Darkman: Underrated Gem or Just Plain Gonzo?

Alright, let's talk Darkman. Sam Raimi, of course (my bad on the director above!)... look, I know people are all about Evil Dead, and yeah, those are fun in a schlocky kind of way. But hear me out: Darkman is arguably Raimi's most INTERESTING movie. Yes, I said it. Fight me. Look, Liam Neeson's pre-action hero days are solid. The guy is genuinely sympathetic as Peyton Westlake. Okay, maybe sympathetic is pushing it...dude goes off the deep end pretty quick. But seeing his lab get blown up, and then the whole synthetic skin thing? It's peak Raimi weirdness and it WORKS. The pacing in this movie is insane. A lot of the 'camp' is actually kinda genius. Frances McDormand? Great. But let's be honest, she's not given much to do besides look concerned. The real star is the over the top villainy of Durant (Larry Drake). Dude is gleefully evil, and the scene where Darkman tortures him with the cigar lighter collection? Chef's kiss. It's the kind of over-the-top dark humor that makes Raimi great, but it's somehow... elevated here. The movie had a darker, more mature tone overall, compared to his earlier films. Ultimately, Darkman is flawed, sure. The effects are dated, some of the dialogue is clunky, and the ending is kinda abrupt. But there's a raw creativity and a genuine pathos buried beneath the layers of latex and explosions that makes it something special. It's not just another superhero movie; it's a Raimi superhero movie, which makes a difference. Give it another watch. You might be surprised. Or, you know, maybe not. But that's why I'm danthecritic, baby.