Darkman (1990)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Sam Raimi

Writers (WGA):

Sam Raimi (story)
Chuck Pfarrer (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 August 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Now, Crime Has a New Enemy, And Justice Has a New Face!

Plot:

A hideously scarred and mentally unstable scientist seeks revenge against the crooks who made him like that.

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Revenge | Lawyer | Mask | Car

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Liam Neeson	...	Peyton Westlake / Darkman
Frances McDormand	...	Julie Hastings
Colin Friels	...	Louis Strack Jr.
Larry Drake	...	Robert G. Durant
Nelson Mashita	...	Yakitito
Jessie Lawrence Ferguson	...	Eddie Black
Rafael H. Robledo	...	Rudy Guzman
Dan Hicks	...	Skip (as Danny Hicks)
Ted Raimi	...	Rick (as Theodore Raimi)
Dan Bell	...	Smiley
Nicholas Worth	...	Pauly
Aaron Lustig	...	Martin Katz
Arsenio 'Sonny' Trinidad	...	Hung Fat
Said Faraj	...	Convenience Store Clerk
Nathan Jung	...	Chinese Warrior
Professor Toru Tanaka	...	Chinese Warrior #2
John Lisbon Wood	...	Carnival Booth Attendant
Frank Noon	...	Side Show Barker
William Dear	...	Limo Driver
Julius Harris	...	Gravedigger
Bridget Hoffman	...	Computer (voice)
Philip A. Gillis	...	Priest
Maggie Moore	...	Nurse
Carl Bresk	...	Policeman #1
Sean Daniel	...	Policeman #2
John Landis	...	Physician
Carrie Hall	...	Screaming Woman
John Cameron	...	Bartender
Craig Hosking	...	Helicopter Pilot
Karl A. Wickman	...	Police Helicopter Pilot
Cliff Fleming	...	Police Helicopter Pilot
Andy Bale	...	Dockworker #1
Neal McDonough	...	Dockworker #2
Stuart Cornfeld	...	Dockworker #3
William Lustig	...	Dockworker #4
Scott Spiegel	...	Dockworker #5
Cary Tyler	...	Dockworker #6
Charles W. Young	...	Dockworker with Bullet in Forehead
Bruce Campbell	...	Final Shemp
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jenny Agutter	...	Burn Doctor (uncredited)
Christopher Doyle	...	Goon at the construction site (uncredited)
Tony Gardner	...	Burn Ward Nurse / Lizard Man (uncredited)

Directed by
Sam Raimi

Writing credits (WGA)
Sam Raimi		(story)
Chuck Pfarrer		(screenplay) and
Sam Raimi		(screenplay) &
Ivan Raimi		(screenplay) and
Daniel Goldin		(screenplay) &
Joshua Goldin		(screenplay)

Produced by
Daryl Kass	....	line producer
Robert G. Tapert	....	producer (as Robert Tapert)

Original Music by
Danny Elfman

Cinematography by
Bill Pope		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bud S. Smith
David Stiven

Production Design by
Randy Ser

Art Direction by
Phil Dagort

Set Decoration by
Julie Kaye Fanton

Costume Design by
Grania Preston

Makeup Department
Susan Exton-Stranks	....	head of hair department
Tony Gardner	....	special makeup effects designer
Larry Hamlin	....	makeup artist
Deborah K. Larsen	....	key makeup artist
Mark William Robinson	....	makeup production assistant
Marlene Stoller	....	effects technician: makeup effects unit
Roland Blancaflor	....	special makeup effects technician (uncredited)

