Adam Egypt Mortimer’s Archenemy (2020) is the minding-bending, genre-breaking superhero film we need right now.
That is to say, it’s not much of superhero film at all.
There are no monsters to fight, no true villains. It’s not even clear if there is a heroic protagonist. Instead, Mortimer uses his gritty story to talk about the tragic fallout that inevitably follows addiction and the pursuit of endless power.
Archenemy is about disgraced superhero, Max Fist (Joe Manganiello). Fist is a homeless man living on the streets and bartering his grandiose tales of interdimensional heroics for free whiskey. His depression and self-destruction are stalled when a young, aspiring journalist named Hamster (Skylan Brooks) begins following him and documenting his stories and exploits. Their burgeoning relationship becomes a bloody tale of survival when a crime boss targets Hamster and his sister, Indigo (Zoelee Griggs).
Max and Hamster at the Crystal Caves
Like his previous film Daniel Isn’t Real (2019), Mortimer crafts a world completely dictated by his own unique artistic vision. It’s like reality, but different. The aesthetic lends itself to the film’s grittiness. But it also creates opportunity for Mortimer to go full bore and push the limits of his own fictional universe. Fist walks the street drunkenly in his former hero costume, a henchman carries around a copy of “Nihilism for Beginners,” food is blue, and the film is interrupted by animated scenes that cross between psychedelic art and motion comics.
Max Fist Introduction
It’s clear that Mortimer is confident in his story. He pulls no punches. Daniel Isn’t Real feels subtle in comparison and that’s saying a lot given the film’s ambition. This type of director autonomy can be detrimental, but Mortimer never lets his vision override his control. He’s a deft guide, a steady hand.
That type of autonomy is important, because Mortimer isn’t directing a superhero film. Archenemy is a tragedy.
There’s something to be said about the glitz and glam of Hollywood blockbuster superhero movies. They are comforting in a formulaic way. There’s a safety in them. Plot armor guards the heroes and they are family friendly enough to be devoid of real stakes. Archenemy balks at heroism and relishes in violence and danger. It turns a blind eye to the trusted superhero formula.
At the center of the film is addiction. Despite his grandiose stories and moments of superhuman-like ability, Max Fist is a true addict. Yes, he walks through most of the film drunk and his hyper-violence is powered by methamphetamine. But his most destructive addiction is power.
We come to learn that Fist sacrificed a marriage for superhuman ability. He chose to frighten and control the people he claimed to protect. When that ability was taken away from him, he can only ever fantasize of regaining his former self.
Max and the Interdimensional Code
His addiction leads him toward a foregone conclusion. The film opens and ends with Max Fist fighting his archenemy. This repetition signifies Fist’s tragedy. He can never move on and never be the hero. His violence and addiction are masks that hide the truth of his cruelty and violence.
Interestingly, Daniel Isn’t Real and Archenemy end in nearly the same way. The protagonists find themselves faced with dueling identities and their inability to reconcile these selves leads them to a dizzying fall and death. Mortimer is creating clear parallels between the two films. It is no surprise that both open with a swirling vortex. We’re witnessing Mortimer’s shared universe. A place of tragedy that feels real, but isn’t quite reality.
Archenemy will be divisive. There will be people that expect a film that continues to walk the path of the superhero genre. There will be others that find Mortimer’s transition from live-action to animation to be too jarring.
For those that want a story that is deeply human, Archenemy is the right film. It blends action, horror, delusion, and mystery. It asks the viewer to think deeply about what it means to have and exploit power. Joe Manganiello puts on the performance of his career and Mortimer continues to build an auteur-like vision that, if we are lucky, will continue to grow and expand.
You can rent or buy Archenemy on streaming platforms, including Amazon (ad):
Check out the trailer for Archenemy here:
Ethan Robles is a writer and higher education consultant working out of Boston, MA. He is currently working on an edited collection dedicated to youth-focused horror film and television. You can follow him on Twitter @Roblecop and on Instagram @Robo_gramm.
Ethan has written for Horror Homeroom on Black Summer and zombie minimalism, Gerald’s Game, Hulu’s original series, “Castle Rock,” Annihilation, and horror documentaries. And check out his list of the top 10 episodes of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”
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