Darkman
Collector’s Edition 4K
review by Bobby Blakey
After his success on the Evil Dead franchise director Sam Raimi shifted his focus on the superhero genre. He did just that with his 2002 and 2004 Spider-Man films and more recently the 2022 MCU film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Before any of these he couldn’t get the gigs with the character he wanted so made is own with the 1990 flick Darkman starring Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand and Larry Drake. Now Scream Factory is bringing the film home on 4K for the first time ever.
Darkman follows Dr. Peyton Westlake who is on the verge of realizing a major breakthrough in the creation of synthetic skin when his laboratory is blown up 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 his former love.
Raimi has taken the things he loved from The Shadow and Batman to create a character that teeters on the edge of superhero and horror with a tone reminiscent of Phantom of the Opera and visuals like Evil Dead. This could
have easily been a major mess, but instead is a great old school style flick that just works on almost every level for me. Sure, it’s dated and cheesy at times, but its part of its charm.
The new 4K transfer looks great, but like any film from this time it does make some of effects look off, but I love that old school way things were done and still seeing it intact. Neeson is great in the role going all in to really create a character that you can feel his pain, aguish and anger while never taking himself overly serious. I love Drake in Dr. Giggles so getting to see another villain from him was already a plus, but he plays it so relaxed it comes across all the more evil.
This film isn’t for everyone and those that as mentioned before it is dated, but I still love it. Even though they aren’t as good it would be awesome to get new releases of the sequels as well, but for the time being we can at least enjoy this new collector’s edition and all its crazed glory.
In addition to the film this film from a 4K restoration from the original camera negative in Dolby Vision approved by visionary Director Sam Raimi and Director of Photography Bill Pope and it comes loaded with new audio commentary by filmmaker Josh Ruben and special bonus content on Blu-ray. If that wasn’t enough it includes a limited edition 18” x 24” rolled poster of the original theatrical artwork, and a 2.5”x 3.5 retro prism sticker from Gutter Garbs, featuring artwork by Matthew Skiff, designed to replicate vintage vending machine horror prism stickers from the last 80s and early 90s (limited to 1,000 units) while supplies last.
Grab your copy of Darkman Collector’s Edition and Limited Edition Steelbook when it hits 4K for the first time ever from Scream Factory.
For more information or to grab your copy head over to www.shoutfactory.com