Batman: Under the Red Hood
Batman: Under the Red Hood is a 2010 American animated superhero action thriller direct-to-video film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and released by Warner Home Video.[1] It is the eighth film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. The writer, Judd Winick, also wrote the "Under the Hood" run in the monthly Batman comic the film is based on. The film was released on July 27, 2010, and received highly positive reviews from critics, who praised its plot, animation, and focus on storytelling. It is generally considered to be one of the best in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line.[2] The film was also a commercial success, grossing over $12 million in home video sales.
| Batman: Under the Red Hood | |
|---|---|
Home video release poster | |
| Directed by | Brandon Vietti |
| Written by | Judd Winick |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | Bruce Timm Bobbie Page |
| Starring | |
| Edited by | Margaret Hou |
| Music by | Christopher Drake |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Warner Home Video |
Release date |
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Running time | 75 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The two-disc special edition and Blu-ray also includes an animated short featuring Jonah Hex.[3][4] An interactive short spiritual sequel/film adaptation, Batman: Death in the Family, was released on October 13, 2020.[5]
Plot edit
Ra's al Ghul realizes his mistake in hiring the Joker to use him as a distraction while he destroyed Europe's financial districts after learning that he has captured Jason Todd, the second Robin, Batman's partner. In Sarajevo, Bosnia, Joker brutally assaults and tortures Jason in an abandoned warehouse. He then locks Jason in the warehouse with a bomb, which explodes and kills him before Batman arrives.
Five years later in Gotham City, a mysterious vigilante called Red Hood assembles a meeting of the city's most prominent drug dealers. He announces a takeover of their drug trade, taking only 40% of the profit while offering them protection from both Black Mask and Batman - under punishment of death to anyone caught dealing drugs to children.
Batman stops an attempted theft of a shipment belonging to Black Mask, which is the advanced android Amazo. Batman destroys Amazo with the help of Jason's predecessor Dick Grayson a.k.a. Nightwing and discovers the thieves are working for Red Hood who then kills them. He chases Red Hood to Ace Chemicals, where an explosion destroys the facility. Batman and Nightwing interrogate Joker at Arkham Asylum about Red Hood, but he denies involvement.
Black Mask puts a hit on Red Hood for Amazo's destruction. Batman and Nightwing prevent Red Hood from hijacking Black Mask's next weapon shipment. They chase Red Hood to a train station, where he escapes after detonating a bomb, which injures Nightwing. Batman and Nightwing realize Red Hood is trained and has knowledge of Batman's tactics, gear, and secret identity.
Batman recalls Jason performing the same maneuvers as Robin and that Jason grew more violent and bloodthirsty as he aged, with Batman having to stop him many times from nearly killing criminals. The Fearsome Hand of 4 lure out Red Hood and nearly overpower him until Batman helps incapacitate three of them and Red Hood kills the fourth, horrifying Batman. Red Hood explains he is doing what Batman will not: killing criminals who are not afraid.
Batman analyzes a blood sample of Red Hood drawn from the battle and it matches Jason's. After discovering Jason's corpse is fake, Batman confronts Ra's al Ghul and demands to know the truth. Ra's explains that he felt responsible for Jason's death and, as a peace offering, swapped Jason's body for a fake and revived him in the Lazarus Pit. Following his resurrection, Jason was driven insane and escaped.
On the way back to Gotham, Batman laments about how he was responsible for Jason becoming the Red Hood, since, despite knowing how volatile Jason was when he first found him, Batman trained him into becoming Robin without properly helping him overcome his dangerous rage, though Jason would've followed a much darker path if he didn't. And it's even worse for Batman because he got Jason killed, and afterwards, Jason came back and took all of the skills and training Batman initiated him with and turned it against his own mentor.
