Retromatic Movie of The Week: Darkman

In 1990 filmmaker Sam Raimi wrote and directed a dark, semi-humorous, cynical, satirical piece of cinema called DARKMAN. In the film unassuming badass Liam Neeson plays scientist Peyton Westlake. A man left for dead after a brutal attack by a vicious mobster named Durrant and his...well, mob for lack of a better term by order of a lawless, greedy land developer named Louis Strack Jr. In retrospect actually Durrant's "mob" were more like a gang of thugs so yeah, gang, whatever. Anyways after being beaten and blown up and his girlfriend, played by Frances McDormand believing him dead Westlake finds himself alive & recovering in a hospital, his mind, body & soul horribly disfigured. He also finds that as a result of his injuries his brain can no longer communicate sensations of pain to his body ultimately endowing with the ability to feel no pain. Oh yeah, he also gains the ability of incalculable blinding rage that makes him freakishly strong, durable and also fuels his unwavering lust for sweet, violent revenge. Check out the original trailer. The film was pretty well received by critics & audiences making $49 million at the box office from a $16 million budget and gaining cult film status from fanboys like me. Because of this success Darkman managed to spawn 2 direct to video sequels, DARKMAN II: THE RETURN OF DURRANT & DARKMAN III: DIE, DARKMAN DIE (to which he promptly replied, no). The Darkman craze didn't stop there, oh no Marvel comics published a 3 issue run of the Darkman title and then brought him back again for a 6 issue run. Dynamite comics even brought him back in 2006 to fight Sam Raimi's other cult favorite character, Ash Williams from the EVIL DEAD franchise.

So you've got violence, revenge, love, dark humor and redemption with Sam Raimi behind the lens capturing it all for your viewing pleasure and Danny Elfman providing a dope score. You can't do much better than that. This is one of my personal favorite picks and if you haven't seen it I strongly recommend you do. I find the film is best watched after a bad day at the office over a blunt & pepsi perferrably with Jack Daniels in it. Now go, go live your dreams of unmitigated violent revenge vicariously through this excellent film. Rating: 4.5/ 5 ninja stars.