By Geno McGahee
I picked up the DARKMAN trilogy on DVD for 9 bucks at Walmart. Although I had never seen any of these films, I figured it was a good deal. Sam Raimi was involved, coming up with the story and directing the first one and I had heard many good things about this one over the years. I also like any character that wears a fedora and Darkman sports one. It goes to show that even a completely disfigured person can have style and get chicks with something as simple as a fedora. This film is inspirational in that aspect.
Liam Neeson, star of TAKEN & BATMAN BEGINS is in the lead role of the scientist Peyton Westlake, and did a very good job here. Westlake is developing artificial skin for burn victims when a gang of hoodlums break into his lab and smash his head through some glass cabinets and then dunk his head into a vat of chemicals and even electrocute him. They went a little overboard but they were having a lot of fun at the expense of Westlake. Although some could argue that the special effects leave something to be desired, I strongly disagree. When Westlake’s lab is blown up and he is launched out of the building, it is one of the most hilarious effects I have ever seen. I also have to give Neeson credit for some great facial expressions during his beating. He is fantastic. Good job Liam!
Westlake is pronounced dead in the explosion but he survived it. The launching out of the building was essential in his survival. I hope that anyone that is caught in an explosion is lucky enough to be launched into safety and at most, horribly disfigured from the accident as Westlake was. But unlike most, Westlake’s artificial skin could make him look normal…at least for the time being. He could look like his old self…and he could also look like anyone else, which came in handy when he began to set up the people that ruined his life.
One of my favorite scenes in the movie was when Westlake masqueraded as the leader of the hoodlums, Robert G. Durant (Larry Drake). Posing as Durant, he walks into a convenience store and robs it. When the clerk says: “Whatever you want buddy,” he looks at the surveillance camera and replies: “My name isn’t buddy. It’s Durant. Robert G. Durant.” The police come and arrest Durant and his reactions before and after the arrest are absolutely hilarious. This is one of the coolest “super powers” that Darkman has. I’m looking forward to watching the other two.
I was also happy to see Nicholas Worth of SWAMP THING fame as Durant’s goon, Pauly. It’s a shame that Worth has passed on, but in his time on this earth, he certainly gave a lot to us horror fans. He did a great job as the wormy tough guy in both this and SWAMP THING. He was definitely a great actor and my hat is off to him yet again.
Now, Darkman also has a love interest. His woman before this explosion thing happened, Julie Hastings (Frances McDormand), thought that he was dead but was shocked to run into him at his own grave. Of course, he looked normal because of the artificial skin, and it was like old times as they rekindled their love, but it was only a matter of time before she found out the truth. His love for her and the chemicals involved in the explosion have brought the rage out in Darkman. He will never be normal again and his anger is on display quite often. He even takes it out on a guy working at a fair in one of the chance booths and rightfully so. He tried to fuck Darkman out of a teddy bear and paid for it. This doesn’t happen enough. Those chances are rigged and I think that some of those jerks have to be made an example of. I wish there was a Darkman in my neck of the woods to come to our local fair The Big E and kick the shit out of those pricks that run those chance stands.
Darkman is a very entertaining movie with great special effects and some comic relief. Darkman has personality and doesn’t do everything because it is right. He does it because it’s right for him and to satisfy his need for revenge. He also has a hard time controlling his rage. I love this character and this movie is really a fun flick. I highly recommend it.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7.5/10. A fun superhero.