Spider-Noir Season 1 Review : Nicolas Cage shines in this dark and wildly atmospheric ride

Story: In 1930s New York, private investigator Ben Reilly is forced back into action as the masked Spider when mobsters and dangerous experiments pull him into a deadly fight from his past.

Review: ‘Spider-Noir’ brings a fresh spin to the superhero world by dropping viewers into a gritty 1930s setting filled with corruption and difficult choices. The show wastes little time pulling viewers into its old-school detective atmosphere mixed with comic book action and men endowed with superhuman abilities. The eight episodes give the story enough room to slowly build this unusual take on a much-loved comic book hero. Unlike superhero stories that rely heavily on spectacle, this series leans into darkness, damaged people, and the emotional mess left behind by violence and regret. Right from the opening episode, the makers show they are trying to do something different, though in their effort they also go off the mark too. But this story is different, and the ambition behind it deserves appreciation.

The plot begins in 1930s New York with Ben Reilly (Nicolas Cage), a private investigator who is grieving the loss of his wife, Ruby (Amanda Schull). The loss has been so traumatic for him that he also left behind the persona of the masked vigilante Spider. Things quickly change when Adison sets fire to the house of Silvermane (Brendan Gleeson), the powerful mob boss of New York. The incident drags him back to the streets of New York. Along the way he meets Robbie Robertson (Lamorne Morris), a journalist and friend, and Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li), a nightclub singer whose presence drags him further into the vortex of violence and more revelations. At first it feels like a straightforward clash between Silvermane’s corrupt empire and Ben Reilly’s sense of justice, but the plot goes deeper when New York sees the emergence of men like Flint (Jack Huston), Lonnie (Abraham Popoola), and Dirk (Andrew Lewis Caldwell) possessed with superhuman abilities. The story then goes back and informs us about an experiment by the Nazis during the World War on these men who were POWs and Ben too was one of the casualties.

‘Spider Noir’ checks most of the boxes right and the plot moves through smoky clubs, hidden labs, and streets of New York. The series is set during the Great Depression and the way it depicts the socio political milieu of the country at that time is a clincher. It manages to deliver a solid mix of detective storytelling and superhero moments, but yes there are stretches too, especially in the middle episodes, where the pacing begins to slow things down. Another thing that makes this Spiderman story unique in its space is the humour that’s peppered throughout the eight episodes. It’s subtle but it manages to make an impact. The noir style and black-and-white tone give the series a distinct atmosphere and it manages to tell a story, still relevant, without getting into the lanes of nostalgia. Ben Reilly fighting with a cover version of Dean Martin’s ‘Sway’ playing in the background is one such striking moment. And then there is ‘Cry me a River’ too during one of the end credits. The series avoids feeling like just another superhero story because it keeps grounding its events in the hard realities of that era.

A lot of the success of this series undoubtedly goes to Nicolas Cage’s fantastic performance and an excellent supporting cast. Cage manages to carry the series with a unique style that is both energetic and humorous. He plays Ben Reilly as a broken man filled with bitterness, sharp humour and sudden bursts of unpredictable behaviour that make nearly every scene interesting to watch. Cage never tones himself down for the role, which actually works well within the show’s weird and gloomy world. Lamorne Morris brings a grounded presence to Robbie Robertson, the sharp journalist and an ally of Ben. Li Jun Li adds mystery to Cat Hardy. Brendan Gleeson makes Silvermane feel like a genuine threat who could destroy someone’s life without raising his voice. Even when the script slips and descends into sillier territory, the actors fully commit to the material and manage to sell both the serious drama and the odd humour.

‘Spider-Noir’ manages to carve a unique identity of its own and looks different from the regular superhero flicks. At the same time it also has flaws, and the screenplay and the writing could have surely been tightened a bit, and even seven episodes might have sufficed. But much of this is overshadowed by the strong setting, uniqueness of the plot, and committed performances by the actors. It's evident while watching the series that at no point is it trying to play safe and is committed to going beyond established norms. The series also has rough edges that sometimes work against it but also help in giving it an identity. ‘Spider-Noir’ is entertaining and engaging, and those willing to embrace a darker plot of a superhero rooted in the Great Depression will have much to enjoy in this dangerous and depressing version of New York.