DARKMAN

   Film (1990). Universal. Dir Sam Raimi, starring Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Colin Friels, Larry Drake. Screenplay Chuck Pfarrer, Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, Daniel Goldin, Joshua Goldin, from a story by Raimi. 91 mins. Colour.

   In its violence and simple, over-the-top characterization this is essentially the film equivalent of a comic-book, an "origin of a SUPERHERO" story of sadism and revenge. Darkman, patterned on the Phantom of the Opera (with visual quotes reminding us of other early Universal HORROR films), has had his face and hands horribly mutilated in a gangster attack, and the nerves that transmit pain and pleasure have been severed in hospital. He returns as a half-mad avenger. The sf element - synthetic skin that lasts exactly 99 mins and permits Darkman to duplicate exactly his gangster enemies or appear as briefly normal to his girlfriend - is borrowed from the old sf movie DOCTOR X (1932). There are bravura opening and closing sequences, but D is badly constructed (too many writers?) and uninvolving, lacking the insane vigour of Raimi's debut film, The Evil Dead (1982).

   PN