*This article contains minor spoilers for Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts.
Blockbuster movies are a dime a dozen. Often going hand in hand with dazzling visual effects, huge set pieces, and world-dominating threats, audiences have been conditioned to expect certain filmmaking tropes when it comes to these movies. Yet, every once in a while, we get one that chooses to focus on quieter, more intimate battles – the ones that are fought within. This narrative choice is precisely what makes Thunderbolts effective on a narrative and emotional level: its willingness to tackle the spectacle of heroism against the backdrop of childhood trauma.
Reprising her role as Yelena Belova, Florence Pugh shines in virtually every scene that she’s in. To the surprise of nobody, Pugh effortlessly navigates through Yelena’s emotional arc, evoking empathy out of a screenplay that could’ve been less effective in the hands of a different actress. Treading a fine line between the usual Marvel-esque humour and genuine character work, we see a Yelena that’s cheeky, lethal, and sympathetic. Yet, it never feels like she’s ever out of character for a single moment.
Aside from Pugh, the titular team boasts an appealing ensemble cast that work together in a highly entertaining fashion. Thunderbolts is highly effective in capturing the uneasy tension within a team that bands together out of necessity, rather than any sense of affection for one another. Each carrying their own emotional baggage, the ever-shifting dynamic of team Thunderbolts works exceptionally well. Through the perspective of these characters, the 36th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) dives into issues such as domestic abuse, coercive control, emotional manipulation, and others.
Thunderbolts is at its best when the story deals with emotionally mature themes that are not often associated with genre films. A literal void is effectively utilised as one of the central antagonists of the film, depicting the overwhelming nature of depression and traumatic memories. By depicting inner struggles as a source of conflict, Thunderbolts provides an interesting exploration of mental health struggles such as depression, guilt, and anxiety. While recent MCU entries have basked in nostalgia, Thunderbolts delivers an emotional tangibility that makes it a cut above its recent predecessors.
Thunderbolts is by no means the perfect superhero movie. It falls into the some of the usual trappings of superhero filmmaking. Despite its more grounded premise, the MCU quips are constant. At times, the narrative requires conveniences to progress, and certain characters could’ve benefitted from more screen time. However, the things that it does right, it does them incredibly well. By narrowing its focus on the impact of psychological trauma, it reminds audiences that even the mightiest of heroes have vulnerabilities. Thunderbolts reinforces the idea that vulnerabilities don’t detract from people; they make them stronger.
As the discourse surrounding “superhero fatigue” advances over the years, it’s clear that the genre requires a bold shift in its approach. While Thunderbolts doesn’t innovate it, it certainly does a tremendous job in setting itself apart from its peers of today. Perhaps, Thunderbolt’s most radical and impressive storytelling choice is the decision to resolve the film’s conflicts not through a super-powered punch or a laser beam to the sky, but by emphasising the importance of facing one’s inner demons head-on, as well as the courage to connect emotionally with one another.
