Name: Morbius
Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Released: 2022-03-30T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Tyrese Gibson

The opening shot of Morbius is a close-up of Jared Leto‘s eyes, dilated and bloodshot, as if he’s staring into the abyss—and it’s staring right back. This image sets the tone for Daniel Espinosa’s 2022 superhero film: a morally conflicted antihero struggling with his own darkness. Based on the Marvel Comics character, Morbius follows Dr. Michael Morbius (Leto), a brilliant biochemist afflicted with a rare blood disorder who attempts to cure himself through experimental means, only to transform into a pseudo-vampire with a thirst for human blood.

What works best in Morbius is its commitment to the grotesque and the gothic. The film’s visuals—particularly its use of color—are striking. The teal-and-turquoise palette gives the film an eerie, almost clinical feel, while the dimly lit interiors heighten the sense of dread. The action sequences are well-staged, with Espinosa delivering some genuinely thrilling set pieces, particularly a chase through the streets of New York that leans into the film’s horror roots.

Leto, as Morbius, delivers a performance that oscillates between compelling and over-the-top. His physicality—hunched shoulders, elongated limbs, and an almost feral intensity—anchors the character in a way that grounds the absurdity of the premise. Matt Smith, playing Milo, Morbius’ former lab partner turned vampire accomplice, is equally effective, bringing a manic energy to his role. The chemistry between Leto and Smith is one of the film’s strongest assets, with their dynamic adding depth to what could have been a one-note villain.

However, Morbius stumbles in its narrative execution. The film struggles to balance its tonal shifts, oscillating between horror, action, and dark comedy without fully committing to any single genre. The conflict between Morbius and Milo is muddled, and the film’s third-act twist—revealing that Milo has been manipulating events from the shadows—feels tacked on rather than organically developed.

The script also suffers from some glaring inconsistencies. For instance, the comic books portray Morbius as a character who lived his whole life in fear of the sun, yet the film sidesteps this key aspect of his backstory, opting instead for a more generic origin story. This lack of coherence weakens the emotional stakes and makes it difficult to fully invest in Morbius’ struggle.

Ultimately, Morbius is a film that tries too hard to be everything at once—a horror movie, an action flick, a character study—and ends up being none of these things particularly well. It’s not without its moments; the visuals are impressive, and Leto’s performance is a highlight.