Story
Young Michael Morbius (Charlie Shotwell) spends much of his childhood locked away in a hospital. He has a rare condition that means he needs blood transfusions 3 times a day to stay alive. Young Milo (Joseph Esson) suffers from the same incurable condition. When Milo arrives at the hospital, Michael and Milo quickly become friends. Their bond deepens when fast-thinking Michael uses a pen to repair a malfunctioning machine that’s keeping Milo alive. Recognising Michael’s genius, Dr Nicholas (Jared Harris) arranges for Michael to receive a scholarship to study medicine at a prestigious school. Michael promises Milo that they’ll always be friends and that he’ll stop at nothing until he has found a cure that will save them both.
Twenty-five years later at an elusive cave in the mountains of Costa Rica, Dr Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) locates a breed of bats that he believes holds the key to his and Milo’s survival. After numerous trials and with the help of his colleague Dr Martine Bancroft (Adria Arjona), Michael seems to have finally succeeded – except something goes terribly wrong. Michael mutates into a violent, bloodthirsty monster who can’t control his emotions or urges.
Physically Michael is healed as long as he continues to consume blood, but he’s horrified by what he has done and disgusted by what he has become. Michael refuses to inject Milo (Matt Smith) with the same serum, telling him that it’s a curse, not a cure. Milo doesn’t listen and injects himself anyway. Michael learns to control his urges and harness his new powers while Milo kills indiscriminately, wreaking terror and havoc on strangers and loved ones alike.
With time running out, Michael develops a serum that will end the terror. But will he be able to inject it before it’s too late?
Themes
Chronic disease and sickness; bullying; animal testing; violence as a way to solve conflict
Violence
Morbius has some violence. For example:
- A scene shows the bloody remains of a creature after it has been attacked by a swarm of vampire bats.
- Michael cuts his hand to draw the bats out of their cave.
- School bullies punch, hit and kick Milo, who stumbles out of the hospital in search of a letter that has blown out the window. Milo hits one of the boys in the head with his crutch.
- After being injected with a serum, Michael transforms into a monster and attacks men on a hired boat. He slams them into walls, rips them with his fangs and drinks their blood. He seems to have super strength.
- Michael claws at a man’s throat and rips his jugular vein. The men shoot at him while he stalks and kills them one by one. He later watches video surveillance of his killing spree.
- Martine is questioned by investigators and shown graphic photos of the bodies on the boat.
- Michael attacks investigators as he tries to get away. An officer shoots at him as he flies up towards the roof.
- Michael drinks bags of blood and then transforms into a monster. In his monster form, he breaks through the prison walls and flies onto buildings.
- Milo attacks police officers in a crowded subway.
- Michael jumps in front of a speeding subway train and appears to fly on the wind in front of it.
- Michael breaks a man’s hand after the man tries to stab him with a knife.
- Milo kills 3 men who humiliate him in a bar.
- Milo attacks Dr Nicholas, slashing him across the chest with his claws and giving him a message for Michael. The doctor dies after passing the message on.
- Milo holds Martine hostage, hurting her to lure Michael to his location. She dies in his arms shortly after Michael arrives. As Martine wished, Michael drinks her blood and gains strength to fight on. He and Milo blast, hit, attack, slice, drag, push, throw and grab each other as they crash through buildings and fall onto wires and rubble.
- Milo tries to attack Michael with a metal pole, which he holds aloft like a spear. An army of bats come to Michael’s aid and help to propel Milo backwards. Michael injects poison into Milo’s heart.
Sexual references
Morbius has some sexual references. For example, Milo dances shirtless. In the background is a song with lyrics that repeatedly refer to sex.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
Morbius shows some use of substances. For example:
- Milo orders whisky and tequila at a bar and shares shots with a woman.
- People use needles to inject substances into other people.
- Milo’s living room looks like he has been drinking heavily and taking prescription medication. There are wine bottles and open bottles of pills on a table.
Nudity and sexual activity
Morbius has some nudity and sexual activity. For example:
- Michael is shirtless in a couple of scenes. In one scene he looks weak and sickly, and in another he looks strong and fit.
- Michael and Martine kiss passionately.
Product placement
There’s no product placement in Morbius.
Coarse language
Morbius has some coarse language.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Morbius is an action adventure with horror themes, based on a character from the Marvel comics. There are numerous special effects and a lot of violence, but the violence seems to have few consequences. As a result this movie is best suited to older teenage and adult audiences.
The main message from Morbius is that the battle between good and evil is eternal. There’ll always be casualties, but good will ultimately prevail.
Values in Morbius that you could reinforce with your children include helpfulness, loyalty, persistence and determination.
Morbius could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues like the:
- perils and cruelty of animal testing.
- effects of bullying
- experience of living with chronic disease
- use of violence to solve conflict
- importance of self-restraint.