Production Management
Paul Hellerman	....	production manager
Patricia Whitcher	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Cameron	....	first assistant director: reshoots
Andrew M. Flinn	....	second second assistant director (as Andrew Flinn)
Carl Goldstein	....	assistant director: re-shoots
Scott Javine	....	first assistant director
Francis R. Mahoney III	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Ginni Barr	....	set designer
Barbara A. Bordo	....	painter
Michael Paul Clausen	....	assistant art director
Kirk Corwin	....	property master
Ron Ervin	....	construction foreman
Thomas Fichter	....	assistant art director
Elizabeth Flaherty	....	art department coordinator
Gary Frutkoff	....	assistant art director
Christopher Gilman	....	props
John Harrington	....	assistant property master
Thomas D. Krausz	....	propmaker/scenic artist
Janet Kusnick	....	storyboard artist
Roger Nall	....	scenic artist
Michael Poulik	....	assistant set decorator
Michele Poulik	....	assistant set decorator
Edmond Scott Ratliff	....	set dresser
Jonathan Smart	....	set dresser
George Denes Suhayda	....	set designer (as George Suhayda)
Carolyn Thome	....	model maker
Pete von Sholly	....	storyboard artist
Sean Fanton	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Paul Vincent Fusco	....	props (uncredited)
Johnathon Gallagher	....	painter (uncredited)
Jonathan Lantry	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Richard N. McGuire	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Christopher Corey Smith	....	assistant set decorator (uncredited)

Sound Department
David W. Alstadter	....	foley mixer
Dino Dimuro	....	sound effects editor
Matthew Iadarola	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Lanza	....	sound effects editor
Steve Mann	....	sound effects editor
Terry Rodman	....	supervising sound editor
John Rotondi	....	sound engineer: Y4
Don Summer	....	sound mixer
Robert Thirlwell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bill Voigtlander	....	adr supervisor
Dan Wallin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
Michael D. Wilhoit	....	sound supervisor
Bruce Campbell	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Gabriel Bartalos	....	sculptor: makeup effects unit
Doug Beswick	....	mechanical designer: makeup effects unit
Roger Borelli	....	effects technician: makeup effects unit
Evan Brainard	....	mechanical designer: makeup effects unit
Teresa Burkept	....	bandage costumes: makeup effects unit
Michael Burnett	....	effects technician: makeup effects unit
Caleb Chung	....	mechanical designer: makeup effects unit
Steve Dunham	....	mechanical designer: makeup effects unit
Mike Elizalde	....	sculptor: makeup effects unit
Jim Eustermann	....	effects technician: makeup effects unit
Steve Frakes	....	mechanical designer: makeup effects unit
Linda Frobos	....	sculptor: makeup effects unit
Tony Gardner	....	special makeup effects artist
Loren Gitthens	....	sculptor: makeup effects unit
Ray Greer	....	miniatures
Werner Hahnlein	....	special effects technician
Larry Hamlin	....	special makeup effects artist
Kevin Hudson	....	special effects makeup
Kevin Hudson	....	key mold maker: makeup effects unit
Rick Lalonde	....	gelatin specialist: makeup effects unit
Kent W. Luttrell	....	model maker
Roger McCoin	....	mechanical designer: makeup effects unit
Becky Ochoa	....	effects technician: makeup effects unit
Colin Penman	....	effects technician: makeup effects unit
Greg Polutonovich	....	production painter: makeup effects unit
Wendy Ripley	....	bandage costumes: makeup effects unit
Randy Simper	....	animatronics specialist
Randy Simper	....	mechanical designer: makeup effects unit
Chet Zar	....	key sculptor and painter: makeup effects unit
Yancy Calzada	....	mechanical effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Craig Barron	....	visual effects supervisor: Matte World Digital
Krystyna Demkowicz	....	executive in charge of production: visual effects
Tim Donahue	....	visual effects art director: Introvision
Jammie Friday	....	animator: VCE, Inc.
Paul Gentry	....	elements visual effects unit
Brian Griffin	....	optical line-up: VCE
Mark Gutterud	....	assistant cameraman
Rick Hannigan	....	optical camera
Richard Kilroy	....	matte artist
Michael Lawler	....	visual effects cameraman
Stephen Lebed	....	model maker
Jerry Macaluso	....	additional miniatures: 1/4 scale puppets
John P. Mesa	....	visual effects cameraman
William Mesa	....	visual effects supervisor
Michael Pangrazio	....	matte artist supervisor
Rick Rische	....	matte artist: Introvision
John Scheele	....	motion control and visual effects
Mark A. Shelton	....	visual effects gaffer
Robert Skotak	....	visual effects supervisor: 4-ward productions
Marcus Tate	....	visual effects cameraman
Bob Smithson	....	miniature construction: Introvision (uncredited)
Rick Taylor	....	visual effects cameraman (uncredited)

