Unconventional Superhero Movies Compendium
After watching superhero movies and comic book adaptations I still find some of the concepts fascinating... but at times, especially with big companies, they tend to become repetitive, devoid of unique style, predictable, and highly dependent on same sets of clichés and tropes. Work in progress.
It should be mentioned that I have quite different standards to what exactly is considered "unconventional" twists on the genre, then many people. For example, a lot of lists like that include movies like Watchmen, Kick-Ass, Hancock, Deadpool or Logan which I personally consider (while being mostly quite good) pretty conventional in their storytelling devices. What I usually find lacking in some of the more conventional movies are subtle tragic overtones and lack of sacrifice which I find a crucial plot element for superhero fiction. TV series will be included at times. Also I must warn you there will be quite a few controversial choices, as I'm also trying to get people view some modern classics as superhero movies of sorts to emphasize genre's influence on narrative fiction. And, of course, not all movies are that good.
I've organized the list chronologically and will use sub-type classification with some descriptions attached to many entries. Sub-types (which at times can crossover) include the following:
Superhero Movie - still a superhero movie, but using unconventional storytelling or style, deconstructed in some way. In other words different enough in my humble opinion. If it is an adaptation of some kind of common superhero media (novel, pulp, comic book, cartoon, etc.) I will specify that (and publisher) in brackets.
Supervillain Movie - while it sounds pretty straightforward, I think I should specify what I mean by that: not supervillain-centric movies (which still can turn pretty conventional like Megamind or Despicable Me) but movies with a exceptionally talented villain, severely lacking in superhero competition for most of the movie (although there might be some close contenders; I'll specify that from time to time). In fact, a lot of slasher movies (another genre I'm fond of) tend to end up close to this territory (and so do some of wider genre horror movies).
Superpower Movie - movie which uses concepts of superpower similarly to superhero movies, but without emphasizing superhero aspect enough.
Vigilante Movie - a lot of superhero movies actually are vigilante movies, but featured are more grounded and traditional... And yet I often feel that they have some superhero elements in them.
Canon Extension - not really (or barely) featuring superhero elements but are somewhat crucial to other movies on the list, which do.
Coming at some point: my personal Top 10's for each sub-type.
If you have time for weird videos (some of which with superhero overtones), here's my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/PictureProductStudio http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWkcL-G3OwVvVb1B94bH5hQ
It should be mentioned that I have quite different standards to what exactly is considered "unconventional" twists on the genre, then many people. For example, a lot of lists like that include movies like Watchmen, Kick-Ass, Hancock, Deadpool or Logan which I personally consider (while being mostly quite good) pretty conventional in their storytelling devices. What I usually find lacking in some of the more conventional movies are subtle tragic overtones and lack of sacrifice which I find a crucial plot element for superhero fiction. TV series will be included at times. Also I must warn you there will be quite a few controversial choices, as I'm also trying to get people view some modern classics as superhero movies of sorts to emphasize genre's influence on narrative fiction. And, of course, not all movies are that good.
I've organized the list chronologically and will use sub-type classification with some descriptions attached to many entries. Sub-types (which at times can crossover) include the following:
Superhero Movie - still a superhero movie, but using unconventional storytelling or style, deconstructed in some way. In other words different enough in my humble opinion. If it is an adaptation of some kind of common superhero media (novel, pulp, comic book, cartoon, etc.) I will specify that (and publisher) in brackets.
Supervillain Movie - while it sounds pretty straightforward, I think I should specify what I mean by that: not supervillain-centric movies (which still can turn pretty conventional like Megamind or Despicable Me) but movies with a exceptionally talented villain, severely lacking in superhero competition for most of the movie (although there might be some close contenders; I'll specify that from time to time). In fact, a lot of slasher movies (another genre I'm fond of) tend to end up close to this territory (and so do some of wider genre horror movies).
Superpower Movie - movie which uses concepts of superpower similarly to superhero movies, but without emphasizing superhero aspect enough.
Vigilante Movie - a lot of superhero movies actually are vigilante movies, but featured are more grounded and traditional... And yet I often feel that they have some superhero elements in them.
Canon Extension - not really (or barely) featuring superhero elements but are somewhat crucial to other movies on the list, which do.
Coming at some point: my personal Top 10's for each sub-type.
