As iconic as Richard Donner and Christopher Reeve’s original Superman has become in the decades since its release, subsequent installments in the franchise did not fare quite as well. Superman III has developed particular notoriety for being a low point in the franchise – mainly for its campy tone and casting of comedian Richard Pryor. However, one adept fan decided to edit the abhorrent film into a horror trailer that's actually incredibly gripping, check it out below to see for yourself.
The trailer showcases a world in which Superman uses his vast array of powers to wreak havoc and cause destruction wherever he goes with impunity. Whether causing a massive oil spill, or merely breaking bottles at a local bar, Superman can do essentially whatever he wants because no one can stop him. It makes Kal-El out to be the monster that many of Superman’s villains often try to portray him as.
It all has a very Cronenberg horror vibe to it, with Superman seemingly falling down a rabbit hole, transforming into the monsters he does battle with. The whole trailer is tied together through expert use of the Prometheus trailer music – which we all know could make something as innocent as a child’s birthday party seem goddamn terrifying.
With Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice set to be released in just a few months, this fan-made trailer should serve as the perfect way of explaining Batman’s point of view in the upcoming film. If left unchecked, Superman’s seemingly endless array of powers and abilities allow him to essentially do anything he wants with few ways for us to control him. In a world where a Kryptonian on Earth decides he no longer cares about the affairs of humans, he would be a nearly omnipotent god with little to no opposition for power. Now if that doesn’t have the chilling effect of putting Batfleck’s point of view into perspective, then I genuinely don’t know what will.
This new fan edit – like so many others – showcases just how invested fans can get in franchises and characters that they love. Adept fans can take universes that they know and love, and put their own unique twist on them – effectively giving them new life. Even trailers for movies that have yet to be released get this sort of treatment, such as the trailer for Captain America: Civil War, which one fan made even more heart-wrenching by adding Adele’s "Hello" as the soundtrack.
If you’re a Superman fan and would rather not remember the travesty that was Superman III, then it would be worth your time to give the fan trailer above a watch.
