The Reel DMC Movie Podcast

Darkman (1990) Sam Raimi’s Superhero Origins

Reel DMC

Dave, Colin, and Marcus step out of the shadows to dissect Darkman, Sam Raimi’s gloriously unhinged first stab at the superhero genre. Raimi’s signature style—whip pans, wild angles, and all—is on full display, and while Colin is all-in on the madness, Marcus and Dave are a little more reserved. 

The crew agrees: the make-up and practical effects are a gritty highlight, even if Liam Neeson’s melodramatic performance as the vengeful, disfigured scientist splits the room. Colin digs the twisted genius behind Darkman’s convoluted revenge schemes, but the dated greenscreen effects leave everyone shaking their heads. 

One thing’s certain—Larry Drake steals the show as Durant, the finger-collecting gangster with a smile as sharp as his cigar cutter. And yes, we talk about that iconic moment with the drinking bird, the lighter, and a very unfortunate lab. 

So hop into your ’73 Oldsmobile Delta 88 and hit play. At just under ninety-nine minutes, you'll finish the pod long before your synthetic skin starts to bubble. 

Previous Sam Raimi episodes:

The Quick and the Dead 

Army of Darkness 

Drag Me to Hell

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