Boy Wonder (2010)

40% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(336 ratings)

A young boy witnesses the brutal murder of his mother during a Brooklyn car-jacking. Now a 17-year-old loner, Sean Donovan (Caleb Steinmeyer) is relentlessly haunted by his past and obsessed with finding his mother's killer. Drawn into a nocturnal urban underworld, Sean's consuming rage is vented… More A young boy witnesses the brutal murder of his mother during a Brooklyn car-jacking. Now a 17-year-old loner, Sean Donovan (Caleb Steinmeyer) is relentlessly haunted by his past and obsessed with finding his mother's killer. Drawn into a nocturnal urban underworld, Sean's consuming rage is vented one night, defending himself from a chaotic attack by a drug dealer. Thus begins his life as a quiet, straight-A student by day and a self-appointed hero at night. Investigating a series of vigilante murders, hot-shot new homicide detective Teresa Ames (Zulay Henao) takes an interest in Sean and his case. Engaged in a twisting game of cat and mouse, Sean and Teresa become allies by day ... and enemies by night. -- (C) Official Site

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Michael Morrissey
Written By: Michael Morrissey
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Oct 21, 2011 Limited
On DVD: Nov 8, 2011
Studio: Lightning Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
An intriguing, low-budget look at a young vigilante whose "heroism" comes with much moral ambivalence.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Sometimes I think vigilante dramas would be more tolerable if they were pure violent payback, without all the moral grandstanding about our flawed criminal justice system.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
I started watching it with moderate expectations and was surprised by how quickly I was drawn in; the movie works insistently on an emotional level.
Ronnie Scheib, Variety
Morrissey displays a flair for moody atmospherics as his protagonist wanders Gotham's streets and subways at night, but the film relies too heavily on cryptic flashbacks and deliberate gaps in the narrative to create suspense.
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
Though the story eventually develops some shading, Mr. Morrissey's enthusiasm for graphic novels is evident in every overstylized frame and underwritten conversation.

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

Much better than I thought it would be. An ensemble cast that clicks, a story that takes a few unanticipated turns, and a director that obviously knows his stuff.
Jeffrey M

Dark, brooding, intense, atmospheric, and brilliantly executed, Boy Wonder is one of the best films the vigilante genre has to offer. It offers strong performances from all involved, especially a nuanced and gripping portrayal by Caleb Steinmeyer. The film is uncommonly smart, with a… More
Dark, brooding, intense, atmospheric, and brilliantly executed, Boy Wonder is one of the best films the vigilante genre has to offer. It offers strong performances from all involved, especially a nuanced and gripping portrayal by Caleb Steinmeyer. The film is uncommonly smart, with a strong script that hits on authentic emotional beats, and offers a realistic depiction of trauma and the resulting psychological effects it has, without resorting to easy payoffs or cheap resolutions. The direction is excellent, smartly paced, and shot in an appropriate gritty, stylistic way. Everything about the film makes is engaging, troubling, and memorable. 4.5/5 Stars