The newest look at the upcoming movie Morbius gives fans a better glimpse at perhaps Sony's most ambitious "Spider-Man" movie yet. Being based on one of Peter Parker's lesser-known foes, the movie's living vampire has a lot riding on his wings. Given that the star of the film is a bloodsucker, however, the movie, from the trailer at least, seems to be leaning toward the obvious subgenre of horror more than typical superhero movies.
And this may actually be a boon in the long run for both the movie and Sony. Sony could make more of its Spider-Man villain movies have horror elements to differentiate them from both Spider-Man himself and the ubiquitous nature of generic superhero blockbusters. The precedent has somewhat been set with Venom, and now the same should happen with Morbius and other films.
The Horror of Morbius, the Living Vampire
Morbius seems to employ a fairly straight and somber tone, and while there are a few jokes in the trailer, it's definitely not as comedic as entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This more serious tone is supplemented by body horror, with Doctor Michael Morbius having to keep the beast within himself at bay. Said monster manifests in his iconic and hideous vampiric form, with an upturned, bat-like nose, grey skin and evil-looking eyes.
People investigating the "vampire murders" are also seen being carried off in a fashion similar to horror movies, further setting the stage to make the movie more Bram Stoker than Kevin Feige. This might seem to be a weird choice, especially for a villain who's still connected in some way to Spider-Man, but it just may be the right angle that Sony needs to stand out against the mainstream Marvel movies.
Sony's Spider-Man Horror Universe
The first two Venom movies already had elements of horror and body horror, both in tame jump scares, lighting and their general tone. This was especially strong in the opening of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, with its take on Cletus Kasady's upbringing feeling right out of a slightly more adult Tim Burton movie. Both Venom movies were also released in October, making them Halloween movies in a way. Morbius seems to be doing the same thing, and perhaps this is the direction that Sony's other villain flicks should take.
Another upcoming Spider-Man villain movie is Kraven, which will feature the lion-costumed Russian hunter. Though the film will likely not be based on it, the storyline Kraven's Last Hunt had blatant horror vibes and is one of the darker Spider-Man comic books. Combining slight elements of this with elements from stories like Jurassic Park, The Most Dangerous Game and psychological thrillers, such as Silence of the Lambs, would make it stand out from being just another summer blockbuster superhero movie. This could also be what truly ignites Sony's plans for a universe of live-action movies based around Spider-Man characters.
Further films for Venom, Kraven, Morbius and maybe even Mysterio could be dark supernatural or psychological horror flicks, whereas Sinister Six, Black Cat and Silver Sable movies could bridge the gap between them and more traditional Spider-Man films. It's unknown where Spider-Man will be in the MCU following Spider-Man: No Way Home, so treading this spooky path could be the leverage that Sony needs to strike out on their own.
To see how horrifying the Living Vampire really is, see Morbius in theaters on Jan. 28, 2022.