Dark Match

Also no pun intended - the Wolfcop is back ... well the actor himself only has a small part ... blink and you'll miss him. But the director thought of this little movie to do. I really wanted to like this more by the way ... but I think I am being way too fair with my rating as it is ... the idea is fun, I reckon and the characters have their moments.

But it can't really decide where to focus on ... Wrestling (some of the actors seem to have learned more or knew more than the others) or the horror of it all. The humor is hit and misses .. and even something I really loved (a Betamax versus VHS joke) probably will go over the head of most of those watching this ... we also get to see a bit of Chris Jericho and Steven Ogg ... and some other actors you may be aware of.

There is charm, there is humor ... but there is something missing ... the X factor ... that even the matches and the effects cannot really save (or put on top ... 1 ... 2 ... 3 and all that)

Rating Breakdown

Story - 1.25 :: Direction - 1.25 :: Pacing - 1.25 :: Performances - 1.25 :: Entertainment - 1.25

TOTAL - 6.25/10

I have often found that the best horror movies operate much like a well-executed wrestling match. They build suspense, mislead, and taunt you with moments of hope before dropping you face-first into despair. "Dark Match" is exactly that sort of film, a supernatural wrestling action-horror fever dream that body-slams expectations and pile-drives logic straight through the mat.

I stumbled upon this little curiosity while scavenging through Shudder's horror catalogue, and it was a choice well-made. The premise is deceptively simple: a group of wrestlers sign up for an underground event, a so-called Dark Match, only to discover that the stakes involve more than championship belts and bruised egos. Instead, their very lives hang in the balance. But this is not just standard supernatural bloodsport. This film delights in leading you down a path, only to smack you with a steel chair of narrative subversion. Every time I thought I had its angle pinned, it wriggled free and took me in another, often stranger, direction.

The writing is sharp, teasing the audience with breadcrumbs of information, throwing in enough red herrings to keep the waters murky but never descending into incoherence. The pacing ensures that the mystery remains tantalising rather than frustrating, each revelation feeling more like a natural progression than a cheap trick.

A large part of the film's success lies in its direction. The wrestling sequences are executed with a verve that suggests someone behind the camera actually respects the sport. The fights are visceral, kinetic, and filmed with an energy that captures the unique ballet of brutality that makes wrestling such an enduring spectacle.

And then, when we move into the film's more dramatic moments, something odd happens. The direction, so vibrant in the ring, suddenly slackens. Scenes stretch longer than necessary, the camera loses its spark, and the momentum stutters. It is as though the director, having exerted themselves in crafting the action, decided to take a breather.

Visually, "Dark Match" leans heavily into shadows and suffocating red lighting. It mostly works, creating an ominous atmosphere, but there are times when it crosses into frustrating murkiness. When you start questioning your screen brightness, you know the crimson rabbit hole has gone too deep.

The acting was better than expected, due especially to Michael Eklund in a starring role. The cast throws themselves into their roles and the wrestling, elevating the experience. The Masked Wrestler, however, should have been a nimble high-flyer but instead moved with all the agility of a refrigerator being tipped over. And then there is Chris Jericho, once a titan of the squared circle, now reduced to a performance so wooden I half-expected termites to start nibbling at his edges.

Despite its occasional missteps, be it the drag in pacing, the overuse of red lighting, or the odd bit of lacklustre acting, "Dark Match" is a wildly enjoyable horror brawl. It is the kind of film that will likely earn a cult following, a homage to both wrestling and horror that understands the grand theatricality of both. I may not always rewatch horror films, but this one? I could see myself stepping into the ring for another round.

Saw this at the Imagine film festival 2024 in Amsterdam. The plot itself may not be interesting or relevant, but it is shown in a beautiful way, yet not for the faint of heart, with lots of blood and gore. Even fatalities can be expected, so not everyone (euphemism alert) is still standing in the end. The supernatural twist in the end may not satisfy everyone, however, but the pentagram in the basement predicted that something bad was planned all along, and dark powers need dead corpses as an unwritten rule.

Outside normal arenas and without official rules, this type of wrestling can be very destructive, as we see here. The audience cheers, whatever happens, and doesn't mind open wounds, reams of blood, broken limbs, or other serious injuries. Previously, I always assumed that a lot of theater was involved when I saw it on TV. That may be so for the official wrestling matches, but what we watch here is beyond mercy for the losers. Moreover, it was planned from the outset by the event organizers that five fatally wounded were to be "produced" for the pentagram to complete.

