Black Adam is a superhero film released on Oct. 21, in the United States. Black Adam takes place in the DC Extended Universe and is the 11th film to do so. It is a spinoff from Shazam! Which was released in 2019. It was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Pierce Brosnan and Aldis Hodge.

Black Adam focuses on the titular character Black Adam also known as Teth-Adam a former slave turned superhuman due to magic from the wizard Shazam. After being awakened from his magical imprisonment by an archaeologist, he is deemed a threat and the Justice Society is sent to arrest him. The heroes that make up the Justice Society are Hawkman, Atom Smasher, Cyclone and Doctor Fate.

The film explores the multiple moral gray areas that come with Black Adam’s existence as an antihero. He is filled with anger from his past and is indifferent to the modern world and the issues that arise from the villains in the film, the crime organization Intergang who are occupying Kahndaq, a fictional city in the Middle-East.

Like other superhero films, Black Adam relies on CGI and other special effects to make the powers of superhumans believable. But unlike some recent films like Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder, the effects are consistent throughout the movie and are convincing.

All the roles were portrayed well, with Brosnan and Johnson as highlights in their own ways. Johnson provides a solid performance and provides actual emotional depth with his portrayal of Black Adam. A lot of his acting is with his face since Adam speaks in a monotone or angry tone due to his character.

It was above mid-tier, 3/5 stars.