FilmsDarkmanLike this

Films like Darkman.

Darkman (1990) reads as Sombre, breathless, measured action / superhero, inventive in texture. Ambivalent, mid-stakes, cold. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) poster
1. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome1985

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Kid with the Golden Arm (1979) poster
2. The Kid with the Golden Arm1979

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Q (1982) poster
3. Q1982

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Five Element Ninjas (1982) poster
4. Five Element Ninjas1982

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Naked Killer (1992) poster
5. Naked Killer1992

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Near Dark (1987) poster
6. Near Dark1987

Keeps the unmistakable directorial hand and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The City of Lost Souls (2000) poster
7. The City of Lost Souls2000

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Five Venoms (1978) poster
8. The Five Venoms1978

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Warriors (1979) poster
9. The Warriors1979

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Crippled Avengers (1978) poster
10. Crippled Avengers1978

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) poster
11. Wes Craven's New Nightmare1994

Keeps the unmistakable directorial hand and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976) (1976) poster
12. Master of the Flying Guillotine1976

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

These are Darkman’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

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