Matt Reeves’ The Batman just dropped its second trailer as part of DC’s FanDome, and it offered some new, exciting looks at Robert Pattinson’s Dark Knight. The overall tone of the trailer was dark and edgy and perfectly communicated the grit that the film will allegedly focus on. Ignoring all of the high-stakes fights and dramatic, well, everything, there was one particular shot in the trailer that helped show just how gritty this new version of Batman will be.
The shot in question showed Pattinson’s Batman standing in front of Commissioner Gordon’s Bat-Signal. Over the course of a subsequent montage, he said, “Fear is a tool, and when that light hits the sky, it’s not just a call; It’s a warning.” The words were dark enough by talking about readily using fear, but the actual construction of the Bat-Symbol within the Bat-Signal also spoke volumes.
There have been countless iterations of the Bat-Signal since the character’s first appearance in 1939. Most of them have been made by putting a precise cutout of the Bat-Symbol in front of a spotlight. However, Matt Reeves’ version marked a departure from that. In this version, there were flaps on the spotlight meant to direct the light. However, some of those flaps had been cut and mangled into the shape of a bat.
With hits jagged and imperfect style, the Bat-Signal had the appearance of something manually constructed on-site with simple tools. Its lack of precision communicated a sense of desperation or willingness to bend the rules for justice, and that aesthetic perfectly aligned with Reeves’ characterization of Batman. So far, the trailers have shown him as intent on vengeance for something. As such, he has treated his adversaries with the same brutality with which he made the Bat-Signal.
While the appearance of the Bat-Signal characterizing Batman’s brutality, its usage also worked well to frighten the criminals of Gotham. Batman called the signal a “warning,” and while any iteration would be a warning, too, this one worked especially well. Compared with the crisp image that most other Bat-Signals have projected upon the clouds, Matt Reeves’ Bat-Signal made a crude-looking projection because of its rough construction. That crude projection helped warn criminals not only of Batman but also of Batman’s determination, grit and willingness to fight even when things got messy.
The unpolished and unchained Batman will be a menace to anyone and everything that might pose a threat in Gotham. So, from the looks of the trailer, the Penguin and the Riddler had better watch out.
To see Robert Pattinson's unchained version of the Dark Knight, watch Matt Reeves’ The Batman when it hits theaters on March 4, 2022.