Darkman II: The Return of Durant

Well after last write-up it was a sequel, I thought I would tackle another sequel and make it less painful than Ninja Death II. This time around we look at a Renaissance Pictures (Sam Raimi, Rob Tappert and Bruce Campbell's production company) continuation. This time however, Sam Raimi serves as Executive Producer this time, allowing director Bradford May (Fatal Friendship, Mortal Sins, Amy Fisher: My Story, Hawaii Five-O, Tremors TV, JAG, Supernatural and Reluctant Nanny) for time to shine. This is Darkman II: Return of Durant.

Them bandages itch my snout.

A quick recap as Peyton Westlake has had a makeover from Liam Neeson to Arnold Vosloo (Hard Target, The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, Warrior Angels, Agent Cody Banks, 24, Blood Diamond, NCIS and Green Lantern: Emerald Knights) as Westlake's former squat had been exposed by gangsters and most of the abandoned warehouse was destroyed.  Time for new digs as Westlake still fights crime from underground at an disused subway track as he continues to work on his formula for synthetic skin. Research is funded by criminal swag.  Hell given his access to superhuman levels of strength and his nerve endings aren't exactly connected, he can soak up a lot of damage.

Laz weapon or camcorder?

Still unable to get the skin to breach the 99 minute time frame, he has a mild temper tantrum when he sees a MacGuffin er um article of a one Dr. David Brinkman (Jesse Collins of Rin Tin Tin: K-9 Cop, The Santa Clause, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Ready or Not and Blaster's Universe) working a similar process but is able to make the photo-sensitivity of the cells and possibly a means to make the skin permanent.

With enough problems on the rise, another resurrection occurs as Robert Durant (Larry Drake of L.A. Law, Dr. Giggles, Star Trek: Voyager, Stargate SG-1, Dark Asylum, L.A. Law: The Movie, A Nero Wolfe Mystery, Paranoia, Prey, Inferno, Firefly and Justice League) awakes from his copter crash induced coma. Being back in action, running guns and drugs he says it's time for something new and improved.

He gets his thugs to release a mad scientist Hathaway (Lawrence Dane of Scanners, Happy Birthday to Me, Airwolf, Rolling Vengeance, Memories of Manon, Day One, The Red Green Show and Side Effects) to create particle beam rifles. Yeah energy guns. Too sci-fi? Hey somehow a sudden impact explosion via chopper didn't kill Durant. Don't cry disbelief now.

Don't forget my bunyans need working too, dear.

Brinkman and Westlake meet and decide to form a partnership but Brinkman is trying to keep the lights on to his building that ultimately he wants to build a workshop/research labs for scientists of all countries and disciplines to pool ideas to improve the world. Westlake is ready to get money for the building as a silent partner however, Durant is looking to use Brinkman's building as a new site to create his new weapons. He sends two bully boys give Brinkman an offer he can't refuse. A slight interaction of Brinkmans, David and sister Laurie (Renee O' Connor of Night Game, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, FBI: The Untold Stories, The Flood: Who Will Save Our Children?, Xena: Warrior Princess, Alien Apocalypse, Diamonds and Guns, Bitch Slap,Ark and Last Chance) to further exposition and Westlake can meet Laurie.

Durant was not pleased by Brinkman refusing to sell so he gets the chop and a bit of a TV movie explosion. Westlake pokes around to find Brinkman's research and find that David is missing his right ring finger, a signature of Durant. Now Westlake feels the need to protect Laurie in the way he couldn't for David. Time to break out the masks and dispense justice.

Will Westlake survive? Can Laurie be saved? Can Durant be put back in the dirt?

Now again as this is still in the same universe as the original film, "The City" is never named. Looks like Toronto or possibly Detroit. Arnold Vosloo does an excellent job of playing Westlake/Darkman and really paid attention to Liam's performances. With fish eyed lenses, random 45 degree angles and some excellent crane shots, this 93 minute film is rated R for the naughty language and violence. I think it a decent follow-up to the first film but I don't feel it surpasses it. Still plenty of fun to be had from it.

Just the two of us...we can make it if we try...