‘Welcome To Marwen’ Trailer: Probably The Most Feel-Good Film About Being Brutally Beaten By Neo-Nazis Ever Made

The marketing campaign for Steve Carell and director Robert Zemeckis’ new film “Welcome to Marwen” has been a bit confusing, to say the least. The first trailer, released back in June, failed to garner much interest as it turned a true story about a man being beaten within an inch of his life by a group of neo-Nazis into some sort of light-hearted romp with toys. The second trailer, only a few weeks later, changed it up, to put a more serious, prestige film vibe on the Christmas release. But now, with the third attempt at a trailer, the marketing team ends up sending mixed messages, yet again.

READ MORE: 56 Must-See Films: The 2018 Fall Movie Preview

The third trailer for “Welcome to Marwen” once again tells the basic plot for the film. Carell plays Mark Hogancamp, a man who was brutally beaten by a group of neo-Nazis and is suffering from severe PTSD and memory loss. To help cope with this newfound status in life, he adopts a new hobby, creating a miniature world called Marwen, which is populated by dolls inspired by the folks in his real life.

“Welcome to Marwen” is inspired by a true story, which was also adapted into a truly great documentary titled “Marwencol” (definitely check it out). The story is definitely uplifting, in some ways, but ultimately, it’s a fairly dark tale about a man’s survival in the face of truly horrible circumstances. But somehow, Zemeckis has turned the story into what appears to be a “Toy Story”-esque adventure with a healthy dose of melodrama. Is it a serious prestige film with Oscar dreams? Is it a light-hearted, feel good film about hope and strength? Or maybe it’s both? At this point, your guess is as good as ours.

READ MORE: Box Office Forecasts Predict Franchise-Low Openings For ‘Aquaman’ & ‘Bumblebee’ As Both Open December 21

Ultimately, when juggling a serious story with a very unique take, the only hope we have is that the film keeps to a tone and runs with it. “Welcome to Marwen” has the potential to be a great film, with a crew of incredible actors. But it also has the potential to be a bit of a mess. Fingers crossed.

“Welcome to Marwen” hits theaters on December 21.

Here’s the synopsis:

When a devastating attack shatters Mark Hogancamp (Carell) and wipes away all memories, no one expected recovery. Putting together pieces from his old and new life, Mark meticulously creates a wondrous town where he can heal and be heroic. As he builds an astonishing art installation—a testament to the most powerful women he knows—through his fantasy world, he draws strength to triumph in the real one. In a bold, wondrous and timely film from this revolutionary pioneer of contemporary cinema, Welcome to Marwen shows that when your only weapon is your imagination…you’ll find courage in the most unexpected place.