Darkman

Posted by J.L. Sosa (jorge@filmschoolrejects.com) on June 5, 2007

With a production budget rumored to be $350 million, Spider-Man 3 is about 22 times more expensive than Sam Raimi’s 1990 superhero film, Darkman.

It’s a testament to Sam Raimi’s storytelling ability that, even with a “shoestring” eight-figure budget, Darkman is one badass flick.

The story’s an original Raimi conception, inspired equally by such comics as Batman and Tales From the Crypt. Dr. Westlake (a pre-stardom Liam Neeson) is developing a synthetic skin to help reconstruct the faces of burn victims. The formula isn’t perfect, as it disintegrates within 99 minutes after being exposed to light. Meanwhile, Julie, his attorney girlfriend (Coen Bros. favorite Frances McDormand) discovers evidence that a real estate baron is in cahoots with the murderous mobster Durant (veteran character actor Larry Drake). While seeking to destroy the evidence, Durant’s thugs blow up Westlake’s home laboratory — with Westlake in it! Westlake is left for dead, but miraculously survives. Using his synthetic skin, he becomes a chameleon-like crime fighter.

Coming the year after Tim Burton’s much-hyped Batman, Darkman delivered just as many thrills. Darkman was a character of Raimi’s own creation, one that reflected his twisted sensibilities. Neeson plays a tormented hermit, hideously scarred and unable to venture out into normal society for any significant length of time. He’s as much a violent, pitiable freak as he is a champion for justice. This poignant duality has earned Darkman a lonely place among his fellow superheroes. The action sequences, stunts and chase scenes are crafted and choreographed with gusto. Raimi’s trademark acrobatic camera, first unleashed in his debut Evil Dead, was alive and kicking in Darkman.

Darkman was popular enough to justify two direct-to-video sequels. I imagine it wasn’t a bigger commercial hit only due to lack of name recognition. Most blockbuster superhero films are extensions of comic book brands that have had years to build an audience. As a character, Darkman is just as cool as any of the other revenge-driven antiheroes.

Read more articles by J.L. Sosa