Darkman II: The Return of Durant Reviews

This direct-to-video sequel to 1990's DARKMAN, like its eponymous character, doesn't stand strong scrutiny in the light. Essentially an action-hero reinvention of those scarred monsters typically played by Vincent Price (and Lon Chaney before him) in B movies, Darkman is Dr. Peyton Westlake, noble biochemist horrifically burned by gangsters and left for dead. However, lurking in a secret subterranean lab (serviced by his own private subway!), Darkman survives, venturing into public view for brief periods thanks to synthetic skin that lasts 99 minutes in UV light, to fight for ... what? The original Sam Raimi production, in between stunts, hinted that Darkman's heroic deeds were basically the mindless vengeance of a mutilated madman. Resemblance to BATMAN was more than coincidental, from the booming Danny Elfman theme music right down to the inescapable comic-book level of the material. DARKMAN 2, with nothing to add but that subway, just reruns the formula. Earlier played by a pre-SCHINDLER'S LIST Liam Neeson, Darkman is now essayed by Arnold Vosloo (HARD TARGET). Westlake meets another noble biochemist working on artificial skin implants and, on the verge of a breakthrough that will permanently restore his face, sees his new pal tortured and murdered--just as in the first movie. It turns out that sadistic crime lord Robert G. Durant (Larry Drake), a workaday secondary villain in DARKMAN, survived that picture's helicopter crash and now intends to prosper as a manufacturer of high-tech ray guns. But his desired factory location happens to be the property of a certain noble biochemist and, latterly, the noble biochemist's bereaved sister Laurie (Renee O'Connor). Durant cajoles Laurie to sell him the real estate. Using his false flesh to impersonate assorted Durant henchmen, Darkman torments his erstwhile foe in some fun but increasingly familiar situations, until Durant kidnaps Laurie to force a showdown. Ultimately, Durant is locked in an armored car that blows up--but then again, so did the helicopter. That DARKMAN 3 had already been announced by Universal Pictures did not bode well for any noble biochemists still left around. In fact, DARKMAN 2's milestone was Universal's boast that it was their first live-action feature done expressly for the direct-to-video market (not counting a handful of Canadian kung-fu pics and unreleasable bilge like MONOLITH). The original DARKMAN grossed $30 million domestically, cueing a small-screen follow-up done for a fraction of its forebear's $18 million budget. DARKMAN 2 was thus lensed on the cheap in Toronto under the guidance of TV director Bradford May, who does the job competently but without the hyperbolic style of Raimi. Lacking the latter's sustained visual dazzle--here supplied mainly in flashbacks--Darkman, well, pales. South African actor Vosloo (Neeson's Celtic accent was never explained either) plods acceptably through the part, as do the rest of the cast. In any case, thespian talent was never vital to this franchise, and thanks to the skull-like makeup, just about anyone can do the Darkman. That still doesn't excuse the pointless waste of Kim Delaney as a TV reporter who discovers the secret of Darkman (no great feat; Westlake visits his post office box regularly with no disguise over his hideous visage) and gets conveniently killed soon thereafter. (Violence, profanity.)