Tom Holland, who stars as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, hasn’t spilled any major details about the movie – a task he has famously struggled with in previous Marvel films.
Just as the actor has grown, so has his character, who is no longer a nerdy teenager suiting up with the support of his best friends. After the mayhem and tragedy of No Way Home have left him very much alone, adult Peter sticks to what he knows best: cleaning up crime on New York’s streets.
But when a powerful new threat comes seeking answers and revenge, no one knows who is behind it and what exactly Spider-Man is up against. All that Peter knows is that he’s alone, this threat knows his weaknesses, and for some reason, he’s mutating.
Is this threat a villain? It’s hard to say – but both the audience and Peter are taught to understand every side of a story.
The film blends humour and heartbreak into a cinematically mature pivot from previous instalments – perhaps because Peter is no longer a kid. He must confront the reality of losing his loved ones, face gut-wrenching changes and deal with his rapidly mutating arachnid powers. But without his friends and Aunt May, he’s struggling.
What the superhero learns is that he needs to embrace change, adapt and power through.
There’s rarely a still moment in the film as the camera follows every jump that Spider-Man takes, keeping the audience’s attention constantly moving.
However, director Destin Daniel Cretton’s pacing can feel rushed, leaving viewers with little time to process each moment as it flies across the screen.
Taking over the Spider-Man helm from Jon Watts, Cretton, who also directed Shang-Chi, has been tasked with leading Peter into the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This can feel forced in scenes that seem to function solely as a bridge for future Marvel instalments.
These moments overshadow Peter’s development – as well as the characters that have driven the success of these Spider-Man films. Fans who came to watch Peter reunite with his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalo) may be disappointed by the main plot point.
Still, audiences get some much-needed laughter in the banter between Peter and his uneasy ally, the stoic Punisher (Jon Bernthal), and the appearance of a treasured loved one is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching.
While MJ and Ned may not have much screen time, they have their fair share of melancholy. For Peter, his journey is endlessly bittersweet – just when you think something hopeful is happening, you are startled by a twist that robs the moment.
One of the most shocking scenes is in the final act, which sparks hope for audiences who cherished Peter’s high-school days and friendships. But is that hope misplaced? We’ll have to wait and see in the superhero’s next Marvel appearance.
With all its sombre themes and adrenaline-packed action, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a must-watch for both fans and new viewers.
