Worldbreaker

by Mike McGranaghan

Worldbreaker opens with a neat twist on the monster genre. “Breakers” are disgusting, multi-legged creatures who are unleashed when a large patch of land known as “the Stitch” breaks open. (They were essentially sewn into the land until something let them out.) People who fall victim to their bite quickly turn into so-called “hybrid” monsters. Women are less susceptible than men, though, so they’re the ones going to war. From that premise, director Brad Anderson (Session 9) and writer Joshua Rollins (Infinite Storm) spin a tale that meaningfully combines family drama with tense monster action.

Teenage Willa (Billie Boullet) sees her warrior Mom (Milla Jovovich) go off to fight the Breakers. Meanwhile, Dad (Luke Evans) takes her to a remote island where he begins training her in the art of combat. Both hope that Mom will eventually join them at this pre-planned meeting place. For a while, everything is good because nobody, including the creatures, knows they’re on the island. Then a mysterious young woman named Rosie (Mila Harris) shows up, having escaped the Breakers. Willa wants to help her but also feels the need to keep her hidden from Dad. This marks a turning point for everyone.

Worldbreaker is a story about holding on to a shred of hope in a world that seems hopeless. Willa is transfixed by stories of Kodiak, a mythical male warrior who has supposedly taken down hundreds of Breakers. She clings to his existence, even though he may not be real. Believing there’s a savior out there somewhere helps her push through the inherent fear that eats at her continually.

There’s a sweet father/daughter angle to the story. Dad knows he must keep Willa invested in the idea of Kodiak to provide the confidence she’ll need when her time comes to enter battle. Evans conveys Dad’s worry hidden behind a confident exterior, allowing us to grasp how much it pains him to know what his little girl will someday face, along with his determination to prep her as fully as possible. Boullet is equally strong, making her character’s transition amid constant uncertainty feel convincing. Scenes between the two leads constitute the bulk of the movie, and there’s genuine tenderness at the center of their relationship.

Action scenes are scattered throughout. When they arrive, they’re quite exciting. Yes, the Breakers look extremely similar to the bugs from Starship Troopers and the aliens from the A Quiet Place franchise. Anderson stages their attacks to serve the Willa/Dad dynamic, so the resemblance isn’t a huge deal. The creatures might have been scarier with a more original design, but they nevertheless achieve their generally intended effect.

Worldbreaker does give short shrift to Milla Jovovich, and the climax relies on one of those “only in the movies” acts of perfect timing. Still, this is a creature feature with something to say about parents, children, and the value of hope. It’s got a heart to match its adrenaline level.

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