After surviving an assassination attempt by Red Hood, Black Mask sets Joker free, tasking him with killing Red Hood. However, Joker instead abducts Black Mask and the drug dealers and plans to set them on fire; Red Hood appears and reveals his real target all along has been the Joker. Batman saves the hostages and Red Hood takes Joker. Red Hood brutally beats Joker in revenge and confronts Batman.
During the fight, Red Hood removes his helmet, confirming he is Jason. Their fight makes its way to the dilapidated building where Jason is keeping the Joker and ends with Jason holding Batman at gunpoint. Though he has forgiven Batman for failing to save him, Jason is upset and angry that Joker is still alive. Batman admits he has thought constantly about torturing and killing the Joker but will not, fearing he will not stop if he kills even once.
Jason tosses Batman a gun and gives him an ultimatum – he will execute the Joker unless Batman shoots him. Batman refuses and drops the gun, causing Jason to shoot at him. Batman throws a Batarang, which jams and destroys Jason's pistol. Defeated, Jason sets off a time bomb and Batman subdues Joker before attempting to save Jason.
The bomb explodes; Batman and Joker survive but Jason is gone. Subsequently, Joker is returned to Arkham and Black Mask is arrested. At the Batcave, Alfred offers to remove the glass case display of Jason's Robin costume, but Bruce refuses, claiming it does not change anything.
A final flashback shows Jason's first day as Robin, which he cheerfully declares is the best day of his life.
Cast edit
- Bruce Greenwood as Bruce Wayne / Batman
- Jensen Ackles as Jason Todd / Red Hood[6]
- Alexander Martella as young Jason Todd[6]
- Vincent Martella as teen Jason Todd / Robin[7]
- John DiMaggio as Joker[6]
- Neil Patrick Harris as Dick Grayson / Nightwing[6]
- Jason Isaacs as Ra's al Ghul[6]
- Wade Williams as Roman Sionis / Black Mask[8]
- Jim Piddock as Alfred Pennyworth[6]
- Gary Cole as Commissioner James Gordon (uncredited),[6] Shot (credited)[6]
- Carlos Alazraqui as Chi Chi,[6] Thug #1 (uncredited), Baton (uncredited)
- Robert Clotworthy as Leon[6]
- Brian George as Ra's al Ghul's assistant
- Kelly Hu as Ms. Li
- Phil LaMarr as Rick,[6] Bulk (uncredited)
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Tyler Bramford[6]
- Dwight Schultz as Freddie,[6] Yurp
- Fred Tatasciore as Mercenary #1,[6] Amazo (uncredited), Guard (uncredited)
- Keri Tombazian as Fearsome Hand Leader (uncredited), Reporter #2 (credited)
- Andrea Romano as Reporter #1
- Bruce Timm as Riddler[6]
- Michael Villani as Reporter #3
Crew edit
- Andrea Romano – Voice Director
Music edit
| Batman: Under The Red Hood – Soundtrack to The Animated Original Movie | |
|---|---|
| Film score by | |
| Released | July 27, 2010 |
| Length | 57:24 |
| Label | WaterTower Music |
The score for Batman: Under the Red Hood was composed by Christopher Drake,[9] who had previously scored several animated films set in the DC Universe. It was inspired by the soundtracks of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm which features a traditional orchestral score and The Dark Knight which features a computer generated, electronic score.[10] Drake said that since Under the Red Hood has a darker tone than previous DC Universe animated films, he chose not to use the music as epic and melodramatic instead opting for a more intimate, minimal and restrained tone.[10] He added that this is the first DC film he has scored that didn't rely on using a large choir to make the fight scenes sound bigger. Drake scored the film as a reference to modern minimalist electronic scores because the film's director Brandon Vietti felt that Under the Red Hood needed to go in a different, more modern direction to separate it from previous DC animation scores. At that point, Drake introduced more electronic and ambient elements, like synthesized and processed electronic guitar, while retaining orchestral elements.[10]
Batman: Under The Red Hood – Soundtrack to The Animated Original Movie was released by WaterTower Music on July 27, 2010 and features 18 tracks composed for the film.[11]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Death In The Family" | 4:51 |
