Darkman (1990) is a very strange comic book film, it isn't based upon any comic book of any kind, as a result the film has a fresh and unique feel. So I have compiled a small list of things studios can learn from it.
Character arc
In most stories the protagonist needs at least one opportunity for change, this is what creates a good character arc, when we learn something about the character based on whether they have changed or not. Darkman got this right. Throughout the film Darkman knows he is turning into something he hates, murdering those who wronged him for revenge, however he kills just for that... revenge. He never kills to save someones life so toward the end it becomes increasingly apparent that there is no going back, he even says so in the film with the line "I'm learning to live with it," deciding to go against a possible change and just embrace the monster.
Cast and screentime
There is no denying that without a solid cast the movie will become unwatchable and annoy many viewers and thankfully Darkman doesn't suffer from this problem however some actors, especially Liam Neeson, feel wasted when not given enough to do but others like Larry Drake are exceptionally good in the role but I can't help but feel that Neeson could have been given more to do.
Story
The main problem Darkman suffers from is its simple revenge story however the simplicity of the story could of been a way not alienating the viewer with too much. The story is just that, a story. It gets the viewer from point a to b with some cool sequences along the way but it doesn't engross the viewer in the film like others do.
Special effects
This film has some great make up and special effects. One particular scene that stands out is when Darkman is impersonating Durant when he runs into him. As the viewer you can tell who is who with one looking plastic, lacking some lines on the face that it may usually have. Also the disfigured face Darkman has is a very grotesque and fulfilling look. It is hidden for so long that you wonder if you will ever see, but when you do it isn't anything like you would expect.
So there you have my advice for studios in the future. I hope you enjoyed this.
ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.