Darkman (1990)
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Colin Friels
Synopsis:
A scientist working to develop artificial skin is left disfigured in a mob attack and plots his revenge.
Impressions:
I was actually brought to this movie by the NES adaptation (which was terrible but I was still drawn to the setting) and it certainly left an impression on my young mind, so it was fun revisiting it as an adult. Now that I've seen a lot more of Sam Raimi's Å“uvre, I can appreciate his signature touches a lot more. Visually, it's a very striking film, punched up by Danny Elfman's score. This was before Liam Neeson made it big, and he delivers a strong performance as the tortured Dr. Westlake. Larry Drake makes for a good antagonist as Robert G Durant with his collection of colorful henchmen, but the real surprise is Colin Friels as Strack, who really delivers in the final confrontation. The makeup effects are really good, with the design of Darkman sure to stick with you. If you're looking for a stylish, dark hero story, you should like this quite a bit and I'm happy to recommend it for your collection.
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