Secret Invasion
2023
Original language: English
- drama
- sci-fi & fantasy
- action & adventure
The story
Nick Fury and Talos discover a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls who have been infiltrating Earth for years.
What it’s like
Muted, workmanlike Marvel palette: overcast greys, sodium-lit hotel corridors, drab government offices and washed-out London and Mediterranean-adjacent streets, with the occasional flash of glossy action set against it. Camera work is competent and conventional, mostly medium shots and over-the-shoulder conversations, with tense handheld moments during chases and a few wider establishing shots of cities under strain. The score leans on low synth drones and percussive thriller beats, and there is a steady hum of paranoia in the sound design, with doors, phones and familiar voices that may not be what they seem. Vibe: grim, watchful, quietly suspicious, closer to a cold-war spy thriller than a bright superhero romp. Pacing is deliberate across six episodes, with long stretches of talk and surveillance broken by sharp bursts of violence, some of it brutal and bloody, including shootings, stabbings and body horror-tinged shapeshifting, plus some strong language and a few tense, frightening scenes. Emotional register is anxious and bleak, and arcs centre on ageing or compromised figures wrestling with loyalty, identity and what they owe the people they trust. Best for viewers who like espionage and paranoia and can handle a dark, violent MCU entry, and not a fit for anyone wanting something gentle.
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