Summary
- Joker allows audiences to question reality with its R-rated, unrestrictive take on the iconic villain's origin story.
- The film explores a disturbing blend of comic inspiration, psychological depth, and deceptions wrapped in Arthur's character.
- Arthur's obsession with Sophie, his laugh condition, and the complex backstory suggest Joker himself may be a delusional narrative.
Love it or hate it, Joker is a film that forces the audience to question how much of what they witnessed was actually real. Though Warner Bros. and DC were in the midst of a shared universe with the DCEU, a rare beast found its way into the mainstream movie release schedule. Rated R and free from franchise restrictions, the confines of a specific comic book story, or the need to set up a sequel (though Joker: Folie à Deux will release later this year), Todd Phillips' Joker is a harrowing cinematic journey.
Ironically, baggage is one thing Joker himself brings with abundance, which is perhaps true of Arthur Fleck more than any previous iteration of the villain. As an R-rated affair, Joker is given free rein to delve deep into the psychology of the Clown Prince of Crime, taking light inspiration from The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight Returns and twisting Joker's comic origins into something completely new. This unflinching approach yields a movie that is not just dark but creates a genuinely disturbing aura of discomfort.