When the first trailer for Matt Reeves’ The Batman dropped in August 2020 it was the soundtrack that was the most surprising thing. Absent were the bombastic, uplifting sounds that typically accompany superhero movies, instead came the slow haunting tones of Something In The Way by Nirvana. A choice like this immediately makes you stop and take notice as the mood created by the song points towards a far more interesting film than initially expected. When watching the finished product, the influence of Nirvana on the film is clear and better off for it. Unlike previous adaptations this Batman is not a confident playboy in his time off, instead this version of Bruce Wayne is a recluse barely able to make eye contact with people. This change in the character is an interesting one as it draws on the kind of open vulnerable masculinity that made Kurt Cobain himself such an icon. Robert Pattinson imbues the performance with a sensitivity that brings a freshness to well-trodden territory. Whether it’s in his honest connection to Zoe Kravitz’ Cat Woman or his fumbled attempt to explain to Alfred what he means to him, there is a layer of emotional fragility to the character that has yet to be seen before. Even under the mask there is a sense of Wayne’s fragility, of a boy who has lost his parents. Whilst some have accused the film of championing male violence and rehashing misogynistic tropes, I would argue this is not the case. Instead, the film depicts a male character who is strong despite his vulnerability and who can only succeed by learning to rely on others. It is not only in the fashion and aesthetic that the film is influenced by Nirvana and the work of Cobain but also in the new kind of masculinity which he represented.