{"id":24377,"date":"2014-10-03T20:23:39","date_gmt":"2014-10-04T00:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=24377"},"modified":"2017-02-23T20:38:19","modified_gmt":"2017-02-24T01:38:19","slug":"darkman-iii-die-darkman-die-1996","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/03\/darkman-iii-die-darkman-die-1996\/","title":{"rendered":"Darkman III: Die Darkman Die (1996)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>It’s interesting how solid the “Darkman” series ended up being. While “Darkman III” is by no means on par with Raimi’s original, it’s still a very entertaining exit for such a unique superhero. Director Bradford McKay pushes Darkman toward the Phantom of the Opera style super heroics rather than the grisly monster in the shadows this time around, and Arnold Vosloo returns to really provide a passionate turn as Peyton Westlake, once more. While Liam Neeson gets credit for the role, Vosloo really is a great successor in his own right.<\/p>\n

Months after the sequel, Darkman is still an urban legend being spotted around in alleyways and in blurry pictures. Peyton is still lurking in his underground lair and pulls a sting on mob boss Peter Rooker, stealing money during a drug deal that allows him to buy a machine to help him with his mission to perfect his synthetic skin. Peyton still can’t perfect the skin and is having trouble breaking the ninety nine minute barrier, which is driving him more and more insane over the days. Rooker gets a glance at Darkman and seeks him out, all the while we re-join the doctor from the first film. She’s been looking for Peyton since he disappeared and eventually tracks him down offering to give him back the feeling of sensation which will allow him to control his anger and psychotic delusions.<\/p>\n

Darkman agrees to the surgery and finally finds a way to manufacture synthetic skin, but not before being betrayed and captured by Rooker. The surgeon implants Darkman with device that calms him down through painful electric surges, and sadly nothing is ever really made from this. Rather than controlling Darkman to commit their deeds, the doctor and Rooker want to synthesize Peyton’s blood which they will use to enhance the strength and adrenaline of its users as a steroid. I’m not exactly a criminal genius, but I’m pretty sure selling a synthetic skin to medical industries around the world would be far more financially secure than an illegal steroid on the market for athletes. I’m just saying, it seems like a complete waste. And stupid.<\/p>\n

Also, we’re told that Peyton’s enhanced strength is due to his body compensating for his lack of pain sensation, so why doesn’t the doctor merely find people to test this effect on? Since when is Peyton’s super strength through his blood? And why does Darkman have to be unconscious during the surgery if he can’t feel pain? Darkman’s inevitable quest to re-acquire his formula becomes altered when he infiltrates Rooker’s family, and begins falling in love with his wife and daughter, both of whom he begins forming affections for. Jeff Fahey really doesn’t provide as threatening a presence as Larry Drake, but he is slimy and despicable enough to be a formidable villain for Darkman. “Die, Darkman, Die” definitely suffers from flaws, but it’s an enthusiastic, tense, and exciting finale with strong performances, especially by Vosloo who really does carve out his own take on Peyton Westlake.<\/p>\n