After watching the second film in this trilogy, I really had very low expectations for the third and final film of the Darkman saga. However, surprisingly enough I really enjoyed this film. It’s a whole new story with a whole new set of characters and more action packed sequences.
Darkman III: Die Darkman Die, finds our hero Darkman living underground in a old subway train yard. There he is still trying to perfect his synthetic skin, however due to lack of funding for his experiments. Darkman goes out into the night and busts more criminals to take their money and rid the city of crime. However in this film he has become more of a myth within the city and is considered a sighting of him is like seeing Bigfoot in the woods. Darkman using his synthetic skin manages to steel money from the cities biggest drug dealer Peter Rooker (Jeff Fahey). Rooker furious about losing his money sets out to catch Darkman, however he uses his mistress who happens to be a doctor to lure Darkman out of hiding. She succeeds by telling Darkman that she can restore his nerves. Darkman agrees, however he is taken captive and a sample of his adrenaline is taken and turned into a super serum that Rooker gives to his gang. Now Darkman must fight criminals that have the same strength as he does as he attempts to stop the drug load and gang from taking over the city.
I really liked the screenplay for this film, it actually reminded me more of a superhero film, than an action movie. I was very happy to see that Darkman had a lair in this film where he lived and worked out off. It was also a breath of fresh air to see him facing a new criminal other than Durant. I honestly enjoyed the new environment in which Darkman is trusted into, and the new characters he meets and fights along the way. The script brings the whole Darkman trilogy into a new light.
Arnold Vosloo returns as Darkman again and this time he really embraces the role a lot better than he did in the second film where he took over the part from Liam Neeson. This time however he is backed up with a much better cast which includes Jeff Fahey as the criminal mastermind Peter Rooker and actor Nigel Bennett as his number one henchman. The films cast is very tight and even the actors in the supporting roles had pretty decent performances. I especially enjoyed the relationship that young actress Alicia Panetta character as Rookers young daughter had with Darkman. So all in all the acting was pretty decent in this film.
The production value in the film is a lot better than that of the previous films. There is not much in terms of over the top special effects involving huge explosions and the such. However the films action sequences are done in a more tasteful way and happen when it counts. There is some pretty good make-up effects in this film, but there is not much compared to the previous too. Where this film makes up for the lack of effects is in the fight sequences. The fight choreography in the film is very good, and that’s what makes up for the films overall image of action sequences. The sets were cool in this film. I mean there is not much of real set design except for Darkman’s secret lair and Rookers Lab. But overall the films sets and locations were very cool looking.
Overall, Darkman III is a great ending to this trilogy. I’m sure their will be plenty of people who disagree with this review, but I actually liked this film. I felt that right off the get go, that this film had the same feel as some of the Batman movies did, but with a much more darker atmosphere. Sure the film had it’s cheesy moments and bad dialogue, but I enjoyed it just as much as the first Darkman film.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
