Ever since Marvel Studios has joined forces with the Mouse House, things have not been the same for the superhero genre. Granted there has been some major developments vis-à-vis the MCU, the genre now seems stagnant, almost lifeless. Movies are supposedly the highest form of art. The MCU, for all its successes over the years, is relentlessly criticized for being formulaic. But a new fan film titled Grey Café just might be the breath of fresh air we all desperately needed.
Hardcore X-Men fans might have come across the name Mahmut Akay. This new filmmaker has been on somewhat of a streak. His last venture was Close Shave, which explored Wolverine as he navigates a world rife with mutant prejudice. His latest work is Grey Café, an intense drama featuring Scout Taylor-Crompton of Halloween II and The Runaways fame as Jean Grey.
Also Read: 10 Famous X-Men Who Are Not Even Mutants
Here is what the description for the fan film reads in Akay’s official site:
‘Grey Café’ is an abstract fan film about Jean Grey from X-Men, starring Scout Taylor-Compton. It expands on our ‘X-MEN – Spin-off Anthology’ fan film universe.
The short film is produced by Adi Shankar. This is the same guy that gave us Judge Dredd: Superfiend and Punisher: Dirty Laundry. Starring a talented ensemble. Grey Café is a daunting take on the life and times of the host of the Phoenix Force. the entire movie happens within the confines of a café, hence the name. The video is only two minutes long. But truth be told, it is a damn good joyride. Mahmut Akay has experimented by adding bold but subtle layers to the 2 and a half minute fan film.
Here is the fan film video we are talking about:
The Era of X-Men Fan Films Has Begun!!
In an era where superhero movies are basically being spoon-fed to a larger audience, the entire domain is losing its charm. It is good to see people like Akay doing what they can to keep the flame alive. Close Shave might have had its flaws but Grey Café is a master-piece in terms of quality and content. Despite its shorter runtime, a flaw that also plagued Close Shave, Mahmut Akay’s Grey Café manages to convey a powerful message of prejudice and trauma to the audience with absolute precision.
