Thunderbolts* (2025) Review

Title: Thunderbolts*
Year: 2025
Director: Jack Shreier
Country: US
Language: English

Thunderbolts* markets itself as the antidote to superhero fatigue - but it assembles itself very much like Earth's Mightiest Heroes meets Suicide Squad. Here we have a bunch of defective losers who team up to take on a threat bigger than themselves. It would be predictable cookie-cutter stuff if not for the fact the film is far more about their humanity & dealing with emotional turmoil; rather than set-pieces, visual spectacle and action. Rarely does Hollywood tackle such themes in such and honest and humanistic way. 

After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must go on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.

My biggest let-down from Avengers: Endgame was how they treated Thor's (Chris Hemsworth) mental health struggles as a joke. The character was clearly struggling with PTSD, and binge-eating to cope as a result - yet anytime he interacted with another character it was to be a joke at his own expense. Thunderbolts* has some humor -  but it grapples mental health issues in a very serious way. It's a pretty heavy film that deals with suicidal impulses; and overcoming overwhelming shame; but it still manages to be an immersive entertaining film that challenges your pre-conceptions regarding mental illness. 

Cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo, gives the picture an intimacy and naturalness that is absent from most of Marvel films. The score by avant-garde band Son Lu, gives the film a strong soulful presence that will stick with you throughout its run-time. The film's pacing and editing is appropriate for its tone. Though it deals with distressing themes; the film never feels like it slows to a crawl or lingers in one place for too long. 

Thunderbolts* is refreshing; a change of pace from Marvel's over-the-top absurd fares in the last few years. This makes me feel like Marvel can get past its rough post-Endgame lull and give us emotionally complex films that lead up to a big Avengers-like event.