Matt Reeves paints a sinister picture in his newest film, “The Batman,” starring Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz. 

Batman (Pattinson) has already been established as a powerful vigilante in Gotham City, and has an alliance—or friendship—with Gotham City police officer James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright). Because of this friendship, Batman is able to become an active part in the investigation regarding an emerging serial killer targeting the corruption that plagues Gotham City. Riddler (Paul Dano) is a psychotic criminal mastermind, and strikes a chill within audience members, as he is portrayed similarly to real-life serial killers instead of a clearly fantastical supervillain. The “realness” of the characters is what makes this version of Batman different from others.

The score in and of itself contributes heavily to the dark mood of this film. “Ave Maria” completely contrasts the violent scenes it is played over and adds to the eeriness of the entire movie. “Something in the Way” by Nirvana acts as Batman’s theme song and reflects his inner conflict with violence and vengeance. The color black dominates the screen in every shot of the film, a smart touch from producers that adds to the cohesive ominous mood of “The Batman.”

Pattinson does an excellent job portraying two distinct characters: Bruce Wayne and Batman, who have detached personalities while sharing the same body. Batman’s relationship with Catwoman (Kravitz) is captivating but left me wanting to see more development, which I hope will be explored in a later sequel. Kravitz is enchanting and she embodies the dangerous feminine energy that Catwoman has perfectly, which kept me intrigued throughout the movie, hoping to see her elegant femininity grace the screen among the brash men and violence.

“The Batman” is a great film, but my ignorance regarding the DC realm of movies refrains me from adequately comparing this movie to other versions of Batman. Though this may not be the best Batman adaptation, it is still an entertaining and artful experience that I would recommend others take the time to watch.