Adequately for Universal, Sam Raimi succeeds in devising a “monster/creature” film intertwined with other genres such as the superhero film, specifically the origin story, and the thriller. This latter approach being by far the weakest of the three, but still more than bearable due to the interesting and eye-catching main character, the occurrences he goes through and the overall visuals in the film (as per usual when we talk about Raimi).

Liam Neeson is Peyton Westlake, a scientist working on the development of a new synthetic skin that one night after a brutal attack by some mobsters, due to his girlfriend Julie Hastings (Frances McDormand) meddling with some shady business that her boss put his hands on, will end up heavily disfigured. Through the help of his experiments will try to enact vengeance upon those that destroyed him and retrieve the love of Julie at the same time. The problem: his synthetic skin only lasts 99 minutes under light.

To be brief I could summarise the fortes in three different reasons:

1. Sam Raimi accomplishes to expand the boundaries of the traditional 30’s Universal monster/creature picture into the realm of superhero, allowing through a modernised and urban setting to get new results from this sort of supernatural/sci-fi usually encapsulated in the horror genre type of character.

2. Equally it is a great put together from all those different classic monsters into one. In it we can see tints of the Mummy, the Invisible Man and the Phantom of the Opera in the looks, and the Creature of Frankenstein or Dracula in some of its powers.

3. I have got seven more reasons for it…

4. Obviously the way such a look is accomplished is through great work when it comes to costume design and make-up. But, specifically for this element, it should be highlighted that this is not an element solely concerning the disfigured Peyton (although being for obvious reasons the clearest example of it) but it also includes to the same degree the gangsters with whom he fights, each one of them has a very distinctive look (also supported by great casting) which gives the sequences more flavour.

5. That is also actually coupled by solid acting by all the actors portraying these characters, not only Liam Nesson but also the rest of actors playing the thugs, with special mention for Larry Drake who plays the ruthless main mobster Robert G. Durant.

6. But the key is Liam Nesson, his portrayal of Darkman and the thought put behind the creation of such a character by Sam Raimi. Darkman is the perfect not superhero, not antihero but villainous hero. His actions, attitude and actions after the accident are in fact those of a villain, he does not care who is he dealing with, he does not care about getting the girl back or not, he just wants revenge, and he will accomplish it no matter what he has to do.

7. Another solid element of the story it is the actual detectivesque, although one of the elements such as the shadier business misdemeanours are rather uninteresting, the investigative touch of Peyton going behind the mobsters to screw with them and finish them off are greatly entertaining.

8. The 99-minute rule. The fact that the synthetic skin only lasts 99 minutes under the light builds up both the tension and fun as you feel just as Peyton does, during either his missions or dates, that his time is running out, so things have to get done or you have to flee before being unmasked (yes, pun intended).

9. As per usual in Sam Raimi movies, the editing. The great thing about it in this movie it is that it does not feel overused. On the contrary, the fast-cutting, zooming, camera effects and so on, are basically encapsulated in those most needed scenes, mainly action sequences, but also those in which Peyton’s nerves are reaching its limit. While for the rest, a more calmed, careful and traditional sort of filmmaking is very appropriately to be the rule.

10. Last but not least, Danny Elfman’s soundtrack. The composer, deeply associated with superhero films due to his work on Tim Burton’s Batman and the future Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, provides the perfect music to insufflate the heroic feel and twist to a character otherwise quite (in a good way) despicable.

Unfortunately, the film is not flawless. As mentioned, a key element in the plot, such as the bribery and corrupt endeavours undertaken by Louis Strack Jr. (Colin Friels), Julie Hastings boss, are significantly uninteresting and even boring, and its central place as basis of the story and obviously some scenes undermine to some extent the otherwise very entertaining and grabbing film and characters.

That goes hand in hand with the fact that Colin Friels’ and even Frances McDormand’s acting are rather forgettable, making the already weak plot in which they supposedly shine even more unremarkable.

In any case, as we can see the goods overcome the wrongs by quite a lot making Darkman a very solid and especially very, very entertaining movie. Mainly because of the great character around which the story is built around, but also due to the great balance in the use of the usual Sam Raimi trademarked filmmaking techniques, as well as in many other departments which construct the atmosphere perfectly. This, although not being a Universal production, sort of Dr. Phibes is a superhero is a must-watch, especially for any superhero films fan as it provides a unique look to the genre.