“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

- Henry G. Bohn

“A Hand-book of Proverbs” (1855)

The road to a novel, movie, life and death is strewn with debris, bodies, hubris and Faustian bargains.

Can you say: War in Ukraine?

“Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus,” a novel written by English author Mary Shelley and published in 1818, tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a creature in a scientific experiment.

“Dracula,” a novel written by Bram Stoker and published in the United Kingdom in 1897, is thought to be inspired by Transylvanian folklore and history, including the Wallachian prince Vlad the Impaler. Count Dracula is regarded as the Grand Daddy of vampires.

“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” was written by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson and first published in 1886.

Each of these novels has been the basis of numerous movies.

Add to these tomes, the 2021 licensing between Disney and Sony Pictures that goes where no agreement has gone before in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

This massive agreement has allowed several movies to be made.

Which brings us to “Morbius.” Though blasted by critics and under-performing in its opening weekend, “Morbius” is well-crafted, interesting and has a solid performance by Jarod Leto, one of contemporary cinema’s most versatile actors.

“Morbius” is based on the Marvel Comics character Morbius, the Living Vampire. It’s the third movie in the so-called Sony Spider-Man Universe (SSU), starting with “Venom” (2018) and continuing with “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” (2021).

“Morbius,” scheduled for release in July 2020, was delayed from theatrical presentation because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown.

In “Morbius,” Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) has a rare blood disease and requires crutches to assist his walking. He refuses a Nobel Prize for his research on artificial blood.

Dr. Morbius sees an opportunity to cure his blood disorder by gene-splicing the genes of vampire bats with his own genes. The experiment succeeds.

There’s one drawback, as there are in tales about the road to hell. It drives him batty. Bloody hell, you might say. Dr. Morbius becomes a vampire.

Dr. Morbius’s childhood friend, Milo (Matt Smith), who also suffers from a blood disorder and is cared for by Dr. Nicholas (Jared Harris), wants what Dr. Morbius is having. This complicates matters, setting up a confrontation between a friend and a friend turned foe.

Looking on with conflicted emotions is Dr. Morbius’s colleague, scientist and girlfriend, Dr. Martine Bancroft (Adria Arjona).

Investigating the blood-letting are FBI agents (Al Madrigal, Tyrese Gibson).

Director Daniel Espinosa (director, “Life,” 2017; “Safe House,” 2012), working from a screenplay by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless (co-writers, screenplays, “Gods of Egypt,” 2015; “The Last Witch Hunter,” 2014; “Dracula Untold,” 2014), sets up the story and lets the mayhem ensue.

The faces of Dr. Mobius and Milo transform hideously and effectively with the use of Computer Generated Imagery. Dr. Mobius and Milo are depicted as having the destructive power of a tactical nuclear weapon and the speed of an F-16.

The screenplay eschews the jokey tone, quips and ironic wall-to-wall use of popular music typical in many contemporary superhero movies, which function as a distraction for sub-par screenplays. “Morbius” is smarter than such clap-trap.

“Morbius” has excellent production values in cinematography, editing, sound and special effects. The movie is as much a horror film as a superhero movie. There are a number of jump cuts. The tension and tragedy of Dr. Morbius’s Hobson’s choice is palpable.

Leto (Oscar recipient, supporting actor, “Dallas Buyers Club,” 2013; actor, “House of Gucci,” 2021; “Suicide Squad,” 2016) is superb as Dr. Morbius. Leto switches moods faster than Will Smith at an Academy Awards ceremony. Leto successfully creates a lot of empathy for Dr. Morbius.

Arjona (TV’s “Good Omens,” 2019; “Emerald City,” 2017) provides a nice balance opposite Morbius. She’s understanding, yet not completely supportive while withholding judgment.

Smith (Emmy nominee, supporting actor, “The Crown,” 2016; TV’s “Dr. Who,” 2010-2014) as Milo is a mild-mannered person with a disability until he gets his hands on the blood plasma and then becomes a holy terror.

Dr. Morbius is just beginning his practice. The film hints at more cases to come.

“Morbius” will be of chief interest to those who don’t want to miss a journey into the Sony Spider-Man Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, growing vaster and stranger as I type these words. Here’s hoping that I am not Dr. Morbius’s blood type.

“Morbius,”

MPAA rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Parents are urged to be cautious. Some material may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers.) for intense sequences of violence, some frightening images, and brief strong language; Genre: Action, Adventure, Horror, Science-Fiction, Thriller; Run time: 1 hour, 44 min.; Distributed by Sony Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

There are two end-credit teaser scenes, one with Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton) and the second with Vulture, aka Adrian Toomes, and Dr. Morbius. The cargo ship in “Morbius” is named F.W. Murnau, an homage to the director of the silent film era vampire movie, “Nosferatu” (1922). New York City scenes were filmed in Manchester, Great Britain.

At The Movies:

“Morbius” was seen at Dolby Cinema at AMC in all its big-screen, seat-rumbling glory.

Theatrical Movie Box Office,

April 8-10: “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” zoomed to No. 1, opening with $71 million, in 4,234 theaters, ending “Morbius” one-week run at No. 1, dropping to No 2 with $10.2 million, in 4,268 theaters, $57 million, two weeks.

3. “The Lost City” dropped one place, $9.1 million, in 3,797 theaters, $68.8 million, three weeks. 4. “Ambulance,” opening, $8.7 million, in 3,412 theaters. 5. “The Batman” dropped two places, $6.5 million, in 3,254 theaters, $359 million, six weeks. 6. “Everything Everywhere All At Once” moved up three places, $6 million, in 1,250 theaters, $8.4 million, three weeks. 7. “Uncharted” dropped three places, $2.6 million, in 2,318 theaters, $142.9 million, eight weeks. 8. “Spider-Man: No Way Home” dropped one place, $625,000, in 1,009 theaters, $803.8 million, 17 weeks. 9. “Selena,” re-release, opening, $402,280, weekend, in 308 theaters, $620,364, one week. 10. “Sing 2” moved up one place, $220,000, in 936 theaters, $162.3 million, 16 weeks.

Box office information from Box Office Mojo as of April 10 is subject to change.

Unreel,

April 15:

“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,”

PG-13: David Yates directs Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller and Dan Fogler in the Adventure, Family, Fantasy. The third installment of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” returns us to Harry Potter land.

“Father Stu,”

R: Rosalind Ross directs Mel Gibson, Mark Wahlberg, Jacki Weaver and Winter Ave Zoli in the Drama. Father Stuart Long, a boxer-turned-priest, was the inspiration.

“Thirteen Lives,”

PG-13: Ron Howard directs Tom Bateman, Colin Farrell, Viggo Mortensen and Joel Edgerton in the Biography, Drama, Thriller. A rescue mission in Thailand attempts to save boys and their soccer coach trapped in underground caves that are flooding.

“Paris, 13th District,”

R: Jacques Audiard directs Zhang, Makita Samba, Noémie Merlant and Jehnny Beth in the Drama, Romance, Comedy. The lives of three girls and a boy intersect.

Theatrical movie dating opening information from Internet Movie Database as of April 10 is subject to change.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes