The New Mutants

Five young people with unusual powers are held at a secret institution that claims to be treating them. As disturbing events unfold, they must confront their abilities and decide how far to trust one another. Josh Boone directs a story that combines a young ensemble with the tension of a contained horror film.

The enclosed setting puts the group's relationships under the same pressure as their powers. Watch how fear affects trust when the institution controls what its patients can know. It offers a different viewing mood from a large X-Men team adventure, keeping the mystery close to the people trapped inside it.

Start here to meet the five young characters and their institution. X-Men is an optional next stop for a different approach to mutant identity, not a preceding chapter required by this guide.

Begin with this film for the introduction to its young ensemble. Another X-Men movie can provide a broader comparison of mutant stories, but a long rewatch is not the starting route recommended here. The studio lists the film as PG-13 and includes horror among its genres, which is a useful guide to its tone.

This film is not on the current reviewed Doomsday preparation list. That is separate from its value as a film or a starting point.