Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham review: Batman and horror is a match made in heaven

3/5

Story: Set in an alternate DC universe in the 1920s, Bruce Wayne/Batman must return to Gotham to stop an evil force from destroying the city. The powerful evil entity was accidentally released from its confines by Batman himself, while on his 20-year voyage across the globe.

Review: Batman is probably one of the most overused characters, who has been reimagined in different settings and storylines in comic books and graphic novels. The Dark Knight has featured in several alternate reality stories in DC over the years — including Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, Batman: In Darkest Knight, Injustice, and Superman: Red Son, just to name a few. Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham certainly belongs to this highly revered list of Elseworld stories.

The 2023 animated film does not take too long to get into the thick of the action. Batman, Alfred, and his three sidekicks, Dick Greyson, Sanjay ‘Jay’ Tawde (Indian version of Jason Todd), and Kai Lin Cain (another version of Cassandra Cain), embark on a mission to uncover the secrets of the mythical evil heading towards Gotham. Before one is afforded the time to come to terms with the unique setting and the new characters, the narrative dives head-first into the mysteries that the forces of evil have brought to Gotham. While it certainly is gripping, it devoids the viewer from the opportunity to immerse themselves in the alternate DC universe of Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham.

The film is ultimately a Batman/horror story, and it is something artists and comic book writers should explore further, as the ‘creature of the night’ and ‘creatures of the night’ are the perfect combination for a compelling story. The film’s central plot is about Batman’s refusal to acknowledge the concept of the occult and the supernatural. However, as one would expect, Batman encounters these mythical beings and is forced to acknowledge that there are forces far beyond his comprehension. And the film’s fast-paced narrative introduces several characters from Batman and the larger DC mythos such as Oliver Queen, James Gordon, Barbara Gordon/Oracle, Jason Blood/Etrigan, Kirk Langstrom/Man-Bat, Lucious Fox, Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin, Harvey Dent/Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc Talia Al Ghul, and Ra’s Al Ghul.

For fans of DC and Batman, the characters in a very unique setting certainly pose intrigue. But for those unfamiliar with these characters, it would almost be impossible to fully comprehend the roles of these characters in the story. And if one were to ignore these drawbacks Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham is brimming with potential. The animated film is adapted from Mike Mignola and Richard Pace’s comic books of the same name. The story and the setting are influenced by H. P. Lovecraft’s works. In fact, the title of the comic book is a homage to Lovecraft’s short story The Doom That Came to Sarnath. The film’s animation and the renditions of familiar characters in a period setting will certainly keep one hooked from start to finish.

Verdict: Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham is riveting from start to finish, thanks to its gripping story, exploration of the horror genre, and unique period setting. However, it is held back from being revered in the same breath as some of the other iconic DC animated films as a result of its rushed narrative and lack of sufficient character development.

Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham is available on BookMyShow Stream