Empire of the Dark (1991) (Blu-ray Review)
DIRECTED BY: Steve Barkett
STARRING: Steve Barkett, Richard Harrison, Dawn Wildsmith
RATED: UR/Region: A/1:85/1080P/NUMBER OF DISCS 3
AVAILABLE FROM VCI Entertainment
If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if someone watched a steady diet of late-night cable action movies, vampire flicks, and motivational self-help tapes about believing in yourself enough to star in your own movie, then 1991’s Empire of the Dark is here to answer that question with all the subtlety of a rubber demon mask flying through a stained-glass window.
The film is the cinematic brainchild of Steve Barkett, who not only stars as the black t-shirt wearing, demon-punching hero Richard Flynn, but also writes and directs the whole affair. And honestly? You’ve got to respect the hustle. Barkett doesn’t just chew scenery here—he owns the entire buffet. His performance radiates the kind of sincere, unshakable confidence that makes you wonder if anyone on set ever said the word “no,” or if they were all simply swept up in the unstoppable gravitational pull of Barkett’s vision quest.
The plot is gloriously bonkers: demons disguised as business elites are harvesting souls, and only one karate-chopping, black t-shirt-wearing chosen dude can stop them. It’s part supernatural action thriller, part low-budget spiritual warfare seminar, and part excuse to watch Barkett roundhouse kick evil directly in the face. The movie is packed with awkwardly earnest monologues, wildly enthusiastic fight scenes, and special effects that look like they were assembled five minutes before filming using whatever was on sale at a Halloween superstore. And yet, somehow, it works.
What makes Empire of the Dark oddly charming is how completely committed it is to its own mythology. The movie never winks at the audience. It never apologizes. It just barrels forward with absolute conviction, which gives it a weirdly endearing sincerity that elevates it above simple “so bad it’s good” territory. It’s probably the best of Barkett’s filmography, which—let’s be honest—often feels like a series of increasingly elaborate vanity projects fueled by pure, unstoppable passion. This one just happens to be the most entertaining, the most cohesive, and the one where Barkett’s earnestness actually pays off in a delightfully unhinged way.
Adding to the fun, VCI Entertainment gives the film a Blu-ray release that looks shockingly good for a movie that feels like it was shot between karate lessons and motivational speaking engagements. The transfer is clean, colorful, and preserves every ounce of the film’s gloriously low-budget charm. It’s one of those restorations that makes you realize someone out there truly loves this movie… possibly even more than Barkett himself, which is saying something.
Empire of the Dark isn’t just a movie—it’s a full-blown passion project that escaped into the wild and started throwing spin kicks at demons. It’s clunky, ridiculous, and absolutely overflowing with heart. And honestly, you can’t help but root for a film that believes in itself this aggressively.
Extras
Disc 1: Blu-ray – Feature + Extras
- Steve Burkett & Chris Burkett Audio Commentary
- Chattanooga Film Festival Interview by Dustin Kramer with Steve Burkett & Chris Burkett (47:51)
- Black Tea (2022) – Short Film by Laura Barkett McQuay (7:33) HD
- Night Caller (19:73) – Short Film by Steve Barkett (22:21) HD
- The Aftermath – Trailer (3:03) HD
Disc 2: DVD – Feature + Extras
- Steve Burkett & Chris Burkett Audio Commentary
- Chattanooga Film Festival Interview by Dustin Kramer with Steve Burkett & Chris Burkett
- Black Tea (2022), a Short Film by Laura Barkett McQuay (7:33) HD
- Night Caller (1973) a Short Film by Steve Barkett (22:21) HD
- The Aftermath – Trailer (3:03) HD
Disc 3: DVD Extras
- Steve Barkett Interview with Buster Crabbe (Flash Gordon) from 10.1.70 (10:30)
- Splat From the Past Retro Podcast Interview with Steve Barkett (79:02)
- Reversible Wrap with Fan-Made Poster on Reverse Side by Benjamin Marra
