New Mutants: The X-Men Film That Cast 'Misfire' But Was Actually A Hidden Gem
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
The 2020 X-Men film *New Mutants* was an underrated gem that bravely blended horror, YA romance, and superheroics, but its chaotic production and COVID-era release saw it unfairly dismissed. Jeff argues it deserved better, especially praising its unique take on mutant trauma and Anya Taylor-Joy's spot-on portrayal of Magik, a character dear to many *Midnight Suns* players.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're hyped for a game, it gets delayed a dozen times, then unceremoniously dumps onto a crowded market, and everyone just kinda... forgets it? Yeah, that’s pretty much the cosmic equivalent of what happened to 2020’s *New Mutants* film. And honestly, after digging into it, I reckon it’s a bit of a tragedy, because this flick was way better than its reputation suggests.
I’ve been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. See, the Fox X-Men series was a bit of a chaotic wizard’s spell gone wrong, wasn't it? One minute you’ve got the cinematic brilliance of *X-Men* and *X2*, the next you’re trapped in the Ninth Circle of Development Hell watching *X-Men: Dark Phoenix*. A proper rollercoaster, if your rollercoaster periodically derailed into a swamp of forgotten lore and questionable CGI. And by the late 2010s, with Disney hoovering up Fox and everyone just waiting for the mutants to hit the MCU, the whole thing felt like it was limping to the finish line, more out of obligation than genuine enthusiasm.
But then there was *New Mutants*. Oh, *New Mutants*. This poor cinematic orphan, originally slated for 2018, bounced around the release schedule like a rogue spell, getting pushed from early 2019, to late 2019, then spring 2020. And then, well, you know what happened in spring 2020, don't ya? The entire world decided to take a permanent coffee break. So, in August 2020, it got unceremoniously dumped into mostly empty cinemas, making less than $50 million worldwide and fading faster than a low-res texture in a next-gen game. A proper shame, that.
Now, here’s the kicker: this film actually tried something genuinely *different*. Instead of another world-ending threat or spandex-clad heroics, director Josh Boone (yeah, the *Fault in Our Stars* bloke, go figure) decided to frame it as a PG-13 superhero horror flick, blended with a dash of young adult romance. Imagine if *The Breakfast Club* got trapped in a haunted house, and everyone had superpowers they couldn’t control. That’s the vibe, and fair dinkum, it mostly works.
Our entry point is Dani Moonstar (Blu Hunt), who wakes up in this spooky, isolated hospital after a tragic event wiped out her reservation. This isn't your average 'learn to control your powers' X-Mansion knock-off; it's overseen by the decidedly shady Dr. Reyes (Alice Braga), and the vibe is less 'school for gifted youngsters' and more 'superpowered Arkham Asylum for teens.' Dani, along with Rahne Sinclair (Maisie Williams, who you’ll know as Arya Stark, naturally), Illyana Rasputin (Anya Taylor-Joy, stealing every scene, mate), Roberto da Costa, and Sam Guthrie, are all wrestling with their powers – and the trauma of how those powers manifested.
And here’s where *New Mutants* gets clever, drawing a line right back to the early days of the Fox franchise with Rogue. These powers aren't cool party tricks; they’re terrifying. Every single one of these kids has accidentally harmed someone they cared about. It’s a compelling, horrifying look at what it would *actually* mean to suddenly manifest mutant abilities – a proper 'what happens if this spell backfires spectacularly' scenario. The film plays with illusory sequences, tapping into their deepest fears, and it gets surprisingly spooky for a PG-13 flick.
Beyond the spooks, there’s that YA romance angle, which, to its credit, doesn’t pull any punches. Dani and Rahne forge a bond that develops into a queer romance, something pretty rare and genuinely welcome in a genre still lagging behind on leading LGBTQ+ representation. Sure, some of the dialogue during a group lie-detector session felt a bit… well, let’s just say it sounded like something written in the early 2000s, but the core dynamic was strong and heartfelt.
Now, about that finale. The minuscule budget definitely shows its face with some iffy CGI work, but honestly, it’s still a thrilling watch. Especially when Anya Taylor-Joy’s Illyana, aka Magik, steps up to fight a giant-ass bear. And speaking of Magik, this is where the gamer in me perks up like a dog hearing the treat bag open.
Taylor-Joy absolutely nails the look and the sardonic, almost terrifying aura of Magik, especially when her Soulsword and Eldritch armor pop up. As a bloke who’s sunk a fair few hours into *Marvel’s Midnight Suns* – which, let’s be real, made Magik one of my absolute favourite Marvel mutants – seeing this portrayal just *clicked*. The film captured her blend of vulnerability, fierce power, and slightly unhinged swagger beautifully. There’s so much more to her character to explore, and Anya Taylor-Joy just *is* Magik, in my humble opinion. It’s why, out of all the *New Mutants* cast, she’s the one I’d most love to see given a second crack at the whip in the MCU.
Admittedly, bringing any of these characters back feels like the longest of long shots. There’s no big nostalgia wave for them like there was for the original X-Men crew. I wouldn’t be shocked if the MCU just brought back the old guard to unceremoniously off them to make Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom seem like a Thanos-level threat in *Avengers: Doomsday* next year. So, this 2020 flick might be all we get of these specific iterations for a while.
It’s not a perfect film, by any stretch of the imagination. But it was a brave attempt at blending genres and exploring trauma in a way superhero films rarely do. It deserved a proper release, a chance to find its audience, and a lot more credit than it got. So, if you’re looking for a slightly different kind of superhero flick – one that leans into the horror and the human cost of powers, and features a bloody brilliant Magik – then fair warning: this news sounds boring at first glance, but stick with me because it’s about to get interesting when you give *New Mutants* a second chance. You can find it streaming on Disney Plus, if you’re keen for a gander.
Tags: superhero films, X-Men, Marvel, horror movies, gaming culture
Original article: Polygon