The LA Times’ Hero complex interviews Brett Culp, the director of a documentary that examines the hero mythos of Batman and how the dark knight is inspiring people to do good.
Filmmakers and comic book creators have taken Batman to some dark and scary places in recent years, but a new documentary steps away from the grim and gritty to examine the Dark Knight’s bright side as the character inspires people to do good.
“Legends of the Knight,” out this week on DVD and video on demand, weaves together the true stories of ordinary heroes, including a man who dons the cape and cowl to visit children’s hospitals; a journalist whose love of superheroes offers her courage as she lives with muscular dystrophy; a town that comes together to grant the wish of a little boy with leukemia to be a superhero for a day; and a student who, while dressed as Batman, does anonymous good deeds for his community.
The feel-good film, from director Brett Culp, also features extensive interviews with several Batman experts, including Michael Uslan, who has served as executive producer on every Batman film since 1989; comic writer and editor Dennis O’Neil, who oversaw DC Comics’ notorious “A Death in the Family” story; and Travis Langley, who penned “Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight.”
