Jessica Jones has been another stellar knockout for Netflix's Marvel offerings, both in terms of its commercial and critical reception. Its writing, acting and cinematography have all contributed to a tale suitably dark and unsettling, aided by an atmosphere unparalleled in its genre. Mind control may not seem like a sinister power on the surface - its an ability that's been used in the most cartoonish of costumed misadventures - but The Purple Man (a character only introduced 15 years ago) has taken this ability and exposed it for all its inherent darkness and depravity. The power to persuade, to manipulate, is one far from childish, and David Tennant's portrayal of Killgrave shows its horrific nature at its worst. The show's semi-linear structure introduces us to a Jessica who's been disturbed and abused by this power, and the encroaching fear and anxiety of Killgrave's return is hinted at through subtle tricks of the camera and brief flashback. It's utterly terrifying to note the increase of purple tones as Killgrave moves closer and closer towards Jessica and her friends, and these subtle changes in the environment manage to instil the same sense of dread in the viewer that dominates the narrative through to its end. With this sort of creative talent at the helm, I sincerely hope that Marvel will continue to be a mainstay on Netflix and more importantly, remain a key force in pushing genre boundaries forward whilst it does. Do you think Netflix blows Marvel's films out of the water? Or are you happy with the current quality of the company's cinematic output? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below!
Resident movie guy at WhatCulture who used to be Comics Editor. Thinks John Carpenter is the best. Likes Hellboy a lot. Can usually be found talking about Dad Movies on his Twitter at @EwanRuinsThings.
