Zack Snyder‘s Netflix Film ‘Rebel Moon Part One: A Child of Fire’ Receives Harsh Reviews
The highly anticipated Netflix feature Rebel Moon Part One: A Child of Fire, directed by Zack Snyder, is set to stream on Dec. 21. However, early reviews suggest that viewers may want to temper their excitement for the film.
Rebel Moon tells the story of a mysterious outsider who brings hope to the inhabitants of a distant moon facing the looming threat of war. With a star-studded cast including Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Djimon Hounsou, and the voice of Anthony Hopkins, the film is the first installment in a two-part saga. The follow-up, titled The Scargiver, is scheduled to be released in April 2023.
The film originally started as a pitch for a Star Wars project over a decade ago before being redeveloped as its own entity. Critics have noted the perceived similarities to the George Lucas-created franchise. Despite the negative reviews, streaming projects often succeed without the need for critical acclaim, highlighting the potential disconnect between reviews and general audience interest.
Chief film critic David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter described Rebel Moon as “a derivative crazy-quilt endeavor loaded with enough plot to plug up a black hole but only the most feebly drawn characters to do the work.” The film currently holds a 26 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
IndieWire gave the movie a D- grade, calling it Snyder’s worst film. The Guardian and The Independent both gave it one out of five stars, with The Independent describing the movie as “a mess of imagery, some of it attempting to shock, congregated largely around the idea of what might look good in a trailer.” The Los Angeles Times criticized the film for being too invested in table-setting and feeling more like a studio presentation deck than a piece of organic storytelling.
However, in a relatively positive review, Total Film noted, “Fans of Snyder’s heightened brand of stern, muscular filmmaking won’t be left wanting.” While acknowledging that the performances rarely extend beyond two-dimensional archetypes, the review found that there’s still fun to be had in Charlie Hunnam’s insouciant turn as a wily pilot.
Despite the negative reviews, some critics acknowledge that the second film in the saga could help the project as a whole feel more satisfying. Snyder himself has mentioned previously that he is planning for a longer director’s cut of A Child of Fire. The filmmaker has a history of working on existing intellectual properties and has previously released extended versions of his films, such as the four-hour director’s cut of Justice League.
With differing opinions from critics, it remains to be seen whether Rebel Moon will resonate with audiences when it is released on Netflix.