| 2. | "Main Titles" | 2:42 |
| 3. | "Mob Boss Meeting" | 1:47 |
| 4. | "Amazo" | 4:21 |
| 5. | "Batwing" | 3:15 |
| 6. | "Batmobile To Arkham" | 0:50 |
| 7. | "Interrogation" | 1:19 |
| 8. | "Rooftop Chase" | 4:21 |
| 9. | "Flashback" | 2:19 |
| 10. | "Black Mask Strikes Back" | 1:17 |
| 11. | "Techno Ninjas" | 5:41 |
| 12. | "Break Out" | 2:14 |
| 13. | "Deal With The Devil" | 0:48 |
| 14. | "Ra's Story" | 5:47 |
| 15. | "The Bridge" | 5:12 |
| 16. | "Final Confrontation" | 4:44 |
| 17. | "The Choice" | 2:16 |
| 18. | "End Titles" | 3:34 |
| Total length: | 57:24 | |
Commercial performance edit
The film grossed over $12 million in domestic home video sales, making it one of the highest grossing DC animated films.[12]
Critical reception edit
Batman: Under the Red Hood received positive reviews from critics who praised the film's direction, animation, emotional weight of the story, and voice acting particularly for Jensen Ackles. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 100% based on reviews from seven critics, with an average rating of a 7.3/10.[2] Demeter's review for The World's Finest stated: "I have to say this really was a damn good film". James Harvey's review on the same website was even more positive, calling it "a mature and faithful take on the Batman lore".[13] IGN gave the movie an 8 out of 10, calling it "An interesting peek inside the psyche of Batman and the fine line between good and evil".[14] It was the highest rated direct-to-video Batman film until the release of The Dark Knight Returns.
Continuation edit
A follow-up film titled Batman: Death in the Family was released on October 13, 2020, a decade after Under the Red Hood[15] with Greenwood, Martella, and DiMaggio reprising their roles. Zehra Fazal plays Talia al Ghul and Gary Cole plays both Two-Face and Commissioner Gordon. It is an interactive narrative where the viewer chooses what happens in the story.[16]
References edit
- ^ "Batman: Under the Red Hood". Amazon. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
- ^ a b "Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ ""Batman: Under the Red Hood" Trailer". Comic Book Resources. 2010-04-27. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
- ^ "Warner Premiere Formally Announces 'Batman: Under the Red Hood' - ComicMix news". Comicmix.com. 2010-04-27. from the original on 29 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
- ^ "Batman: Death In The Family – Every Choice In The Interactive Movie". CBR. 29 November 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Harvey, James (July 9, 2010). "Complete Cast And Crew, Features Details For "Batman: Under The Red Hood"". worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "The World's Finest - New Cast Details For Upcoming "Batman: Under The Red Hood"". Worldsfinestonline.com. March 11, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
- ^ "The World's Finest - New Cast Details For Upcoming "Batman: Under The Red Hood" Animated Feature". Worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
- ^ "Christopher Drake". IMDb. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ^ a b c "Backstage - Christopher Drake Interview (WF Conducted)". The World's Finest. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ "Batman: Under the Red Hood - Soundtrack to The Animated Original Movie". iTunes. July 27, 2010. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
- ^ "Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "Batman: Under the Red Hood Film Review". The World's Finest. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- ^ White, Cindy (July 8, 2010). "Batman: Under the Red Hood Blu-ray Review". IGN. from the original on July 12, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
- ^ Latchem, John (July 30, 2020). "Warner Releasing Animated 'Batman: Death in the Family' Interactive Movie Oct. 13". Media Play News. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ "DC Showcase - Batman: Death in the Family: Exclusive Official Trailer". IGN.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
External links edit
- Official website
- Batman: Under the Red Hood at IMDb
- Batman: Under the Red Hood at The World's Finest