The New Mutants 2020

As the narrative commences, Dani Moonstar (Blu Hunt) begins to recount an anecdote imparted by her father, William (Adam Beach), about the duality of human nature. He posited that every individual harbors two distinct inner entities – one comprising benevolence and empathy, and the other characterized by fear and aggression. This introspective moment serves as a poignant precursor to the events that unfold.

Cut to Dani awakening in her father’s arms on their reservation, only to witness the devastating aftermath of a tornado. As panic sets in, William shields Dani behind a tree before venturing out to aid his fellow residents. Tragically, he is struck down mere moments later, leaving Dani to face the brutal reality alone.

As she stumbles through the wreckage, a growling entity emerges, prompting her desperate attempt to flee. However, fate has other plans, and Dani tumbles down a hill, succumbing to unconsciousness.

When she regains consciousness, Dani finds herself in a secure facility, surrounded by a group of peculiar individuals, each harboring extraordinary abilities. The enigmatic Dr. Cecilia Reyes (Alice Braga) is her guide, explaining that this sanctuary serves as a refuge for those with unique gifts like hers. Reyes reveals to Dani that she is the sole survivor of the cataclysmic event on their reservation and that she possesses mutant powers, though Dani remains oblivious to these abilities.

The facility’s inhabitants are introduced through a group therapy session led by Dr. Reyes. There’s Rahne Sinclair (Maisie Williams), who can transform into a wolf, yet carries the scars of trauma inflicted by a zealot priest; Illyana Rasputin (Anya Taylor-Joy), whose fascination with her purple dragon hand puppet, Lockheed, belies the turmoil brewing beneath the surface; Roberto da Costa (Henry Zaga), a wealthy Brazilian whose privileged upbringing seems at odds with his troubled demeanor; and Sam Guthrie (Charlie Heaton), who presents himself with a battered black eye and a broken arm, hinting at a turbulent past.

As Dani integrates into this eclectic group, she’s met with a mix of curiosity and hostility. Illyana, in particular, takes an instant dislike to her, engaging in a series of snide remarks and mocking gestures. Dr. Reyes attempts to facilitate open communication, but it becomes clear that the teens’ complex emotional landscapes are far from being fully explored.

During her initial tour of the facility, Illyana’s lack of enthusiasm is palpable as she nonchalantly tags a nearby fountain with graffiti. Dani’s subsequent attempt to flee results in an unexpected encounter with a forcefield, leaving her feeling frustrated and bewildered. Illyana’s response – a mixture of mocking laughter and sudden disappearance via teleportation – only adds to the sense of disorientation.

As Dani teeters on the brink of despair, Rahne’s timely intervention coaxes her back from the precipice of desperation. The latter’s gentle coaxing and reassuring presence prove a balm to Dani’s frayed nerves, ultimately persuading her to abandon her suicidal impulses and instead explore the mysterious facility alongside her new friend. As they wander the corridors, Rahne reveals the astonishing abilities of their fellow residents, including Sam’s superhuman flying prowess, which he hones through a rigorous practice routine that leaves him battered but unbroken.

Meanwhile, Roberto remains tight-lipped about his own powers, leaving the girls to speculate and gossip behind his back. Illyana, meanwhile, earns the ire of her peers with her caustic remarks and condescending attitude, which ultimately culminates in a full-blown altercation between Dani and the troublesome telepath.

As the teens settle into their dormitories for the night, Dani’s dreams are haunted by the traumatic events that transpired at her reservation, while Reyes monitors the young woman’s every move, sensing the presence of psionic energy emanating from her. The next morning, Sam and Roberto find themselves alone in the laundry room, where they stumble upon a mysterious washing machine whose contents transport Sam to a long-abandoned mine shaft in Kentucky, where he confronts an unsettling apparition - his deceased father.

Later that day, tensions between Dani and Illyana reach a boiling point during a heated confrontation in the recreation room, which culminates in the two girls being placed in solitary confinement by Reyes. As the days pass, Dani becomes increasingly plagued by visions of her past, including a disturbing flashback to her childhood where a sinister figure looms large.

Her nightmares intensify, and she finds herself reliving the traumatic events that destroyed her home and claimed the life of her father. Reyes’s intrusive tests only serve to exacerbate Dani’s growing unease, as she struggles to reconcile her troubled past with the strange, new world she now inhabits. Meanwhile, Rahne seeks solace in the chapel, where she’s confronted by an otherworldly voice that warns her of her own inhumanity and impending damnation.

As the night wears on, Sam (Sam) and Roberto (Roberto) invite Dani and Rahne to join them in a forbidden zone - the attic - where they can momentarily escape the prying eyes of Reyes. The group, including Illyana, settles in, their conversation flowing freely as they discuss the mysterious superior who has been looming large over Reyes’ thoughts. Speculation runs rampant, with the boys hypothesizing that she might be referring to Professor Xavier and his esteemed Mutant Academy, a notion that sends Illyana into a testing mode. With her lie detector gaze fixed on each of them, the truth begins to unravel, revealing secrets and scars that have been hiding beneath the surface.

Illyana’s keen insight exposes a shocking revelation: she has already taken 18 lives in her past life, a burden she bears with unspoken remorse. As the group’s attention shifts to Dani’s treasured bear necklace, Illyana’s probing gaze pierces her soul, drawing forth the story of its origin - a gift from her father.

