Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham’ on Max, A Lovecraftian Nightmare Where Batman Breaks Bad

When it comes to Lovecraftian tales, you typically have to throw logic out of the window. These stories are fantastical tales, often extremely disturbing, with their own rules and mythos to abide by. The same can be said of the horrifying Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham (now streaming on Max), a dark, nightmarish take on the Dark Knight’s typical adventures. It’s a decidedly different realm for Batman and the familiar characters we often see him surrounded by, which makes for one of the most intriguing standalone films we’ve seen the hero star in thus far. How different, you ask? Think Cthulhu-styled terror in the 1920s. And, despite his own self-imposed “no kill” rule, Batman does what he has to so he can survive – and save Gotham.

BATMAN: THE DOOM THAT CAME TO GOTHAM: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham is part of an old DC Comics publishing imprint that served up stories that took place outside of the typical DC Universe canon. Based on the comic of the same name, this Lovecraftian saga is set in the 1920s and features alternate versions of many of the familiar members of Batman’s rogue’s gallery, like the Penguin and Mr. Freeze.

Bruce Wayne (David Giuntoli) takes a few team members to explore an Antarctic expedition where something’s gone horribly awry. Upon arriving, he happens upon a seemingly psychologically broken and even feral Oswald Cobblepot (William Salyers), running with mutated penguins, his mind seemingly gone. There’s something amiss, a storm that seems to be coming, and Bruce and company have to figure out what it is.

Their investigation kicks off a chain of events where Wayne, as Batman, is able to uncover the truth about a cult of the Old Ones, as it were, that happens to have targeted Gotham City. Though Bruce set out to leave his home after dealing with many painful memories of his family’s death, he has to suit up once more and take care of business before it’s too late.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Though it has nothing to do with Eldritch horror, Batman: Gotham by Gaslight is a close approximation of what you get with The Doom That Came to Gotham. The yarn, set in Victorian-era Gotham City, finds Batman looking to stop Jack the Ripper, while being framed for many of the infamous serial killer’s crimes. The period tale, which features familiar faces like Selina Kyle and Harvey Dent, is a satisfying story that takes care to ensure it utilizes its setting to the fullest.

Performance Worth Watching: Obviously, Batman is meant to be the standout character here, but Giuntoli’s performance as the Dark Knight can’t be praised enough. The hero has seen his share of talented actors over the years, and with the passing of the late Kevin Conroy, it was undoubtedly difficult to find someone with enough range and gravitas to make for a believable Batman. Giuntoli gives it his all and then some, making for one of the best on-screen portrayals of Batman yet.

Memorable Dialogue: “Hark, the Lurker’s on the threshold. And behold, it is coming,” Grendon (David Dastmalchian), an Elseworlds stand-in for the iconic villain Mr. Freeze, mutters after Bruce decks him a few times to get him to calm down. He’s laid out what’s to come as this Lovecraftian adventure wears on, and it all certainly is something you’ll want to “behold” – it’s the only correct word for what goes down throughout the rest of the film.

Sex and Skin: None in this adventure to speak of. It’s more focused on disturbing incidents and violence.

Our Take: If you’ve ever read any of H.P. Lovecraft’s works, The Doom That Came to Gotham will feel intimately familiar. This is less typical Batman action and more of an intense, cerebral adventure that finds Batman stretched thin, pushed nearly to the point of no return where it concerns his sanity. As he and his comrades come across some of the most unimaginable horrors possible, he realizes that this time, he might very well be outmatched in terms of strength.

The type of monsters he’s facing this time aren’t human, and they’re the type of demons that need to be outsmarted instead of physically eliminated in some cases, which means Batman puts his detective skills to good use. Though it should be mentioned that there is some killing in this feature, which Batman does not tend to do — a shocking departure that makes for an intriguing moment in the movie that you likely won’t be expecting, especially as it concerns a major player in the Batman universe.

While Batman gets something of a reimagining, at least in terms of how he approaches some of the problems in Gotham, some familiar faces also see changes that make them interesting additions to the cast. Seeing Cobblepot in his feral form instead of as the dapper Penguin is a fun change of pace, and Green Arrow, known simply by his real name Oliver Queen (Christopher Gorham) in the movie, is something of a drunk, rich jerk for much of his time on-screen before proving himself. These different dimensions to recognizable characters make for some novel viewing that fits well within the timeframe.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Whether you’re a die-hard Batman fan or you want to explore the hero without diving too deep into his lore, this one-off adventure is a satisfying and thrilling tale that combines horror elements with classic Bat-catastrophes. With strong animation, a great cast, and excellent source material, it’s one Batman tale you’ll won’t want to miss, especially if you’re a Lovecraft fan.

Brittany Vincent has been covering video games and tech for over a decade for publications like G4, Popular Science, Playboy, Variety, IGN, GamesRadar, Polygon, Kotaku, Maxim, GameSpot, and more. When she’s not writing or gaming, she’s collecting retro consoles and tech. Follow her on Twitter: @MolotovCupcake.