If you have time for weird videos (some of which with superhero overtones), here's my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/PictureProductStudio http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWkcL-G3OwVvVb1B94bH5hQ
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- DirectorLouis FeuilladeStarsRené NavarreEdmund BreonGeorges MelchiorInspector Juve is tasked to capture the infamous criminal genius Fantômas who, ruthless and particularly elusive, changes his appearance and holds Paris' high society in a crippling grasp.Supervillain Movie (based on pulp novels by Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre)
- DirectorLouis FeuilladeStarsRené NavarreEdmund BreonGeorges MelchiorThe creeping black assassin Fantômas, the criminal lord of Paris and master of disguise, has won the first round. But the equally resourceful Inspector Juve swears to win the second.Supervillain Movie (based on pulp novels by Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre)
- DirectorLouis FeuilladeStarsRené NavarreEdmund BreonGeorges MelchiorAfter a body disappears from inside the prison, a series of crimes take place, all seemingly by the dead man. With Juve presumed dead, Fandor must investigate alone. Will Fantômas finally be brought to justice?Supervillain Movie (based on pulp novels by Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre)
- DirectorLouis FeuilladeStarsRené NavarreGeorges MelchiorLaurent MorléasThe press as well as the general public opinion suggest that Inspector Juve may in fact be Fantômas, the very criminal mastermind he tries to capture. But as Juve is imprisoned, the actual Fantômas schemes to keep him behind bars forever.Supervillain Movie (based on pulp novels by Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre)
- DirectorLouis FeuilladeStarsRené NavarreEdmund BreonGeorges MelchiorHaving committed murder in Belgium, Fantômas is sentenced to life imprisonment. Juve conceives the idea that if Fantômas is set free, he can follow him back to France and capture him and the remaining members of his gang once and for all.Supervillain Movie (based on pulp novels by Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre)
- DirectorLouis FeuilladeStarsRené CrestéMusidoraRené PoyenA twelve-part serial following the adventures of the masked vigilante Judex as he fights against criminals led by the corrupt banker Favrauxom.Superhero Movie/Serial. Quite possibly the first superhero movie, especially with an original superhero.
- DirectorLouis FeuilladeStarsRené CrestéMarcel LévesqueYvette AndréyorIs a continuation of the film series "Judex" the masked fighter for justice.Superhero Movie/Serial.
- DirectorFred NibloStarsDouglas FairbanksMarguerite De La MotteNoah BeeryA seemingly idiotic fop is really the courageous vigilante Zorro, who seeks to protect the oppressed.Superhero Movie
- DirectorIvane PerestianiStarsKonstantin DavidovskiPavel YesikovskySofia JozeffiAdventures of three Red Army soldiers - Misha, Dunyasha, and Tom Jackson (an African-American boy) - who fight against Ukrainian anarchist Nestor Makhno and his forces during the Russian Civil War.Superhero Movie or rather a Soviet propaganda variant of such. Worth the nod as the latter adaptations, the "Elusive Avengers" trilogy is outright superhero movies.
- DirectorDonald CrispStarsDouglas FairbanksMary AstorJack McDonaldDon Cesar, son of Zorro, is framed for murder while visiting Spain, and becomes the whip-wielding outlaw Don Q.Superhero Movie
- DirectorPál FejösStarsJean GallandTania FédorThomy BourdelleThe Marquise de Langrune invites her friends at her castle in Beaulieu. Among them is Lord Beltham who also came to bring her a significant sum of money. Master criminal Fantômas kills the Marquise and Inspector Juve is sent on his trail.Supervillain Movie (based on pulp novels by Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre)
- DirectorJames WhaleStarsClaude RainsGloria StuartWilliam HarriganA scientist finds a way of becoming invisible, but in doing so, he becomes murderously insane.Supervillain Movie, Canon Extension (based on the novel by H.G. Wells).
- DirectorMaurice ChampreuxStarsRené FertéLouise LagrangePaule AndralSuperhero Movie
- DirectorsBruce MitchellJack NelsonStarsArt MixEdmund CobbWilliam DesmondTwelve renegades dressed as Indians kill the parents of two brothers. The brothers who have similar birth marks then separate. Ten years later a man known as the Rawhide Terror is murdering the renegades who are now town citizens.Superhero Movie.
- DirectorLynn ShoresStarsRod La RocqueAgnes AndersonJames BlakeleyLamont Cranston assumes his secret identity as "The Shadow", to break up an attempted robbery at an attorney's office. When the police search the scene, Cranston takes on an impersonation of the attorney.Superhero Movie (based on radio and pulp character from Street and Smith Publications) An unusually grounded take on beloved pulp prototype superhero The Shadow.
