Starring Kevin Porter & Aaron Schoenke in the lead roles, this Sean & Aaron Schoenke-directed film defies traditional fan-film expectations. When you gear up to watch a fan film, you watch it for the passion of the creators involved, not expecting it to rival major Hollywood productions.

​Batman: Dying Is Easy is an exception to that mindset. Sure, there are a few hiccups here and there, but for the most part, the film holds your attention. The film manages to deliver an experience of a well-made Hollywood production coupled with the passion of a fan project.

Batman: Dying Is Easy (2021) Plot Summary and Setup

The film follows its central character, Batman (Kevin Porter), as he raids Mad Hatter’s (Jamie Costa) hideout, where he rescues a girl forced to dress as Alice. A couple of months later, Lieutenant Harvey Bullock (Michael Madsen) informs him that three policemen are missing and that the Joker (Aaron Schoenke) is dying and wishes to see him.

When Batman meets the Joker at Arkham Asylum, he tells the caped crusader that he is suffering from melanoma due to the chemical accident, and he wants to die at the hands of Batman as a fitting end to their legacy. The rest of the movie explores whether Batman grants him his wish and whether the three policemen are ever rescued.

Direction: How Aaron & Sean Schoenke Handle the Dark Knight

When I think of this film, the first thing that stood out was how focused it felt. The film opens with the visual of the bat suit, mobile, and cave. Just with those three visuals, they set the expectations clear that this is a story about Batman on a mission and less about the circumstances and his well-known backstory that led him to adopt this mantle.

One could argue that with a runtime of around 26 minutes, the director & father-son duo of Aaron and Sean Schoenke had to be focused, but it’s still a job well done. At the same time, it can’t be denied that it’s relatively easier to maintain a solid output for 26 minutes than it is to do the same for 2 hours or more.

​So, credit where it’s due, as the film manages to hold your attention throughout, but you need to understand the circumstances around it as well. The directors also deserve to be praised for not painting Batman as a saint. When Harvey asks Batman about not pulling the trigger on Joker earlier, Batman tells him that he’s “the one with a gun and a license to kill.”

​During the film’s final scenes, Batman reveals that not knowing why or who killed his parents left him with an “endless open wound”. He continues that “it’s the lack of closure” which has turned him into his monster. A monster that he “both fears and embraces”. Through these lines, the film quietly tells you that while there are admirable qualities in Batman, his story is one of pain, and you shouldn’t actively seek that.  

Cinematography, Production Design, and Music

If I were to further elaborate on what I loved, it would be how the film maintains the same dark, mysterious tone and atmosphere throughout. The experience feels so uniform because every department has contributed to it. At this point, It’s easy to put this entire credit on the writing and acting, but the cinematography and music deserve to be praised as well.

Cinematographer Aric Abraham has utilized dark shades coupled with a grey and black color palette to set a gritty and serious atmosphere. The film features visuals of playing cards, the book “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, an old TV set, and blink-and-miss cameos by iconic villains like Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy.

​All of these contribute to the odd, mildly disturbing scenery we expect from a Batman movie, and huge credit to the production company, Bat in the Sun, for creating an appropriate setting. As for the music by Sean Schoenke, it completely fits and elevates the mood of the scenes wherever it appears, ranging from mysterious to dramatic heroic tunes.

Cast Performance Breakdown: Kevin Porter & Aaron Schoenke

For an actor, the role of the Joker offers a rare opportunity to deliver an iconic, memorable performance. By design, the character of Batman rarely provides the same opportunities, especially when the actor is given zero scenes without the cowl or as Bruce Wayne. That’s precisely the hand Kevin Porter was dealt, yet he still made the absolute most of it.

Faced with those restrictions, he had to rely on his vocal variations and subtle facial expressions to convey his emotions. And that’s exactly what he did, quite well, I might add. When it’s all said and done, you won’t be fighting to place his name among the greatest Batman portrayals, but his work would surely be looked at positively.

As for Aaron Schoenke’s performance as The Joker, he delivers an absolute standout performance. His portrayal reminded me of “Batman: The Animated Series” (1992), as Aaron’s work had a distinct, theatrical flair to it. His best moment arrives when Batman outsmarts him, and he begins to laugh maniacally while lying on the floor.

I believe Aaron’s lean frame also made the part more convincing, as you won’t expect a Joker rotting in Arkham Asylum to look like a bodybuilder. Also, a huge shoutout to the makeup department, which didn’t give him the typical full-blown Joker makeup as it was in the aforementioned TV show or “The Dark Knight” (2008), but still managed to make him look menacing enough.

However, if I were to nitpick, his hand movements do feel a little repetitive, which could have been handled better by focusing more on his face. Nevertheless, his expressions and the maniac laughing scene more than make up for it. Other than that, it is picture-perfect execution by Aaron Schoenke. As for Michael Madsen, he does justice to his brief, impactful role.  

Final Verdict: Is Batman: Dying Is Easy (2021) Worth Watching?

Batman: Dying Is Easy earns a definitive recommendation from my side. But it isn’t a perfect film by any means. Not every cameo will appeal to you, and it could have benefited from sharper editing of the pivotal Arkham Asylum sequence.

The film’s shorter runtime is also a matter of debate, with many wondering if it can be compared against standard Hollywood productions. If you can overlook all of that, you’ll find yourself rewarded with a fan film that offers the passion of film projects and a final product that rivals major superhero films.  

If you’re curious to watch this film, Batman: Dying Is Easy is available to watch for free on YouTube. You can click here to stream the full feature.