The New Mutants

On the big screen, all superheroes share the power of reincarnation. So just when you thought the X-Men franchise was dead and buried, along comes The New Mutants, a mostly lackluster spinoff that seems like more of an afterthought.

As it attempts to mesh the X-Men mythology with horror and coming-of-age tropes, this follow-up conveys a darker tone than its predecessors but doesn’t explore the troubled minds of its ragtag teenage protagonists with much meaningful depth or complexity.

A creepy opening sequence establishes an unsettling atmosphere that the film struggles to maintain, as Danielle Moonstar (Blu Hunt) wakes up from a nightmare in a dungeon-like psychiatric facility, under the care of a doctor (Alice Braga) who insists she has the girl’s best interests in mind, due to her mysterious superhuman abilities.

Danielle meets a melting pot of fellow adolescent patients including Rahne (Maisie Williams) Illyana (Anya Taylor-Joy), Sam (Charlie Heaton), and Roberto (Henry Zaga). Each of them likewise is adjusting to newfound mutant powers, uncertain of the details surrounding their detention. Some subsequent episodes of mischievous bonding suggest an offbeat riff on The Breakfast Club.

Eventually, they suspect something more sinister. “I don’t think this is a hospital,” Danielle surmises. So as they contemplate their captivity, they yearn for freedom amid the uncertainty of the outside world. However, getting there proves a mighty challenge for these resilient neophytes.

As the latest origin story and intended franchise launch pad, The New Mutants lowers the stakes compared to the average superhero saga, which isn’t necessarily a drawback. Instead of saving the world, they’re just trying to save themselves.

In the uneven screenplay by Knate Lee and director Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars), the individual characters are more compelling that their collective adventure.

Thus, the film works best in its quieter and more intimate moments of self-discovery — progressive view of mutant romance good, angst-ridden Twilight-style brooding bad — rather than its obligatory effects-laden set pieces, which are more chaotic and derivative.

By the time everyone’s motives and enhanced capabilities are finally revealed, the film has failed to conjure much incentive for emotional investment. If we don’t root for the titular quintet as humans, then their mutant accomplishments feel powerless.

Rated PG-13, 94 minutes.