Jackson A. Dunn stars in a scene from the movie "Brightburn." The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. (CNS/Screen Gems)

By Catholic News Service

Messy, gory and numbing slaughter that tries to meld the creation myth of the “Superman” saga with the demon-spawn story of “The Omen.”

A boy (Jackson A. Dunn) on the cusp of adolescence, who has arrived in his Kansas town from somewhere in outer space, slowly discovers he has immense strength and a desire to kill, quickly terrorizing his neighbors, classmates and parents Director David Yarovesky and screenwriters Brian Gunn and Mark Gunn have not provided an underlying psychological message, or an allegory about troubled adolescence. It’s just a sloppy horror tale best missed.

A warped sense of moral values, pervasive gore, fleeting rough language and profanities. The Catholic News Service classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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