Quartile rating: 9/10 · 1 rating
In his second year of fighting crime, Batman uncovers corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while facing a serial killer known as the Riddler.
The Batman distinguishes itself as a genuinely singular superhero noir — Reeves crafts a moody, rain-soaked neo-gothic detective story that feels unlike any prior Batman adaptation. Cinematography by Greig Fraser is exceptional, using oppressive darkness, neon streaks, and shadow compositions to elevate the film into prestige crime territory. The ensemble acting is strong across the board — Pattinson's brooding, haunted Bruce Wayne and Dano's unhinged Riddler are both standout performances. Novelty is high because the film successfully fuses the superhero blockbuster with the serial-killer procedural in a way that feels unmistakably authored. The plot is engrossing in its first two acts but sprawls and loses momentum in the third, and the ending, while thematically earnest, becomes somewhat conventional in its final beats — the Riddler's plan resolution and Batman's inspirational pivot feel slightly undercooked compared to the film's otherwise austere craft.