Alright, fellow tape travelers, let’s rewind to the mid-90s. Picture this: browsing the 'New Releases' wall at Blockbuster, maybe seeking out the latest Jean-Claude Van Damme flick or something with a cool explosion on the cover. And then you see it – Darkman II: The Return of Durant. Wait, Durant? Didn't he meet a rather fiery end in Sam Raimi's original gothic superhero blast? The sheer audacity of that title alone was enough to make you grab the tape, a jolt of curiosity overriding any skepticism. This wasn't quite the Sam Raimi (Evil Dead II, Spider-Man) visionary chaos of the first film, but it was Darkman, and on VHS, that promise of gritty, face-swapping vengeance felt like finding hidden treasure.
### Back in Black (and Bandages)
The biggest immediate difference, of course, is the man beneath the bandages. Liam Neeson had moved on to bigger things, leaving the fedora and trench coat open. Stepping into the role of Dr. Peyton Westlake/Darkman is Arnold Vosloo, an actor many of us would later recognize chewing scenery magnificently as Imhotep in The Mummy (1999). Vosloo brings a different energy – less the tormented poet Neeson portrayed, more of a simmering, focused rage. It’s a solid turn, especially considering the tough act to follow. Reportedly, Vosloo was partly cast due to his physical resemblance to Neeson, particularly when under the required layers of makeup appliances, helping maintain visual continuity on a tighter budget. It’s a classic direct-to-video move, finding a capable actor who fits the mold, and honestly, Vosloo owns the part in his own right for this entry.
The plot? Well, it delivers exactly what the title promises. Robert G. Durant, the sadistic crime boss played with chilling relish once again by the late, great Larry Drake, is back. Emerging from a coma (because of course!), Durant is hell-bent on resuming his criminal empire and unleashing a new generation of high-tech weaponry. Naturally, this puts him right back in the crosshairs of Darkman, who is still trying to perfect his synthetic skin formula while battling the criminals lurking in the city's shadows. Kim Delaney steps in as reporter Jill Randall, providing a capable if somewhat standard investigative presence.
### That Tangible 90s Action Feel
Directed by Bradford May, a veteran of television action like Baywatch and Hunter, Darkman II has a distinctly different feel from Raimi’s hyper-stylized original. It’s less operatic, more grounded in the kind of straightforward, explosive action common in 90s DTV features. But here’s the thing – that’s part of its charm for VHS Heaven! Remember how real those squib hits looked back then? The way cars genuinely crumpled, not CGI pixels folding? Darkman II delivers that kind of satisfying, practical mayhem.
The action sequences feel tangible. When Darkman swings into action or gets thrown through a wall, you feel the impact. The pyrotechnics are loud and bright – real fireballs erupting on screen, not perfectly rendered digital flames. Sure, compared to today’s seamless CGI spectacles, it might look a little rough around the edges, maybe even a touch repetitive. But wasn't there something incredibly visceral about knowing those were actual stunt performers risking bumps and bruises, pulling off those falls and fights? The film leans heavily into Darkman's physical abilities and his knack for elaborate, often brutal, traps. The makeup effects, while perhaps not quite as nuanced as the Stan Winston Studio work in the original, are still effectively gruesome and key to the character’s visual identity. They achieve that grotesque look that made Darkman such a compelling anti-hero.
### Durant's Delightful Villainy
Let's be honest, a huge part of the draw here is Larry Drake. His return as Durant is handled with pulpy glee. Drake doesn't miss a beat, slipping back into Durant's calm, menacing demeanor and his unsettling habit of collecting fingers. He elevates the material, providing a genuinely threatening antagonist who clearly enjoys being bad. His screen presence is undeniable, a perfect foil for Vosloo's tortured hero. The dynamic between them remains the core conflict, and the movie wisely puts Durant front and center. It’s a testament to Drake’s performance that even after his apparent demise in the first film, his comeback feels less like a cheap gimmick and more like a welcome return for a truly memorable villain.
Interestingly, Darkman II and its follow-up, Darkman III: Die Darkman Die (1996), were shot back-to-back in Toronto, a common cost-saving measure for direct-to-video productions aiming to maximize resources. Universal, having seen the original film gain a cult following on video after a decent but not stellar theatrical run, decided the franchise had legs in the burgeoning home video market. It might not have had the budget or artistic ambition of its predecessor, but it knew its audience – fans hungry for more of Darkman’s unique brand of justice.
### Is Durant’s Return Worth Revisiting?
Darkman II: The Return of Durant is undeniably a product of its time and its market. It’s a direct-to-video sequel that streamlines the original’s quirks for a more conventional action narrative. It lacks Raimi’s manic energy and visual invention. Yet, it delivers solid action, brings back a fantastic villain in Larry Drake, and features a committed performance from Arnold Vosloo. It captures that specific mid-90s vibe – slightly gritty, packed with practical effects, and designed for maximum impact on your living room CRT. It might not have blown critics away upon release, but for fans renting tapes on a Friday night, it offered another satisfying dose of Darkman.
Rating: 6/10
Justification: While a noticeable step down from Raimi's original vision in terms of style and depth, Darkman II successfully translates the core concept into entertaining 90s DTV action fare. Vosloo fills the lead role capably, and Larry Drake's return as Durant is a major highlight. The practical effects and straightforward action deliver the goods for fans of the era, even if the plot is fairly predictable. It achieves what it sets out to do within its limitations.
Final Thought: It’s not high art, but like finding a favorite forgotten cassette single, Darkman II offers a solid, unpretentious blast of 90s comic book action fueled by tangible effects and a truly great villain – sometimes, that’s exactly the hit of nostalgia you need.