Meanwhile, Reyes’ watchful eye is still trained on the attic, even as she attempts to reprimand the teens for their disobedience. But Illyana has other plans. With a mischievous grin, she spikes Reyes’ tea, sending the superior into a comatose state. The group seizes the opportunity to let loose and have fun, with Dani and Rahne swaying together under the night sky, Illyana teasing Reyes with wicked glee, and Sam and Roberto bonding over their shared struggles.

As the evening unfolds, secrets continue to surface. Sam confesses to accidentally unleashing his powers, resulting in the tragic loss of his father and half a mining town. Roberto remains tight-lipped about the events that led him to the facility, but Dani and Rahne find solace in each other’s company as they gaze up at the star-studded sky, shielded by the forcefield’s gentle glow. Their tender moment is marked by a shared first kiss.

However, Roberto’s attempt to rekindle his connection with Illyana takes a dark turn when he reveals his past trauma - having burned his girlfriend to death in a fiery outburst of power. Illyana, though moved by his pain, refuses to be swayed, only to vanish into thin air, leaving Roberto feeling helpless and lost.

In the blink of an eye, Illyana reappears, and a demonic creature manifests before him - his dead girlfriend, engulfed in flames. The beast attacks, prompting Roberto’s powers to surge forth in a desperate bid for self-preservation. As the group rushes to intervene, Reyes seizes the opportunity to push Roberto into the pool, hoping to extinguish the flames of destruction.

But Illyana’s enigmatic presence lingers, her words echoing through the night: “I was never in the pool.” The mystery deepens, and the group is left to ponder the true nature of this mystical realm they inhabit.

Reyes exacts a cruel punishment on Illyana, imprisoning her within the confines of her own room as retribution for the deception perpetrated against her. Meanwhile, Rahne indulges in a solitary shower, where she’s confronted by the malevolent apparition of her deceased priest (Happy Anderson), his W-branding iron raised like a spectral talon. The apparition sears its mark into Rahne’s neck, sending her into a tailspin of distress that the others struggle to calm. Illyana, freed from her captivity, reveals to the group that all this chaos is unfolding because of Dani’s burgeoning powers. She attempts to strike at Dani once more with the Soulsword, momentarily transporting her to a realm of unending torment before Dani counters by manifesting one of the unsettling smiley masks to repel Illyana. Reyes subjects Dani to further experimentation, and as Dani’s visions intensify, she becomes aware that the mutant children being subjected to inhumane treatment at the Transigen facility (a haunting echo of “Logan”) are not destined for the esteemed Mutant Academy. Convinced that Dani poses a grave threat, Essex Corporation decrees her elimination.

Dani seeks out Illyana in her room, returning Lockheed to his rightful owner and probing Illyana about the nature of her transportation. Illyana confesses that her powers first manifested when she was held captive by the enigmatic men in masks (the Smiley Men). Reyes, under guise of conducting one final test, leads Dani away, accompanied by Rahne’s watchful presence. As suspicions mount, Rahne seizes an opportunity to sabotage Reyes’ plan, using her lupine abilities to infiltrate the vents and assault Reyes until she flees in terror, ultimately saving Dani from a deadly injection. Simultaneously, Illyana and Roberto are beset by the Smiley Men, whose hideous faces – revealed as they discard their masks – inspire a fierce determination in the teens. Utilizing the Soulsword and Sam’s remarkable speed, they vanquish their tormentors. Following this confrontation, the trio infiltrates Reyes’ office to uncover files detailing their own fates. Illyana’s status as a formidable killer has made her the prime candidate for Essex Corporation’s sinister plans, while Dani’s extraordinary abilities were deemed an insurmountable threat. The teens realize that the only means of escaping the facility lies in locating and eliminating Reyes herself.

As Rahne skillfully tracks Reyes’ path, she inadvertently ensnares the teenagers within her own defensive constructs. With calculated precision, she reveals to them that Dani’s extraordinary ability lies in unleashing one’s deepest-seated fears and traumas to be exploited against oneself. Just as she prepares to eliminate Dani, the facility is suddenly besieged by the malevolent Demon Bear, a behemoth responsible for the devastating destruction of Dani’s home. The entity’s brutal assault claims Reyes’ life, shattering Rahne’s forcefields in the process. However, the Demon Bear’s rampage continues unabated, targeting the teenagers with its unrelenting ferocity. Undaunted, Illyana ventures into the ethereal realm of Limbo, brandishing the Soulsword and summoning Lockheed to join forces against the monstrous entity. The battle rages on in the chapel, where an unconscious Dani is powerless to resist the Demon Bear’s onslaught. As her comrades valiantly struggle against their formidable foe, Sam and Roberto unleash their own latent powers to counterattack, while Rahne transforms into a feral wolf to savage the creature’s visage. Despite their combined efforts, they find themselves on the receiving end of a merciless pounding. Amidst this chaos, Dani is visited by a prophetic vision of her father, urging her to reclaim her strength and fight back. Just as the Demon Bear prepares to claim Rahne as its next victim, Dani awakens and engages the entity in a calm, soothing dialogue, gradually transforming it into a docile form that relinquishes its malevolent intentions and retreats. With the forcefield barrier dissolving under the morning sun, the teenagers realize their freedom and bask in the warmth of a new dawn. As they prepare to start anew in the nearest town, Dani expresses gratitude for her friends’ timely intervention, while Rahne humbly credits herself with saving them all.