Son of Batman

Son of Batman is a 2014 American animated superhero film which is the 20th film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies and the third film in the DC Animated Movie Universe.[1] It is an adaptation of Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert's 2006 "Batman and Son" storyline.[2][3] The film was released as a digital download on April 22, 2014,[4] and was released on physical media on May 6.[5][6]

This article is about the 2014 film. For the fictional DC character, see Damian Wayne.
Son of Batman
Home video release cover art
Directed byEthan Spaulding
Screenplay byJoe R. Lansdale
Story byJames Robinson
Based onCharacters appearing in comic books published
by DC Entertainment
Produced byJames Tucker
Starring
Edited byChristopher D. Lozinski
Music byFrederik Wiedmann
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Home Video
Release date
  • April 22, 2014 (2014-04-22)
Running time
74 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

At the headquarters of the League of Assassins, Ra's al Ghul grooms Damian Wayne, the young son of his daughter Talia and Batman, to succeed him. The League is ambushed by a group of assassins led by Slade Wilson, Ra's al Ghul's initial choice for successor before Damian's birth. Ra's is defeated and fatally injured by Slade, dying before he can heal his injuries with the Lazarus Pit. After the incident, Talia takes Damian to Gotham City to meet his father and remain in his care while she and the League deal with Slade. The aggressive, highly independent Damian objects and frequently disobeys his father's orders in an attempt to seek out Slade and avenge Ra's himself. After Nightwing accosts him for sneaking out and brutally attacking an associate of Slade, Batman berates Damian for his recklessness and willingness to kill. Batman then has Damian don the mantle of Robin to teach him discipline.

Slade, now calling himself Deathstroke, captures Talia as well as Dr. Kirk Langstrom, a scientist previously working with Ra's. Commissioner Gordon warns Batman about an abandoned stadium believed to house Deathstroke's men; after infiltrating the stadium, Batman and Damian attempt to question Langstrom, who initially refuses to leave as Deathstroke is holding his family hostage. When Damian becomes violently impatient and inadvertently alerts the enemy to their arrival, the group is confronted by a swarm of Man-Bats, which Langstrom explains is part of Deathstroke's plan to create superhuman flying assassins. While Nightwing works with Langstrom on an antidote for the Man-Bats, Batman and Damian set off to rescue Langstrom's family. Batman deduces that Talia has been abducted and Damian is relayed her location via a ransom video given to Langstrom's daughter.

Nightwing learns that Deathstroke is operating in an oil rig off the Scottish coast, and while Batman is distracted, Damian goes to the rig alone to rescue his mother. He finds Deathstroke and Talia in an underwater base with a swarm of Man-Bats and another Lazarus Pit, which Deathstroke intends to sell for profit. Deathstroke attempts to kill Damian, mortally wounding Talia as she shields her son from a gunshot. Batman arrives to assist and heals Talia in the Lazarus Pit, while Nightwing and Langstrom cure the Man-Bats.

After a brutal fight, Damian manages to defeat Deathstroke, but refuses to kill him because it is not what his father would do. The underwater base is destroyed when the Man-Bats, overwhelmed by sonar devices placed by Batman, break the glass elevator shaft and flood the base. Batman, Talia and Damian escape to safety, but the unconscious Deathstroke is left behind.[N 1] Discussing what to do with Damian now that Deathstroke has been neutralized, Batman believes that Damian should stay with him and remain as Robin while Talia still wishes to recreate the League with Batman and Damian at her side. Talia relents and allows Damian to stay in Gotham with his father, but states her intention to return for him someday.

During the credits, the fight between Damian and Nightwing is shown.

Voice cast
Voice actor Character
Jason O'Mara Bruce Wayne / Batman
Stuart Allan Damian Wayne / Robin
Thomas Gibson Slade Wilson / Deathstroke
Morena Baccarin Talia al Ghul
Sean Maher Dick Grayson / Nightwing
David McCallum Alfred Pennyworth
Giancarlo Esposito Ra's al Ghul
Xander Berkeley Dr. Kirk Langstrom
Diane Michelle Francine Langstrom
Fred Tatasciore Waylon Jones / Killer Croc
Bruce Thomas James Gordon, Ubu
Kari Wahlgren Rebecca Langstrom
Robbie Patterson Penguin
John Smith Bane, Death-stroke goons, Girlfriend #1
Dee Bradley Baker The Joker (cameo), Man-Bat commandos, Girlfriend #2
Andrea Romano Suit #2

