Do you feel that? A sudden chill in the air, a cloak of silence sweeping through the city, goosebumps standing to attention on your flesh…That’s right, Batman Unmaskedhas landed in Covent Gardentreating bat-fans to an all-new experience which showcases original props, costumes, vehicles (yes, there’s a Batmobile) and much much more. We descended into the Batcave to witness it all ourselves, read on for my review of Batman Unmasked…
Finding the Batman Unmasked exhibition
You’ll find the Batman Unmasked exhibition just a Batarang’s throw from Covent Garden station. Located at 45 Wellington Street in Londonyou can spot the signature yellow and black signage as soon as you turn into the road. Just make sure you don’t get it confused with the Lion King production just a few doors down. True fans will notice the yellows are entirely different, of course.
My visit to the exhibition landed on a particularly fitting day. A not-so-summery Friday morning where the city was shrouded in a mysterious fog, a wet mist dampened the streets and the skies were an ominous shade of grey. It perfectly set the scene for stepping into the shadowy world of the Dark Knight – and felt like Batman himself was beckoning in the new season. Bye, Brat Summer, hello Bat Autumn. Ok, maybe it doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Venturing into the world of Batman
Your journey begins in Batman’s library. As you peruse the old-worldly antique furnishings (no doubt the discerning influence of a certain Alfred Pennyworth) and try to resist grabbing a drink from the crystal cut Whiskey decanters – likely filled with apple juice but you never know – you’ll get the lowdown on all things Batman. Already impressed by the creative touches and various curiosities, my excitement grew when it came time to enter the Batcave – let’s just say I’m a sucker for secret doors and hidden clues.
Now, I don’t want to give much away but fans of the vehicle side of things will be pleased to know you don’t have to wait long until you encounter the first one. Lit in eerie blue light among the rocky walls and statistical blueprints of the Batcave, the sleek machine cuts a striking image and reawakened my love of the Dark Knight Trilogy. We must have spent a good amount of time just taking it in from all angles – and stifling the urge to clamber on to reenact that cape-billowing chase through Gotham City.
It’s not just the Batpod, you can sense you’re in for something special as you take in the Mission Impossible-reminiscent screens of Bruce Wayne’s computer console and do your best heroic pose on the illuminated Batman symbol.
One thing is for sure, you’re going to want to go and watch the Batman films all over again. Whether it’s gazing into the cowls of cinema’s Batmans from 1989 to 2022eyes sightless and mouths seemingly open in an endless scream (kinda spooky), picking your favourite Batsuits (sorry Keaton, in the words of Edna ‘E’ Mode ‘no capes!’) or studying the incredible array of weapons and gadgets, you’ll be more than ready to book in a Batman movie marathon.
Face-to-face with Batman’s most notorious villains
It’s not just perusing and pondering that you’ll be doing at Batman Unmasked. Kids especially, although we were equally amused, will love the immersive villain rooms. The heroic swell of music has now been replaced with a foreboding melody, punctured by bells and, later, sinister riddles (I didn’t get any right). A prime spot to dig out your phone for photos, you can enjoy fumbling through a maze of mirrors, dodging through a field of lasers (we didn’t have much luck here) and navigating your way through colourful tendrils of ivy (again, not much luck). That is, once you’ve spent some time grinning inanely at each other with fluorescent teeth, thanks to the UV lighting.
A particular highlight for me was the Rogue’s Gallery. Splattered in chaos, like a whirlwind of villainous fiends had just stampeded through the room of a museum minutes before, this celebrated Batman’s most formidable foes in all of their, often unhinged, glory. Among the neon paint, graffiti and gilt-framed oil paintings you’ll be treated to some of the most eclectic outfits in cinema history. Everything from Jim Carrey’s lime green, question mark-stamped Riddler suit to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s futuristic Mr. Freeze gets up, not to mention the notorious nurse outfit donned by Heath Ledger in his Oscar-winning turn as The Joker. Plus, there’s a fantastic selection of supervillain props and weapons to enjoy.
Now, it wouldn’t be a Batman exhibition without a Batmobile. Luckily, they’ve ticked that box too. You’ll get to see the Batmobile that Robert Pattinson got behind the wheel of in The Batman (2022). I’m not a petrolhead by any means, but the old-school meets new-tech style of this matte-black muscle car was fascinating to see up close.
Should you take the kids to Batman Unmasked?
There’s so much for the younger ones to enjoy along the way, including hidden facts to discover and the aforementioned immersive rooms. But, just in case costumes and cars don’t quite pique the kids’ interest, they’ll feel right at home in the free-flow comic and gaming room. A place of nostalgia and fun, this is a culmination of all things Batman, with special Batman Scalextriccomic books, behind-the-scenes footage and clever photo ops where you can look like you’re scaling a building – a particular favourite of our team. There’s also a chance to wind down with some colouring-in or video games. They’ve pretty much covered all bases.
To conclude this Batman Unmasked reviewyou can expect a treasure-filled celebration of one of DC’s most loved heroes – and a spotlight on the motley of villains who fuel his relentless crusade for justice. It’s a brilliant ode to the 85th anniversary of Batman, shining a light on how his character has been brought to life over the years and the impact he has made on the world of cinema.
Life-long fans will be in their element, film nerds will geek out and, whatever your age, you’ll emerge with a smile on your face – not Joker-inflicted, thankfully. Gotham better find a new hero, cause we’d quite like Batman to stick around London a little longer.
