though it’s just a glimpse into the plethora of shows they’re debuting this year it’s exciting to see that the franchise might be moving towards a more experimental direction. Bringing in directors that come from a completely different world and perspective is a very wise decision.
Little is known about the new Moon Knight series, except it has some very high profile stars. Star Wars star Oscar Isaac is confirmed to play the titular role, with Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke confirmed as the villain of the series. In terms of Marvel as a whole, the character is an overlooked one. He’s often compared to Batman, and in rankings of the best Marvel heroes, he’s usually near the bottom. That doesn’t mean there aren’t a ton of hardcore Moon Knight fans. He’s still a Marvel superhero, but his level of fame isn’t quite the heights of fan favorites like Iron Man and Captain America. Because of this, though there is some added pressure with introducing a brand new character and making a good impression, Moon Knight is a less risky choice than some others to get experimental with because if it’s not well received it won’t disappoint the masses.
Benson & Moorhead have a bit of a cult following within the horror and indie scenes, but outside of that, they’re pretty much unknowns. Directing several episodes of arguably the world’s biggest franchise could be life-changing for them and alter the trajectory of their careers forever, in both positive and negative ways depending on how it’s received. Similarly, this could be a shining star or a stain in the MCU. It’s a risk on both parts, and a lot of pressure, so it’s going to be interesting to see how this series turns out. One thing that Benson & Moorhead fans are hoping, is that the pair brings their unique ideas and gritty and grounded style to an otherwise pristine and very polished series. If they can manage that, Moon Knight will be something very special within the MCU and that is very exciting.
![\"IT電腦補習](\"http://itteacheritfreelance.hk/test/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo2-2.png\"){kind=logo}
www.itsec.hk
www.itsec.vip
www.itseceu.uk
Leave a Reply