In August 1990Sam Raimi’s first superhero filmDarkman, which finds Liam Neeson as disfigured and enraged scientist Dr. Peyton Westlake seeking vengeance on ruthless mobsters, became a surprise box office hit, spawning two sequels and influencing the superhero genre for decades to come. Over 30 years and a Spider-Man trilogy later, and Raimi is back directing the Doctor Strange sequel,Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness,to be released in 2022.
With its 30 year anniversary just past and Sam Raimi wrapping up production onDoctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness,Darkmanhas been reentering discussions and receiving a well-deserved retrospective. Fresh offEvil Dead IIin 1987 and wanting a new direction, Sam Raimi attemptedto be attached first toBatman(which would be produced in 1989 with Tim Burton) and then radio serialThe Shadow(of which Robert Zemeckis was attached to at the time) finally landing with Universal to direct his original concept,Darkman.
RELATED:The MCU’s Spider-Man Missed This Big Opportunity
Conceived simply as “a man who can change his face,” Sam Raimi’s short story would become the forty-page treatment about Darkman aka Dr. Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson), a scientist on the cutting edge of skin graft technology, burned alive by mobsters, left horribly disfigured, forced to use the short-lived faux skin masks of his own creation, driven to madness by an inability to feel pain, in pursuit of revenge over mob boss Robert Durant (Larry Drake).
Darkmanis a gritty origin story, spawning two sequels (though Neeson never reprised the role), with an impressive array of stunts and action housed in tragedy. Sam Raimi’s original character was a surprise hit that took a lot of concessions and some guerilla moves to exist at all.
Universal grew nervous through lackluster pre-screenings. At the time, audiences had never seen a film (especially not a superhero film) likeDarkmanand the response was mixed leading to the weird and wild film passing through multiple editors and multiple cuts in a tug-a-war for direction. Scenes that would become audience favorites were nearly left on the cutting room floor although some of that rejected footage would be lifted intoa future Raimi project… 2002’sSpider-Man.
Though it would still be another couple of decades before Sam Raimi was officially working within the MCU, Sam Raimi’s originalSpider-Mantrilogy is credited with creating the blueprint of superhero origin stories for films to come. An origin story blueprint, one could argue, that was workshopped throughDarkman. “Who is Darkman?” begins the trailer, “They destroyed everything he had, all that he loved, everything that he was. Now crime has a new enemy and justice has a brand new face.” But as influential as the film was, it was a labor of love for all involved.
Darkman represents the trinity of Sam Raimi films, horror, comedy, and straight superhero adventures, but was never released at its full potential. Cut and recut, allegedly sneakily within 48 hours before lock,Darkmancan be uneven in tone but its style is a turning point in Sam Raimi’s direction and a checkpoint for the superhero genre. “The style is very different in this picture.“Raimi said inThe Evil Dead Companionof developingDarkman, “My main goal is to createreal characters in something of a fantastic situation. I’m trying to keep the camera movement to a more realistic level, as opposed to a wild level where I take on the point of view of spirits, or unnatural, or supernatural things. I’m trying to make this take place in the real world.”
This style, where the audience stays somewhat grounded with the characters in bombastic situations, seems counter-intuitive in a genre deliberately about people with unbelievable abilities. Yet it’s that approach in 2002’sSpider-Manwith its relatable hero, incredible action shots, and cinematic beauty that has given the Tobey Maguire-led trilogy a place in fans' hearts. However, it’s been 24 years since Sam Raimi helmed a superhero film and a superhero film in the behemoth that is Marvel at that.
Taking over for Scott Derrickson, there’s been very few details (as usual) given on Sam Raimi’s direction of the Doctor Strange sequel and, frankly, the number of directions it can go is intimidating.Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madnessis meant to tie in with seriesWandaVisionandLokias well as the upcoming third Spider-Man movie,Spider-Man: No Way Home. While so far the threads connecting individual properties within the MCU have been pretty solid, Phase 4’s commitment to “magic is science” both creates new avenues for storylines and really threatens to tip the balance from awesome to absurd.
This is where Sam Raimi’s style for the genre, born inDarkmanand developed throughSpider-Man, could be perfect for where-ever Doctor Strange is to go. Sam Raimi, as evidenced in the miniature-laden and stunt-heavyDarkman, goes big and, at the moment, there is nothing bigger than the effect of magic in the MCU. Sam Raimi also stays grounded as seen in the Spider-Man trilogy where even Sand Man in 2007’sSpider-Man 3was treated to a gentle and somehow empathetic transformation.
Sam Raimi knows how to direct tragedy without the work becoming tragic, a necessary ability coming into the merging storylines of the MCU wherein every character is working through some sort of trauma as aresult of The Infinity Saga. Not least of all Wanda, coming fresh from losing Vision and her brother AGAIN inWandaVision, and now fully The Scarlet Witch.
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madnesshas a lot to live up to in a genre now bigger than anyone could have predicted back when casting Liam Neeson and Frances McDormand was a wild swing. And it’s in good hands with Sam Raimi, the man who made a superhero when he couldn’t have Batman.
MORE:‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Leaks Hint At Two Major Superhero Cameos
