Darkman (1990) (Collector’s Edition) (Blu-ray Review)
Directed By: Sam Raimi
Starring: Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Colin Friels
Rated: R/Region A/1:85/1080p/Number of Discs 1
Available from Scream Factory
Liam Neeson and Frances McDormand star in this explosive*action-packed thriller from director Sam Raimi (Spiderman). Dr. Peyton Westlake (Neeson) 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 (McDormand).
This is another one of those fun action movies I remember watching and really enjoying as a kid. I know some people were in question about this movie getting a release under the Scream Factory banner, but I think there has always been enough of a horror twist to Darkman that is fully acceptable under a horror banner and at the end of the day it might be better placed there than just action. Liam Neeson gives a great performance here and while that is common now, it was always cool to see the guy in the role of the disfigured scientist turned super hero. This was the first roll I saw him in and as we see what happens to this man and we then see what follows we root for Peyton to get those dirty villains and it is a cool ride along the way as we follow him transform into Darkman and we see some of the cool tricks he pulls.
The one thing people seem to dislike about this release is the fact that by all accounts it does seem to be the same transfer for the other Darkman Blu-ray that was already out. I think with the extras that is fine, because while not perfect the transfer is still above average. If you don’t have that other release the movie it self is also above average. From the start to the explosive end, the movie reminds us of those 1990s comic book movies that didn’t suck. Which there were a few that didn’t and this is obviously one. You get great performances from Liam Neeson and Larry Drake just to name a couple. It is a Sam Raimi film after all. It is always hard to go wrong with that, or at least in this timeframe it was.
– New interviews with Liam Neeson and Frances McDormand
– New interview with Larry Drake
– New interview with Makeup Designer Tony Gardner
– New interviews with actors Danny Hicks and Dan Bell
– New interviews with Production Designer Randy Ser and Art Director Philip Dagort
– Audio Commentary with director of photography Bill Pope
– Vintage “Making of” and interview featurettes featuring interviews with Sam Raimi, Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand and more…
– Vintage full-length interviews with Sam Raimi, Liam Neeson and Frances McDormand
– Theatrical Trailer
– TV Spots
– Still Galleries – Posters & production stills, Behind the Scenes, Make-up Effects and Storyboards
