The road following 2016’s Suicide Squad is a heartbreaking trip to take. When DC saw Marvel’s success with Guardians of the Galaxy only two years prior, they quickly rushed to get their own ragtag team of misfits together to compete. On paper, the film sounded ideal. Critically renowned actors like Will Smith and Margot Robbie headlined the film. Academy Award winner Jared Leto took over the iconic role of the Joker for the first time since Heath Ledger passed while portraying the Clown Prince of Crime. And that was just a small glimpse of the acting talent involved. It had David Ayer at the helm, the same man who gave us that now iconic Denzel Washington moment from Training Day. 

Not to mention that it was going to be the game changer for the current shared cinematic universe for DC Comics by introducing magic into the world. Our first look at the trailer was dark and brooding. People were immediately captivated by Leto’s take on the Joker. A few months later, we got another trailer. This one was even more insane than the last one and was set to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”. In their pursuit of making their own answer to Star Lord and friends, they ended up borrowing from Guardians - only somehow, in the midst of attempting to copy the homework, there was a major miscommunication. The final product of Suicide Squad was messy, to say the least, and that’s trying to stay civil.

In the wake of the movement of Snyder Cut, it seems like Warner Brothers is finally starting to see the error of their ways. Rather than attempting to force the hands of the editors and directors, they are allowing proven filmmakers to have their own vision. Look no further than Zack Snyder’s Justice League. The HBO Max released cut of the film was incredibly well received this year and brought redemption to the previously released 2017 version. There has been a mountain of corporate changes made to the film division, like buyouts and more that have taken place since the release of the first Squad. Much like Snyder Cut, there is more redemption to be had for everyone’s favorite bad guys and gals we all love to hate with The Suicide Squad.

To clarify: this new take isn’t quite a reboot, but it’s not quite a sequel. It’s actually a bit of both. Returning cast members include Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), Harley Quinn (Robbie), Rick Flag (Joel Kinnamon), and Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney). In this fresh take on Task Force X, ironically coming from Guardians writer-director James Gunn, the team is tasked with destroying a building in Corto Maltese. The building is home to some brutal experiments that could jeopardize the lives of the entire world. Unlike its 2016 predecessor, Gunn dug deep for the characters for his turn at the wheel. Even as a DC fan, I have never heard of half of the characters. Gunn’s approach to the source material is a breath of fresh air. To call this movie bold would be a massive understatement. It’s an incredibly entertaining, oddly endearing, blood soaked film that challenges what we know the comic book medium to be capable of in movie format.

Franchise newcomers Idris Elba and Star Daniela Melchior are among the film’s standout performances. Both performances walk the line between heart and humor with excellence. Melchior is the emotional core of the film. She’s quirky but vulnerable, resulting in a fleshed out performance that rivals some of her veteran co-stars like Elba. Elba, too, has a vulnerable side, though his performance stands out for his sheer entertainment value. Squad reminds us why we value Elba as a leading man. He is the anchor to the film. With that said, Squad has many surprises to offer its viewer. The very idea of the Suicide Squad is that if you get out of line - you die. The first film handled that fact with kiddie gloves, whereas this Squad earns its R-rating with brutality and surprises. 

This is the reason why this take on these characters is so bold and gripping. Gunn leans into that part of the mythology with stellar results. Squad is a two hour blood bath that is just pure fun. To clarify: it’s nowhere near the level of early Peter Jackson gore, but when Gunn embraces violence, he goes all in. The third act of the film echoes previous work from Gunn. Some of the imagery audiences are treated to feels like a throwback to Slither. The visual effects on this movie are top notch. The character designs of Rat Catcher’s army, King Shark, and Starro are spectacular. They honestly look stunning. Shark in a lot of ways is nothing more than the comic relief of the film. While there are others, Shark is definitely the standout in this department. Brought to life by none other than Sylvester Stallone, and brilliantly too, I might add. John Cena is another name worth mentioning. When it comes to his value to the film, Cena gives an extremely convicted performance. This may be the best performance the wrestler turned actor has ever given us.

Overall, The Suicide Squad finds redemption in spades. James Gunn delivers a bold vision for some of DC’s least known characters and beautifully fleshes them out. The visuals are stunning and Gunn more than delivers on the bizarre for this latest entry into the DCEU. Idris Elba, Star Daniela Melchior, and John Cena are among the standout performances. This bloody good time echoes Gunn’s signature heart and the humor we’ve come to know and love. The Suicide Squad is compelling, violent, and just an absolute blast.

Rorschach Rating: 4 / 5

Mental Health Moment: Star Daniela Melchior plays Rat Catcher 2. When asked what happened to Rat Catcher 1 (Taika Waititi) viewers are met with the answer that he died. During a flashback sequence with father and daughter, his daughter asks why rats? To which he explains that rats are the lowest of all the creatures and many don’t see their purpose. They do have purpose; everyone has purpose. Though I would never dare compare someone to a rat, I will say that he’s not wrong. We all have purpose, there is a reason why we are on this celestial ball here. Sometimes it’s hard to truly see and understand what that purpose is but it’s worth searching for. It’s worth waiting for. I promise you that.

If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!

Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. The Suicide Squad is property of WB Pictures and DC Entertainment. We do not own nor claim any rights.

You can now support us on Patreon. Help us get mental health resources into schools and get exclusive content at the same time. Click here to join today!