Darkman
Darkman

Darkman

1990Movie95 minEnglish

Dr. Peyton Westlake is on the verge of realizing a major breakthrough in synthetic skin when his laboratory is destroyed by gangsters. Having been burned beyond recognition and forever altered by an experimental medical procedure, Westlake becomes known as Darkman, assuming alternate identities in his quest for revenge and a new life with a former love.

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Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes84%
Metacritic55/100
Google Users83%
Director: Sam RaimiGenres: Action, Horror, Thriller, Crime, Fantasy

Plot Summary

A brilliant scientist, Peyton Westlake, is brutally attacked and left for dead by a ruthless crime boss who wants his research. Presumed dead, Westlake survives and develops a formula for a synthetic skin, allowing him to create a mask of vengeance. Operating from the shadows, he uses his newfound abilities to strike back at the criminals who wronged him and dismantle their organization, all while searching for a way to regain his former life and reunite with his girlfriend.

Critical Reception

Darkman was met with a mixed-to-positive reception from critics, who praised Sam Raimi's distinctive visual style and energetic direction. While some found the plot somewhat derivative and the tone occasionally uneven, many acknowledged its creative R-rated action sequences and Liam Neeson's compelling performance. Audiences generally responded well to its blend of horror and superhero elements, making it a cult favorite.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its stylish, Raimi-esque direction and inventive action.
  • Liam Neeson delivers a strong performance as the vengeful hero.
  • Some critics noted a derivative plot and tonal inconsistencies.

Google audience: Audiences generally enjoyed Darkman, appreciating its unique blend of dark fantasy, action, and horror. Many viewers found Liam Neeson's portrayal of the titular character compelling and were drawn to the film's over-the-top, creative set pieces. The film's cult status is often attributed to its distinctive visual flair and its departure from typical superhero movie conventions.

Fun Fact

The character of Durant was originally envisioned as a physically imposing figure, but actor Larry Drake's performance and physicality led to him being the more dominant on-screen presence, prompting changes to the script to make him a more formidable antagonist.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
JPV852

JPV852

Seen this one a few times over the years and while some scenes were really cheesy due to the visual effects of that era, it still is quite entertaining and solid performances from Neeson and McDormand even with some of the overly dramatic d...
GenerationofSwine

GenerationofSwin...

This is interesting... this is one of those B-Movie gems that is packed full of pro-talent before they really became pro-talent. And that is right down to the Cohens who did uncredited script polishing. This is worth the watch, even if y...
d54.pod

d54.pod

Full Review: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ODe6zr5oNHl6lkcjoOcPB?si=0aad71ce959743a3 I recently rewatched Darkman and there is just so much to like about this movie. In comparison to today's superhero overdose, Darkman just stick...
John Chard

John Chard

Enter Darkman. Sam Raimi’s trial run for the Spider-Man franchise is a whole bunch of fun. Liam Neeson plays Dr. Peyton Westlake, a super scientist who after a major run-in with the villainous Robert G. Durant (Larry Drake), reinvents hi...