Darkman

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Darkman

R

Released Aug 24, 1990

1h 35m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

63 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When thugs employed by a crime boss lead a vicious assault on Dr. Peyton Wilder (Liam Neeson), leaving him literally and psychologically scarred, an emergency procedure allows him to survive. Upon his recovery, Wilder can find solace only by returning to his scientific work developing synthetic skin, and seeking revenge against the crime boss. He assumes a phantom avenger persona called Darkman, who, with malleable facial qualities, is able to infiltrate and sow terror in the criminal community.

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Critics Consensus

Gruesome and deliciously broad, Sam Raimi's Darkman bears the haunted soulfulness of gothic tragedy while packing the stylistic verve of onomatopoeia springing off a comic strip page.

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Chris Bennion

Times (UK)

Raimi’s visual flair papers over most of the cracks.

Apr 22, 2024

Full Review

Noel Murray

The Dissolve

Darkman is funny, but it's no joke; it's the work of a man who underlines the conventions of adventure stories and horror because he enjoys them, and knows that even when rendered tongue-in-cheek, they're timeless.

Rated: 4.0/5

Feb 20, 2014

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Darkman is a thrillingly demented pop spectacular: a grade-B movie made by a grade-A lunatic.

Rated: B

Sep 7, 2011

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Raimi’s first studio picture is first and foremost a director’s showcase.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 26, 2024

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

That the comedy, horror, and drama from a performance, narrative, and technical perspective still holds up, providing lessons on what could or should be done in film today, is noteworthy.

Feb 19, 2024

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Warren Sonbert

Bay Area Reporter

Because nothing in the movie builds, or is placed, or is set off against any other switch position than "Full Throttle," it's exhausting in a not exhilarating way.

Oct 17, 2023

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Omar G

Darkman (1990). Rating 3.5/5 stars. More than the Phantom of the Opera, which was not scientific, this film is inspired by the films of Vincent Price where he is disfigured or burned and returns to take revenge on his enemies one for one, as in House of Wax (1953), The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972), Theatre of Blood (1973). Madhouse (1974). Dr. Peyton Westlake, who as Darkman seeks revenge as did Professor Henry Jarrod, Dr. Anton Phibes, Edward Lionheart or Paul Toombes aka Doctor Death. Lían Neason was chosen with the height of 6'4" just like Vincent Price. The villains are like the villains of RoboCop (1987). Spawn (comic) took from Darkman that was burned and that returns to see his partner with another.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/25

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Sankalp good S

Fun packed film with simple story not great but a good Fun to watch thrill with good acting action n strong performances of Neeson n the other n raimis great direction makes it look like a superhero movie 🦸‍♂️🎉👏😃👊

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

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Aaron V

I am not sure if this is verified, maybe just some random Hollywood gossip story that caught on somewhere, but I swear I remember hearing that Sam Raimi wanted to direct Batman, but the studios weren't sure about such a relatively unknown director taking on such a big project. As we know, Tim Burton's Batman has been cemented in comic-to-film legend (I agree with Michael Keaton, that the spate of comic movies littering the 2010s owe their existence to that very first iteration of the dark knight); so Sam Raimi went ahead and made his own "comic book style" movie, with his own made up dark brooding antihero, taking justice into his own hands. Hence, we get Darkman...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/07/24

Full Review

Landon J

Real Raimi fans will know and love this one. I think, an amazing early, early dark superhero genre entry. Some may be turned off by the directors antics/mannerisms but overall I think I really delivers on it's premise. Liam Neeson is great in this!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

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Jonathan O

This is the first superhero film before Sam Raimi's Spider-Man and Sam did really outstanding directing to make a R rated vigilante hero with his body badly burn and missing several body parts and using his technology to replace people's body to be a hero or a villain and really unbelievable stunts work and amazing cinematography and good writing to make it a original superhero/vigilante film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/24

Full Review

Laurian D

A mad movie, in the best possible way. It's disturbing but also exhilirating, funny but also moving at times, a very stand-out, unconventional dark tale. And the helicopter ride is one of the most spectacular scenes and stunts you'll ever see in a movie. You'll know what I'm talking about when you get there. Definitely worth watching, and you'll surely do that more than once. Skip the sequels though. Just like the sequels to The Crow, they should have never been made.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/26/24

Full Review

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Sam Raimi

Director

Liam Neeson

Peyton Westlake

Frances McDormand

Julie Hastings

Colin Friels

Louis Strack Jr.

Larry Drake

Robert G. Durant

Nelson Mashita

Yakitito

Darkman: Official Clip - Chopper Ride

2:56

Darkman: Official Clip - Call Me... Darkman

2:33

Darkman: Official Clip - Darkman Battles Strack

2:59

Darkman: Official Clip - Darkman Impersonates Pauly

2:51

Darkman: Official Clip - Escape From the Burn Ward

2:59

Darkman: Official Clip - Playing in Traffic

1:30

Darkman: Official Clip - The Pink Elephant

2:30

Darkman: Official Clip - Durant Sees Double

1:53

Darkman: Official Clip - You Have Been a Bad Boy!

1:10

Darkman: Official Clip - See the Dancing Freak!

1:45

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Synopsis

When thugs employed by a crime boss lead a vicious assault on Dr. Peyton Wilder (Liam Neeson), leaving him literally and psychologically scarred, an emergency procedure allows him to survive. Upon his recovery, Wilder can find solace only by returning to his scientific work developing synthetic skin, and seeking revenge against the crime boss. He assumes a phantom avenger persona called Darkman, who, with malleable facial qualities, is able to infiltrate and sow terror in the criminal community.

Director: Sam Raimi
Producer: Rob Tapert
Screenwriter: Chuck Pfarrer, Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, Joshua Goldin
Distributor: MCA/Universal Home Video, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Renaissance Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 24, 1990, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $32.8M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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