The Shocking Truth Behind The Flash Movie's Controversial CGI: Revealed by Director

The much-criticized CGI in The Flash has been defended by director Andy Muschietti. Despite initial praise for the film's premiere, critics have since pointed out the unfinished look of the film's visual effects. Viewers have also noted the expensive budget that did not appear on the screen. Muschietti has now defended the film's unique visuals, stating that they were intentional in a scene at the beginning of the film where Barry Allen saves babies from a falling nursery.

The Flash's Poor CGI Continues an Unfortunate DCEU Trend

As we step into the world of the Flash, everything around us appears distorted with unusual lights and textures. It's almost like we have entered a 'waterworld' that is entirely from Barry's point of view. This surreal experience is a deliberate part of the design, so if it seems a bit strange at first, that's exactly what was intended.

While The Flash received overwhelmingly positive reviews at its world premiere at CinemaCon, some critics did discuss the poor quality of the CGI. However, these criticisms were not overly harsh as an unfinished cut of the film was screened. Since the final version of The Flash was shown to the press, the CGI has become a divisive talking point, even in positive reviews, and this has unfortunately resulted in a less favorable reception towards the film. Despite Muschietti's attempts to defend its look, The Flash's subpar CGI continues a trend that has plagued many DCEU films.

The Flash's CGI has drawn comparisons to the 2017 version of Justice League, which was heavily criticized for its awkward computer-generated effects. Despite a whopping $300 million budget, the film suffered from extensive reshoots and the departure of director Zack Snyder, resulting in sequences with noticeable CGI flaws, such as Henry Cavill's digitally altered lip to hide his Mission: Impossible - Fallout mustache. Justice League's poor commercial and critical reception led to the cancellation of future DCEU crossover plans, and the franchise was ultimately rebooted with James Gunn's DCU. While Zack Snyder's Justice League received better reviews upon release in 2021, some criticized its visual effects, including the appearance of Martian Manhunter. The Flash's criticisms highlight recurring flaws in the DCEU, which future entries may or may not address.

Source: io9