Darkman
A burned scientist weaponizes unstable synthetic skin to become a vengeful, grotesquely playful masked vigilante.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- frenetic
- grotesque
- campy
- cult movie night
- late night viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Sam Raimi’s inventive comic-book style, kinetic effects, gruesome humor, and unusual superhero protagonist, while finding the dialogue and performances uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Peyton Westlake uses synthetic faces after being horrifically burned, while the Darkman persona increasingly separates from his former self.
Raimi combines mob revenge, colorful criminals, gruesome effects, and deliberately oversized comic-book staging.
Each synthetic-skin disguise degrades after 100 minutes of exposure to light, turning Peyton’s impersonations into ticking-clock set pieces.
The film uses frenetic movement, stylized compositions, practical effects, and onomatopoeic visual energy to evoke superhero comics.
Films like Darkman, and why
The Shadow
stylized superhero action, grotesque transformation, comic-book visual language, and darkly playful violence
The Crow
tortured masked antihero, gothic atmosphere, revenge-driven action, and heightened pulp spectacle
Army of Darkness
campy superhero invention, practical effects, broad humor, and kinetic comic-book filmmaking
The Fly
disfigurement-centered horror, identity instability, and tragic body transformation
Movie Details
- Director
- Sam Raimi
- Release Date
- 1990-08-24
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (1589)
Cast
- Liam Neeson
- Frances McDormand
- Colin Friels
- Larry Drake
- Nelson Mashita
- Jessie Lawrence Ferguson
- Rafael H. Robledo
- Dan Hicks
- Ted Raimi
- Dan Bell
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Darkman about?
- A burned scientist weaponizes unstable synthetic skin to become a vengeful, grotesquely playful masked vigilante.
- What is Darkman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Darkman as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Darkman violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Darkman as graphic.
- What did critics think of Darkman?
- Critics broadly praised Sam Raimi’s inventive comic-book style, kinetic effects, gruesome humor, and unusual superhero protagonist, while finding the dialogue and performances uneven.
- Which films are like Darkman?
- Films with a similar feel include The Shadow, The Crow, Army of Darkness, and The Fly.
- How long is Darkman?
- Darkman runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch Darkman?
- In United States, Darkman streams on Philo.