Stunts
Chuck Borden	....	stunts
John Cade	....	stunts
John Casino	....	stunts
BJ Davis	....	stunts (as B.J. Davis)
Christopher Doyle	....	stunt coordinator (as Chris Doyle)
Christopher Doyle	....	stunts
David Efron	....	stunts (as Dave Efron)
John Escobar	....	stunts
Terry James	....	stunts (as Terrance James)
Karen Laine	....	stunts (as Karen E. Laine)
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts
Gene LeBell	....	stunts
Dennis Madalone	....	stunts (as 'Dangerous' Dennis Madalone)
'Wild' Bill Mock	....	stunts
Manny Perry	....	stunts
Sherry Peterson	....	stunts
Rex Pierson	....	stunts
Tim Trella	....	stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Cecere	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ernie Jackson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Michael R. Long	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Spiro Razatos	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dante Cardone	....	gaffer: visual effects unit
Peter Deming	....	photographer: second unit
Gary Drew	....	helicopter rigging grip
Tim Durr	....	grip: helicopter unit
Kevin 'Rambo' Fitzgerald	....	grip
Melinda Sue Gordon	....	still photographer
Kurt Grossi	....	grip
Frank M. Holgate	....	aerial camera operator (as Frank Holgate)
Tony Jefferson	....	helicopter rigging grip
Wayne Kosky	....	rigging grip: second unit
Max Pomerleau	....	gaffer
Gary D. Scott	....	first assistant camera
Scott Sproul	....	helicopter rigging grip
Gregor Tavenner	....	key focus puller
Tom Jensen	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Rory Robert Knepp	....	second assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Randy Paik	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Debbie DeRango	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lisa Burnett	....	set costumer
Lynda Foote	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Richard Alderete	....	first assistant editor
Jody Fedele	....	assistant editor
Pablo Ferro	....	montage
Darrin Navarro	....	assistant editor
Bud S. Smith	....	supervising editor
M. Scott Smith	....	supervising editor

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music editor
Steve Bartek	....	orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer
Shawn Murphy	....	scoring mixer
Robb Navrides	....	music editor: TV version
Jonathan Sheffer	....	composer: additional music
Shirley Walker	....	conductor
Shirley Walker	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Lisa Burnett	....	assistant production coordinator
Michael Burnett	....	foam prosthetic technician
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic
Adam Davis	....	production assistant
Tony Didio Jr.	....	armorer
Pablo Ferro	....	title designer: main title sequence
Gerrit V. Folsom	....	location manager (as Gerrit Folsom)
Susan Gee	....	production financing
Harry Hauss	....	aerial helicopter pilot
Stacy Ivers	....	unit publicist
April A. Janow	....	first assistant accountant
Bonnie Jordan	....	production services
Solomon J. LeFlore	....	production financing
Heather Ling	....	production assistant: Introvision
Matt Maiellaro	....	set production assistant
Brian McMillan	....	head animal trainer
Bob Murawski	....	director of stock footage
David Pollison	....	production assistant
Clay Loring Roberts	....	location scout
Corinne Saaranen-Welch	....	script supervisor (as Corinne Welch)
Burton Sharp	....	adr group coordinator
Kristin Smith	....	production coordinator
Jim Stubblefield	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Renaissance Pictures
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1992) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1990) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (????) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Visual Concept Engineering (VCE)
• Introvision International
• 4-Ward Productions (miniature sequences)
• Spectacular Effects Unlimited (mechanical special effects)
• Chiodo Brothers Productions (burning hand animation)
• Matte World Digital ('strack city' visual effects)
• Makeup Effects Laboratories

