The second "Suicide Squad" is the main blockbuster of the summer season, which could change the situation with age ratings in superhero films.

A squad of ridiculous bandits (King Shark, Harley Quinn, TDK, Bloodsport, Polka-Dot Man, Ratcatcher 2, Peacemaker, and many others) is sent on a secret mission to steal dangerous weapons from a dictator of a third-world country. Complete the task—they get out of prison, if, of course, they survive the clash with hordes of enemies. Fail—they die, because bombs are implanted in each of their necks, detonating if they refuse orders. The squad is controlled by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), a woman who feels no pity for her "employees."

James Gunn's Freedom

— a unique director whose creative style is evident from his earliest works: his films feature a great soundtrack, excellent visuals, and signature situational humor. He is not afraid to experiment with genres in his projects: he has directed horror films ("Slither"), parodies ("Super"), and comedies ("Movie 43"). Most viewers know Gunn from his work in the MCU, particularly the film "Guardians of the Galaxy," one of the major blockbusters of the past decade that changed the approach to this genre. Gunn "colored" the cosmic expanses of Marvel, moving away from the studio's earlier, darker works. Later, his ideas are continued in the third "Thor" and the final "Avengers."

Evgenia Smykova

James Gunn: Before, During, and After Marvel

On August 5, the film "The Suicide Squad" is released. James Gunn is in the director's chair. Read about Gunn's creative journey in our article.

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But in 2018, Gunn was fired from the studio over old tweets, leaving him unemployed. This was noticed by Marvel's main rival, DC Studios, which was struggling at the time due to a lack of identity and chasing competitors. Gunn was given complete creative freedom within DC, as well as an R-rating, something Disney bosses could not allow.

While working on the new project, the director took a gamble: he found strange characters from the pages of comics, picked good actors, and made a film with minimal special effects. That is why his "The Suicide Squad" claims success from the very first frames.

The Real "Suicide Squad"

The new "Suicide Squad" is also an attempt to correct the previous failed installment, which is why the film has so many contrasts with the first movie. The main problem with the original was that the stakes on the characters' lives were low: it was easy to guess who would die, and with that, the main intrigue of the film faded. With Gunn, it's the opposite: characters start dying from the very beginning, and the opening scene is the best thing shot this year in the genre. It's also surprising that the director simply doesn't care about the characters' pasts, meaning even those you most want to see on screen can die. Formally, the new "Suicide Squad" can only surprise once, because on subsequent viewings, viewers will know the film's twist. And Gunn did everything to make the first viewing leave only good impressions.

Characters, Humor, Visuals, and Minor Flaws

He did a tremendous job on the film's characters, turning all the scum into a real family, as was the case in "Guardians of the Galaxy." Almost every character in the squad will be memorable to the viewer, even if they spend different amounts of time on screen, so the stakes in "VKontakte" are not useless at all. Standing out from the crowd is Peacemaker, the character of John Cena, whom the actor approached with full dedication, earning a solo project in the form of a series. Work was also done on old characters, including Harley Quinn. It is in James Gunn's hands that Margot Robbie's character finally became a psychopath, not a sex bomb.

It is also impressive that behind the black humor, Gunn hides a real drama consisting of an unusual conflict between fathers and children, conversations about the meaning of life, and the juxtaposition of team members' goals.

The visual style of the film deserves special mention. Not only does Gunn mask the film's titles as objects in the frame, but he also shoots action scenes brilliantly. You definitely won't get bored, because something happens almost every five minutes: shootouts, chases, and battles with a giant monster.

It is also surprising that despite all the absurdity of what is happening, the film does not descend into absurdity, although it comes very close: characters fight a giant cosmic star, make obscene jokes, and always do something off-plan.

There are some downsides. Despite its strong start, "The Suicide Squad" sags a bit in the middle, which may cause interest in everything happening to wane. Everything is saved for the end of the film, including two post-credits scenes, so you need to wait a bit.

Is It Worth Watching "The Suicide Squad"?

James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad" is a director's dream that claims to be the best blockbuster of the season. It is one of those films that require viewing on the big screen, and the endless stream of black humor, brutality, and unexpected twists will appeal to everyone.

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