No, this is not a film about Robin...

In a time where superhero films have become popular around the world, some have been great like the Avengers and the new Batman films, and some not so great like Green Lantern. Superhero films are films that make the audience escape from reality and the audience gets to fantasize about life in the worlds created in the films. But, what if there was a superhero film that didn't step out of reality? What if there was a film that takes the audience on a ride that they never experienced before while seeing a superhero film that is created in their own world?

Michael Morrissey’s film Boy Wonder isn't a regular superhero film and takes the audience into a realistic version of their own world. Some might think, because of the title, this is a film about Batman’s side kick, Robin. This is not true; Boy Wonder is a film that is realistic as it could happen in real life. This film deals with vengeance, what is right and wrong, and family forgiveness, a topic many audience members haven’t seen before in a superhero film.

The film follows Sean Donovan (played by Caleb Steinmeyer) who witnesses his Mother (played by Tracy Middendorf) being brutally murdered when he is young. Years later, Sean is a shy teenager who is determined to find the killer of his Mother. At night he searches the streets of New York City to find people who are in need and punishes, and even kills, those who bring harm to those in need. As Sean goes deeper into being a vigilante, he starts to change a lot and his attacks on his victims become more violent as he gets closer to his Mother’s killer. Throughout the film the audience gets to feel and see Sean change into being a vigilante and why he searches for revenge.

Throughout the film, the audience gets to see these characters go through what they feel is right and what is wrong. When Detective Teresa Ames (played by Zulay Henao) discovers that Sean has been the one that has been a part of these murders, she has a difficult choice of turning Sean in or letting him go when she finds out what really has happened to him and the life he has gone through. The relationship those two develop throughout the film is also a big key to her choice of turning him in or letting him go.

Before his Mother’s murder, Sean lived an abusive life with his Father, Terry (played by Bill Sage). Sean witnessed his Mother being beaten up by his Father, as well as being a victim of this abuse himself. After the killing of his wife, Terry changes his life style throughout the years and tries to be a better Father to Sean. But, Sean can’t escape the past and what his Father has done. Sean seems to blame his Father for his Mother being killed. Even though Terry tries to be there for his son and shows he has become a better man, the audience sees that Sean has taken steps to forgiving his Father but really he still blames him for what happened.

Some audience members may feel and compare this film as a darker version of a Batman origin film. But really, this story has its own rare commonality that changes the way a lot of audience members will view a superhero film. Boy Wonder is an in-your-face, realistic film that could happen in real life. It’s a film that captures the audiences’ hearts and makes them hold onto the edge of their seats.