Mike Morrissey’s “Boy Wonder” isn’t your average hero flick. Much like Jeff Lindsay’s “Dexter,” the lines of good and evil are carefully blurred. If the success of that franchise has proven anything, it’s that there’s a beauty in getting the audience to support a character who isn’t pure. This is where this film succeeds the most.
Taking place in various locations all over Brooklyn, New York, the gritty scenery and dark tones of the street are a perfect visual aide to guide the story. A Marine Park native, Morrissey didn’t have to travel far to find the perfect locations for his film. Shot with precision, “Boy Wonder” doesn’t look or feel like an independent flick.
While the hiccups in dialogue at times prove that Morrissey’s writing is still a tad rough around the edges, through excellent cinematography from Christopher LaVasseur and an excellent finale, Morrissey proves that he is able to craft an interesting tale which centers around an interesting, yet conflicted hero.
Our protagonist, Sean Donovan, played by Caleb Steinmeyer, is a good-natured teenager on the surface, but underneath has the type of personality that many super heroes have. Focused, stubborn and strong, he is able to polish his mind and body into something the average person just isn’t capable of. But behind that drive is darkness, one that if not careful, can overtake him.
Watching the paranoia stem from these feelings is quite possibly the best part of this film.
Steinmeyer’s performance is confident, as he is able to straddle a dark edge, with a young innocence. Reminiscent of Patty McCormack’s performance in the cult classic “The Bad Seed,” Steinmeyer can be a perfect angel one second and a blood-thirsty animal the next. In one scene, Steinmeyer and supporting actress Zulay Henao enter a Chinese restaurant, where the workers have no problem talking trash in their native tongue behind customers’ backs. Unbeknownst to them, Steinmeyer’s character is fluent and threatens to kill them if they continue their game.
A beautifully crafted scene, Steinmeyer has your complete attention from there on in.
Morrissey knows that there’s something fun and playful about wondering what a twisted character is going to do and plays with that throughout the film. While you’ll still be shocked at some of his actions, his rationality, similar to characters such as The Punisher, are hard to disagree with. If you enjoy hurting people and he sees you, you’ll pay. It’s as simple as that.
As a balance to the main character’s reckless attitude, Henao’s character, Teresa Ames, a single mother and detective with a checkered past, befriends him and becomes a key part in the story. While Henao’s performance is a bit spotty at times and her character isn’t as developed as you’d like, the two work well together. Beautiful and tough, this role wasn’t her at her best, but proves she can stretch out of her comfort zone. Add in solid supporting spots from Bill Sage, Chuck Cooper and Daniel Stewart Sherman and you have an independent film that in addition to being shot beautifully, has a good cast.
For those reasons alone, “Boy Wonder” is a success. Again, some of the dialogue could have flowed better and a few scenes drag, but overall, this is an independent film that is able to more than play with the big boys.
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