The Cult of Darkman
This week, Mitchell and Justin take a look into Sam Raimi's 1990 film "Darkman" starring Liam Neeson on the Next Level Nerd Movie Podcast.
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Movie: Darkman
Released: August 24th 1990
Production Company: Renaissance Pictures and Universal Pictures
MPAA: R
Runtime: 1:36
General Info:
Critical Response:
Rotten Tomatoes:
Tomato Meter: 84%
Audience Score: 58%
Meta Critic:
65/100
Cinema Score:
C+
Financials:
Budget: 16 Million
Box Office: 48.8 Million
Why are we reviewing it?
This is the rare example of the audience score being much lower than the tomato meter. But also, even though it was profitable, the reviews were all over the place. It's also a favorite of Mitchell's and Justin has never seen it. So we wanted to revisit it to see if it actually holds up.
Tagline(s):
Who Is Darkman?
Crime Has a New Enemy, And Justice Has a New Face!
In the darkest hour, there is a light that shines on every human being...but ONE!
Written by:
The film's director Sam Raimi and his brother Ivan Raimi, as well as Chuck Pfarrer
Music:
Danny Elfman does the music and it has a very "89 Batman" tone to it, especially when the gangsters are wrecking the lab. It feels like the Axis chemicals scene with Batman, the Joker, and the cops.
The Cast:
Liam Neeson as Peyton Westlake / Darkman
Frances McDormand as Julie Hastings
Larry Drake as Robert Durant
Colin Friels as Louis Strack Jr.
Ted Raimi (Sam’s brother who has appeared in nearly all of Sam’s films)
Cameos from
Neal McDonough
John Landis
Bruce Campbell
Joel & Ethan Coen who did some unaccredited doctoring to the final script
There was even an NES game based on the film that released in 1991.
Check out this article on some awesome trivia about "Darkman", from Uproxx.
If you like movies, be sure to check out the Next Level Nerd Movie Podcast where we discuss films we love that weren't critically or commercially successful.
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