Ultimate Pop Culture Wiki
Register
Advertisement


Batman: Under the Red Hood
Batman under the red hood poster
Home video release poster
Directed byBrandon Vietti
Produced byBruce Timm
Bobbie Page
Written byJudd Winick
Starring<templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Music byChristopher Drake
Edited byMargaret Hou
Distributed byWarner Home Video
Release date
<templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • July 27, 2010 (2010-07-27)
Running time
75 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Batman: Under the Red Hood released on July 27, 2010 is an American animated superhero adventure direct-to-video film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and released by Warner Home Video.[1] It is the eighth feature in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series. The writer, Judd Winick, also wrote the "Under the Hood" run in the monthly Batman comic.

The two-disc special edition and Blu-ray also includes an animated short featuring Jonah Hex.[2][3]

Plot[]

Ra's al Ghul realizes his mistake in hiring the Joker to use him as a distraction while Ra's destroyed Europe's financial districts. In Sarajevo, Bosnia, the Joker brutally assaults Jason Todd, the second Robin, in an abandoned warehouse with a crowbar. Jason is locked in the warehouse with a bomb, which explodes and kills him before Batman arrives.

Five years later in Gotham City, a vigilante called Red Hood assembles a meeting of the city's prominent gang leaders. He announces a takeover of their drug trade, taking only 40 percent of the profit in return for protection from Black Mask and Batman. Batman stops an attempted theft of a shipment belonging to Black Mask, which is the advanced android Amazo. Batman destroys Amazo with the help of Jason's predecessor Nightwing and discovers the thieves are working for Red Hood. He chases Red Hood to Ace Chemicals, where an explosion destroys the facility and almost kills Batman.

Jason Todd (Batman-Under the Red Hood)

Jason Todd as Red Hood (left) and as Robin (center and right)

Batman and Nightwing interrogate the Joker at Arkham about Red Hood, but he denies involvement. Black Mask puts a hit on Red Hood for Amazo's destruction. Batman and Nightwing prevent Red Hood from hijacking Black Mask's next shipment. They chase Red Hood to a train station, where Red Hood escapes after detonating a bomb, which injures Nightwing. Batman and Nightwing realize Red Hood is trained and has knowledge of Batman's tactics and gadgetry. A review of audio footage of the chase reveals Red Hood knows Batman's secret identity. He then recalls Jason performing the same maneuvers as Red Hood and that Jason grew more violent and bloodthirsty as he aged.

The Fearsome Hand of Four lure out Red Hood by attacking Tyler Bramford, a gang leader under his protection. They nearly overpower him until Batman helps incapacitate three of them and Red Hood kills the fourth, horrifying Batman. Red Hood explains he is doing what Batman will not: killing criminals who are not afraid. Batman offers to help Red Hood but he refuses. A blood sample of Red Hood matches Jason's. After discovering Jason's body is fake, Batman confronts Ra's al Ghul and demands to know the truth. Ra's says he felt responsible for Jason's death and, as a peace offering, he swapped Jason's body for a fake and revived him in the Lazarus Pit. Following his resurrection, Jason was driven insane and escaped by leaping off a cliff, which Ra's and his men believed killed him. After surviving an assassination attempt by Red Hood, Black Mask sets the Joker free, tasking him with killing Red Hood.

In a twist, Joker abducts Black Mask and the crime bosses and sets them on fire; Red Hood appears and reveals his real target all along has been the Joker. Batman saves the hostages and Red Hood takes the Joker. Red Hood brutally assaults the Joker in revenge for his own murder and confronts Batman. During the fight, Red Hood removes his helmet, confirming he is Jason. Their fight makes its way to a dilapidated building and ends with Jason holding Batman at gunpoint. Though he has forgiven Batman for not saving him, Jason is upset that Joker is still alive after killing him. Batman admits he wants to kill the Joker but will not, fearing he will not stop if he kills once. Jason tosses Batman a gun and gives him an ultimatum—he will execute the Joker unless Batman shoots him. Batman refuses and drops the gun, causing Jason to shoot at him. Batman throws a batarang, which jams Jason's pistol. When Jason pulls the trigger again, the gun is destroyed and Jason's right hand is mangled. Defeated, Jason sets off a time bomb and Batman subdues the Joker before attempting to save Jason. The bomb explodes; Batman and the Joker survive but Jason is gone.

The Joker is returned to Arkham and Black Mask is arrested for his involvement in the Joker's escape. A flashback shows Jason's first day as Robin, which he declares is the best day of his life.