- DirectorCharles LamontStarsRod La RocqueAstrid AllwynThomas E. JacksonLamont Cranston (Rod La Rocque), amateur criminologist and detective, with a daily radio program, sponsored by the Daily Classic newspaper, has developed a friendly feud that sometimes passes the friendly stage with Police Commissioner Weston (Thomas E. Jackson). He complains to his managing editor, Edward Heath (Oscar O'Shea), over the problems that have developed in his department since Phoebe Lane (Astrid Allwyn) has been hired as his assistant. He is advised to forget it since she is the publisher's niece. During his broadcast about Honest John (William Pawley), a famous safe cracker who has served his time, Phoebe gives him a note that the Metropolitan Theatre is to be robbed at eight o'clock and she is so insistent that he adds it as his closing note. Off the air, he learns she got the information from a man she met in a café who had an honest face. Cranston goes to the theatre where Weston and his men have gathered and, of course, nothing happens but, across town, a safe is blown at the home of international banker Gerald Morton (John St. Polis) and the banker is killed. Cranston arrives there ahead of the police and discovers enough evidence to show him that it wasn't just a simple robbery with the banker accidentally killed. The irate Weston has him jailed as a material witness, but Phoebe comes through with a habeas corpus in time for him to make his broadcast. Honest John crashes into the studio with a gun and demands that Cranston exonerates him over the air from the police suspicion that he committed the robbery. Weston rushes to the studio but Honest John has escaped. Cranston takes Phoebe on a tour of night clubs hoping she will spot the man who gave her the robbery message. She does and Cranston poses as a new arrival from Europe and learns that the man is Flotow (Wilhelm von Brincken) and his companion is Starkov (Tenen Holtz'). They make a date for lunch the next day. While they are waiting for him to join them for lunch, Cranston breaks into Flathow's apartment where he meets Phoebe who also has had the same idea. A phone call is answered and Morton's butler says there is a meeting at the Morton home that afternoon.Superhero Movie (based on radio and pulp character from Street and Smith Publications) Even more strange and unconventional adaptation then the original movie "The Shadow Strikes", with "The Shadow" being a radio gimmick and plot having interesting crime thriller overtones.
- DirectorJoe MayStarsCedric HardwickeVincent PriceNan GreyThe owner of a coal mining operation, falsely imprisoned for fratricide, takes a drug to make him invisible, despite its side effect: gradual madness.Superhero Movie (based on the novel by H.G. Wells)
- DirectorGeorge WaggnerStarsLionel AtwillLon Chaney Jr.Anne NagelA mad scientist turns a man into an electrically-controlled monster to do his bidding.Superpower Movie with elements of Superhero Movie.
- DirectorJean SachaStarsMarcel HerrandSimone SignoretAlexandre RignaultThe invincible bandit faces his daughter, who wants him to end his criminal activities.Supervillain Movie (based on pulp novels by Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre)
- DirectorsCharles BartonWalter LantzStarsBud AbbottLou CostelloLon Chaney Jr.The Wolf Man tries to warn a dimwitted porter that Dracula wants his brain for Frankenstein monster's body.Superpower Movie with elements of Superhero Movie.
- DirectorRobert VernayStarsMarcelle ChantalAimé ClariondAlexandre RignaultEveryone in Paris thinks Fantomas is dead. A wave of extortion, blackmail and murder all point to the master criminal. Inspector Juve and his reporter friend Fandor set out to find the truth.Supervillain Movie (based on pulp novels by Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre)
- DirectorsJames Wong HoweBen ParkerJohn SledgeStarsRichard DerrMark DanielsHelen WestcottLamont Cranston, aka The Shadow, investigates the murder of a New Orleans bandleader.Superhero Movie (based on radio and pulp character from Street and Smith Publications) Yet another weird The Shadow adaptation.
- DirectorTerence YoungStarsSean ConneryUrsula AndressBernard LeeA resourceful British government agent seeks answers in a case involving the disappearance of a colleague and the disruption of the American space program.Superhero Movie I found it really interesting that people don't view James Bond as a superhero.
- DirectorGeorges FranjuStarsChanning PollockFrancine BergéEdith ScobAfter abducting a corrupt banker to make him pay back the people he swindled, a conjuring vigilante must rescue the man's daughter when she is kidnapped by the scheming family governess.Superhero Movie.