Lucky for us, and for the tension we were waiting for, the division between winners and losers is not along the lines that were foreseen by the one who presided over the match. The visiting group of wrestlers was more creative and resourceful than we thought at first.

All in all, though I am not interested in this type of sport, it was interesting to watch this story and all its developments, most of which were unexpected and unplanned. The supernatural twist did not harm either to arrive at a 4/5 score for the audience award when leaving the venue.

Dark Match has a surprisingly unique premise, as we follow a group of wrestlers who sign up for an underground event called a "Dark Match." Shortly after the event begins, they realize that the stakes are much higher than championship belts and a few bruises.

The immediate eye-catcher for me was seeing Stephen Ogg in the cast. I've always liked his acting, and ever since GTA V was released, I've been a huge fan of him and his work. He is not the main character here, though; that role belongs more to his sort-of girlfriend, "Miss Behave," played by Ayisha Issa. Both actors portrayed their characters really well and got the most out of their roles, which were interesting in themselves. The rest of the cast, including Chris Jericho, was mostly good, with a few exceptions.

The movie features some entertaining wrestling sequences and consistently avoids becoming too predictable, always introducing something new to keep the audience engaged. At times, it felt like the film wanted to explore more themes than it could handle, which led to an inconsistent tone throughout. It also suffered from pacing issues and some poorly lit scenes. However, the strong characters and unique plot made up for those shortcomings. I found myself caring about the characters and genuinely curious to see what would happen next, which is generally a good sign.

Unfortunately, the movie didn't fully reach the potential of its premise, and there were only a few truly memorable moments. I enjoyed director Lowell Dean's previous WolfCop films for their trashy and schlocky charm, and while Dark Match had similar tones, it took a slightly more serious approach despite the bonkers plot. The film was overall enjoyable but also a bit messy and definitely flawed. Still, I had a decent time watching it, even though I don't know much about wrestling. I feel like fans of the sport could find even more to enjoy here, and I'm curious to see what director Lowell Dean does next. He always seems able to craft likable low-budget flicks with heart. [5.4/10]

A group of small-time pro wrestlers find themselves fighting for their lives.

I figured the whole wrestling thing was probably just going to be a bit of set dressing, like stuff usually is in these kinds of movies. It turned out to be a bigger part of the movie than I expected. If you're like me and don't care for wrestling, it shouldn't be a deal-breaker.

Our protagonist is an interesting character. She's aloof, sullen, and has a mean streak. She's also sick of playing the bad guy and propping up white people. Quite understandably, she wants her own shot at the big leagues. A flawed character like that is always a bit chancy, but I thought Ayisha Issa did a good job making her likable, or, at least someone you can root for. I'd be curious to see Miss Behave's further adventures.

Steven Ogg, who plays her boyfriend and a kind of mentor figure, was great. He stole several scenes, and it felt like he was really trying to make this the best movie it could be. He reminded me of Lance Henriksen in that respect. It makes me want to go looking for other movies he's been in. Although some of his lines might come off as a bit preachy, I thought he made them work.

The only others who really got to shine were Mo Adan, who played a mostly mute wrestler, and Sara Canning, who played Issa's opposite: white, perky, and privileged. Canning got to have some fun, and her character had a bit more depth than it first seemed. Still it would have been nice to have seen even more depth. The character had some real potential if they'd mined deeper. Adan was also given more than you'd expect but, again, not as much as you'd like.

Chris Jericho shows up. As someone who doesn't know anything about wrestling, I didn't recognize him. I thought he was a bit theatrical and hammy, but it certainly makes a lot more sense now that I've done a Google search on him. It also probably suits his character. If you're a wrestling fan, I think this will probably be the highlight the movie for you. For me, some of his scenes seemed kind of like filler.

I liked the writing and directing, but I also felt that this could have a great B movie if they'd tried just a bit harder. Not everyone wants to watch B movies. I get that. But for a certain audience, these are the most fun ever put on film. After seeing WolfCop and Dark Match, I think Lowell Dean has what it takes to make a cult movie in that will live forever in the minds of fans. One day, I think he's going to knock it out of the park, and it's going to be the most memorable thing you've seen on Netflix.

The characters were nearly there, but they needed another little push. The plot was a bit close to Green Room, which featured a punk band in dire straits. But I liked how bonkers the plot was, and I wanted it to be even more bonkers. I wanted it to go off the rails, like it teased at the end. I wanted it to go to 11. I think that if we ever get a sequel, it may in fact do so.

I liked Dark Match more than I thought I would, and I think other fans of WolfCop will like it, too. Give it a chance.