Soundtrack
Son of Batman (Music from the DC Universe Movie)
Film score by
Frederik Wiedmann
ReleasedMay 20, 2014
Length65:52
LabelLa-La Land Records

The soundtrack to Son of Batman was released on May 20, 2014, with music composed by Frederik Wiedmann.[7]

Tracklist
Son of Batman (Music from the DC Universe Movie)
No.TitleLength
1."Son of Batman"0:56
2."Peace and War"2:13
3."Deathstroke’s Army"3:41
4."Ashes to Ashes"4:59
5."Gotham Crimes"2:21
6."Souvenirs d’une Liaison"1:34
7."Damian"1:03
8."Gotham City"1:13
9."Call Me Deathstroke"2:40
10."Ninjas"1:57
11."Asylum Interrogations"1:50
12."Ambushed" (Limited edition's exclusive track)1:54
13."Rogue"3:45
14."Great Shoes to Fill"2:51
15."Man-Bats"1:42
16."The Spoiled Son" (Limited edition's exclusive track)2:05
17."Father and Son"1:52
18."Damian’s Mission"2:41
19."Off to Scotland"2:52
20."Stand-Off"2:19
21."Dr. Langstrom’s Rescue"2:36
22."Father Saves Son"2:12
23."The Duel"2:25
24."The Fall of the Empire"1:51
25."Damian’s Blade"2:52
26."Farewell"2:12
27."End Credits"4:23
Total length:65:52

Reception

Critical reception

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 64%, with an average score of 6.4/10, based on 11 reviews.[8] IGN gave the film a rating of 7.5 out of 10, saying that "Son of Batman finds the humor amidst the more adult-oriented action elements in this latest DC animated adventure".[9] On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a rating of 64% based on 11 votes, with an average rating of 6.4/10.[10] Common Sense Media gave the film a 4 star rating out of 5, saying that "violent and noirish Batman is engaging but cynical".[11] Conversely, Brian Lowry of Variety stated that "at times this feels like a sitcom premise — a chop-socky "Full House", or maybe, "Full Cave".[12] Tommy Cook for Collider.com also gave the film a negative review: "Striving for the dark edge of what I guess people expect from a Batman movie while still maintaining that Saturday morning toon sheen, the film feels mass produced to appeal to all (give the adults – gore; the kids – a spunky child sidekick); however in the effort to appease everyone, SoB in fact caters to none".[13]

Sales

The film earned $7,035,623 from domestic home video sales.[14]

Sequels

Three sequels were released including: Batman vs. Robin in 2015, Batman: Bad Blood in 2016, and Batman: Hush in 2019.

Notes
  1. The character returns in the 2017 film Teen Titans: The Judas Contract.

References
  1. Bricken, Rob (21 January 2014). "Damian lives in DC's next direct-to-DVD movie, Son of Batman". io9. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  2. "Watch the first trailer for DC animated movie Son of Batman - Flickering Myth". Archived from the original on January 20, 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  3. Serafino, Jason. "First "Son Of Batman" Trailer Debuts Online". Complex. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  4. "Son of Batman Review - IGN". 22 April 2014. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  5. ""Son Of Batman" Animated Feature Hits Home Video May 6th, 2014, First Look At Cover Art". 22 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  6. "First Look: It's Father's Day for the Dark Knight in Son of Batman - Today's News: Our Take - TVGuide.com". Archived from the original on 2014-10-07. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  7. "Cover Artwork, Track Listing For "Son Of Batman" Soundtrack Released". Worldsfinestonline.com. 7 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2017-12-11. Retrieved 2014-05-07.
  8. "Son of Batman". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  9. "The Dad Knight". ign.com. IGN. 22 April 2014. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  10. "Son of Batman". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on 2017-12-05. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  11. "Son of Batman review". commonsensemedia.org. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  12. "Blu-Ray Review: 'Son of Batman'". Variety.com. 2 May 2014. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  13. "WonderCon: DC Animation's Son of Batman Review". Collider. 22 April 2014. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  14. "Son of Batman The Numbers Listing" Archived 2016-08-26 at the Wayback Machine. The Numbers. Accessed October 4, 2019.
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