Supergirl review: Milly Alcock gives DC a jagged new spark
Craig Gillespie's Supergirl swaps polish for punk-rock energy, with Milly Alcock's restless Kara Zor-El powering a space-western revenge tale.
Sophie Bennett
Writer ·
Supergirl arrives with a deliberately rougher edge than many recent superhero releases, building its identity around Milly Alcock's restless turn as Kara Zor-El.
The Associated Press review describes a punk-rock version of the character: sarcastic, bruised and impulsive, and a long way from the polished ideal usually associated with Superman's family.
A space-western revenge tale
Directed by Craig Gillespie and inspired by Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the film follows Kara through a cosmic revenge story in which she reluctantly helps a young girl after a family tragedy. Strong production design and cosmic humour give it an offbeat charm.
The verdict
Reviewers broadly praise the lead performance while noting that some supporting characters and the wider plot feel thinner than the concept promises.
The central question is whether the film can keep pace with Alcock's energy. For the studio, it is a significant test of how far familiar superhero material can be stretched without losing mainstream appeal.
Referenced coverage: Our reporting and analysis draws on coverage first reported by Associated Press. The NE Times publishes original reporting and independent analysis written by our editorial team. We credit and link the outlets whose primary reporting informed this article.
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