Cast[]

BruceGreenwoodTIFFSept10 Jensen Ackles by Gage Skidmore
John DiMaggio by Gage Skidmore 2 5.3.10NeilPatrickHarrisByDavidShankbone
Top row (l-r): Bruce Greenwood, Jensen Ackles
Bottom row (l-r): John DiMaggio, Neil Patrick Harris

Crew[]

Music[]

Batman: Under The Red Hood – Soundtrack to The Animated Original Movie
Film score by
ReleasedJuly 27, 2010 (July 27, 2010)
Length57:24
LabelWaterTower Music

The score for Batman: Under the Red Hood was composed by Christopher Drake,[7] who had previously scored several animated films set in the DC Universe. It was inspired by the soundtracks of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm which features a traditional orchestral score and The Dark Knight which features a computer generated, electronic score.[8] Drake said that since Under the Red Hood has a darker tone than previous DC Universe animated films, he chose not to use the music as epic and melodramatic instead opting for a more intimate, minimal and restrained tone.[8] He added that this is the first DC film he has scored that didn't rely on using a large choir to make the fight scenes sound bigger. Drake scored the film as a reference to modern minimalist electronic scores because the film's director Brandon Vietti felt that Under the Red Hood needed to go in a different, more modern direction to separate it from previous DC animation scores. At that point, Drake introduced more electronic and ambient elements, like synthesized and processed electronic guitar, while retaining orchestral elements.[8]

Batman: Under The Red Hood – Soundtrack to The Animated Original Movie was released by WaterTower Music on July 27, 2010 and features 18 tracks composed for the film.[9]

Batman: Under The Red Hood – Soundtrack to The Animated Original Movie
No.TitleLength
1."A Death In The Family"4:51
2."Main Titles"2:42
3."Mob Boss Meeting"1:47
4."Amazo"4:21
5."Batwing"3:15
6."Batmobile To Arkham"0:50
7."Interrogation"1:19
8."Rooftop Chase"4:21
9."Flashback"2:19
10."Black Mask Strikes Back"1:17
11."Techno Ninjas"5:41
12."Break Out"2:14
13."Deal With The Devil"0:48
14."Ra's Story"5:47
15."The Bridge"5:12
16."Final Confrontation"4:44
17."The Choice"2:16
18."End Titles"3:34
Total length:57:24

Reception[]

Batman: Under the Red Hood received critical acclaim. Demeter's review for The World's Finest stated: "I have to say this really was a damn good film". James Harvey's review on the same website was even more positive, calling it "a mature and faithful take on the Batman lore".[10] IGN gave the movie an 8 out of 10, calling it "An interesting peek inside the psyche of Batman and the fine line between good and evil".[11] Based on 7 reviews collected on Rotten Tomatoes, Batman: Under the Red Hood has an approval rating of 100% with an average rating of a 7.3/10.[12] It was the highest rated direct-to-video Batman film until the release of The Dark Knight Returns. The film grossed $10,249,509 in domestic home video sales.[13]

References[]

  1. "Batman: Under the Red Hood". Amazon. Retrieved August 7, 2014.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  2. ""Batman: Under the Red Hood" Trailer". Comic Book Resources. 2010-04-27. Retrieved 2010-06-20.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  3. "Warner Premiere Formally Announces 'Batman: Under the Red Hood' - ComicMix news". Comicmix.com. 2010-04-27. Archived from the original on 29 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-20. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 Harvey, James (July 9, 2010). "Complete Cast And Crew, Features Details For "Batman: Under The Red Hood"". worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved July 11, 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  5. "The World's Finest - New Cast Details For Upcoming "Batman: Under The Red Hood"". Worldsfinestonline.com. March 11, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  6. "The World's Finest - New Cast Details For Upcoming "Batman: Under The Red Hood" Animated Feature". Worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved January 2, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  7. "Christopher Drake". IMDb. Retrieved 15 October 2014.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Backstage - Christopher Drake Interview (WF Conducted)". The World's Finest. Retrieved August 16, 2014.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  9. "Batman: Under the Red Hood - Soundtrack to The Animated Original Movie". iTunes. July 27, 2010. Retrieved August 16, 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  10. "Batman: Under the Red Hood Film Review". The World's Finest. Retrieved April 3, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  11. White, Cindy (July 8, 2010). "Batman: Under the Red Hood Blu-ray Review". IGN. Archived from the original on July 12, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  12. "Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved July 19, 2018.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  13. "Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved March 21, 2012.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

External links[]

Advertisement