Other Companies

• California Digital Post  post-production sound services

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Portugal:M/16 | Germany:18 | UK:18 (re-rating) (cut) | Finland:K-15 (uncut) (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (VHS version) | France:-12 | South Korea:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (original rating) (cut) | USA:R | Singapore:PG | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

3rd Street Tunnel, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Renaissance Pictures

Trivia:

Peyton does not use the correct type of microscope to look at the piece of nose skin. To see the cell as he did, a slide of the skin would have had to be prepared and viewed under a transmission electron microscope, and he appears to use a compound light microscope.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): There is absolutely no scientific evidence to support the doctor's assertions that someone devoid of pain sensations would go insane as a result - people suffering from leprosy commonly lose the ability to feel pain or other touch sensations as their nerves deteriorate but this does not in itself cause any psychological damage.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Eddie Black: [on phone] 'Cause he's an asshole! Tell him no. Tell him no, too. Him, tell "fuck you." No, I'm gonna be here a minute. Got some guy coming up who thinks he's gonna muscle me out of my property. Just another tough guy, that's all.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man: I, Duckman (#1.1)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Give It To Me

a little better in the mind thinking about it more, an above-average masked avenger saga

Sam Raimi, at a definite cross-roads in his career, takes on his first kind of 'major' project (err, bigger than the other films he made in the 80's) and by evidence here he was up to the challenge. But those who come from the Evil Dead films expecting a dark side crossed with some very sick, amazing gags and over-the-top jokes might wonder where the latter is at. It's a kind of realized vision of what was both portrayed on radio in the 40's (the Shadow, Darkman, similar as well as the side villains) as well as graphic novels of the 80's. It's violent, and in a Hollywood 'action' mode most of the time with big explosions, a fairly high body count, and suspense as a man seeks revenge when not completely whole. It also is the kind of pre-film, which may be dumb to say as 'pre' gets overused, but one can see the relation to comics like Spawn, V for Vendetta, and of course the future filmmaker of the solid Spiderman features. At times though he does really walk the line of doing something different with the revenge tale of having it over-done not work. He has the style knacked for it, but as a first time going at it here and there it does get a bit too much.

That being said, those who are coming to this film after having seen most of Raimi's other work get a convincingly B-story to go along with his wild techniques. Liam Neeson stars as a on-the-brink-of-something-big scientist who gets about as horribly close to death as possible after ruthless (rather ruthless in as much comic-book as 80's action-movie) gangsters do "a number" on him and his lab. Assumed dead, he puts his equipment back together, puts on masks of his enemies, and little by little gets back at them while trying to have a connection with his old love (Frances McDormand) connected to all of this as well. With this as the groundwork, and with the two main actors up for the roles- Neeson is very good here in a performance that's got him as tortured leading man ala 30's horror/murder mystery movie- the set pieces allow for Raimi to be creative in his own ways with the camera. I loved one scene where Neeson and McDormand are at the carnival, with the imagery hitting harsh (other freak), and then his frustration over a game. This is a scene emblematic of what Raimi is doing, and does more often than not, with his material.

Darkman is ambitious on that level of the visual, of trying to make a picture that in other hands would be very standard and possibly wretched in dramatic presentation, because it is both original and homage, typical in some ways and notable in others. These two sides may frustrate viewers; I'm inclined almost to say that this is even more 'cult' than Raimi's Evil Dead films. Moments of hilarity do come up sometimes, and it is with some relief when it does come along, though sometimes too the subtle black-comic approach doesn't hit. It's worth a watch though if you're a comic book fan or even just into thrillers that don't kid themselves too much. Up to par with the rest of the director's work? It's close enough, if not really great, but then in its sort of B-movie status, it doesn't need to be as a good time.