23 recensioni
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.
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.
The movie is better than expected, with many positives. I like the grainy, old-school visuals; and the movie makes the right decision in taking place in the late 1980s: the 1980s time period eliminates any cell-phones (all horror movies nowadays must either take place before cell-phones, or the characters simply have no signal in their location); and as wrestling fans know, the late 1980s was the territorial era where kayfabe lived amongst wrestling fans, which makes the premise more credible. Visually, the movie manages to get some decent kills, and nothing looks embarrassingly cartoonish or fake. Some minor scenes might tickle wrestling fans, such as when the characters talk about maintaining heel/face dynamics in public, when they load on the bus to travel to their next show like a circus act, and when they whisper instructions to each other in the ring. The movie's brisk run-time is just about perfect.
But most of all - the character Joe (played by Steven Ogg) absolutely steals the show. He's the best actor in the entire movie, and his character comes off as cool and badass at various points. There is one part where he skillfully narrates the background of Jericho's character over some creepy montage - that scene is the best moment of the entire movie; it's an A+ scene in an low-budget, made-for-TV movie
That said, many flaws remain: the plot is predictable and ultimately forgettable in the long run. The movie could have done a lot more with the character Kate, particularly with her relationships with Jericho and the main character named "Miss Behave." The villains, like Jericho and his group, needed some fleshing out. The movie at various times suggests that Jericho's character is driven by revenge against Joe and the company he works for. Then elsewhere, the movie suggests that Jericho's character and his group are just satanic whackos. Then elsewhere, the movie suggests that Jericho's character and his group are seeking money by filming the whole ordeal. Then there's stuff involving Jericho's character's daughter ... it just seems disorganized
Regardless - if this movie were a TUBI movie, it would be one of the best horror movies on that service. And among wrestling movies, it's also one of the strongest (though that might be a low bar). It's not a bad watch. If 5.0 is average, then a 5.5/10 sounds right
5.5/10.
But most of all - the character Joe (played by Steven Ogg) absolutely steals the show. He's the best actor in the entire movie, and his character comes off as cool and badass at various points. There is one part where he skillfully narrates the background of Jericho's character over some creepy montage - that scene is the best moment of the entire movie; it's an A+ scene in an low-budget, made-for-TV movie
That said, many flaws remain: the plot is predictable and ultimately forgettable in the long run. The movie could have done a lot more with the character Kate, particularly with her relationships with Jericho and the main character named "Miss Behave." The villains, like Jericho and his group, needed some fleshing out. The movie at various times suggests that Jericho's character is driven by revenge against Joe and the company he works for. Then elsewhere, the movie suggests that Jericho's character and his group are just satanic whackos. Then elsewhere, the movie suggests that Jericho's character and his group are seeking money by filming the whole ordeal. Then there's stuff involving Jericho's character's daughter ... it just seems disorganized
Regardless - if this movie were a TUBI movie, it would be one of the best horror movies on that service. And among wrestling movies, it's also one of the strongest (though that might be a low bar). It's not a bad watch. If 5.0 is average, then a 5.5/10 sounds right
5.5/10.
- moxleytheconservativebeagle
- 2 feb 2025
- Permalink
I've seen a lot of bad movies. While this isn't the worst "wrestling" movie I ever seen this is pretty terrible. When I watch a horror movie, I don't expect to be scared anymore. Those days of "scary" horror are long gone. But I do expect to care even a little about the characters and I expect to be made to feel uncomfortable. This movie offered neither.
In all honesty, after the first 30 minutes I couldn't wait for this movie to end. Im just happy I didn't have to pay to see this and only lost 90 minutes of my life. Id rather watch Wrestlers vs Zombies over that this offered and that's not saying much
Save yourself. Don't waste your time .
In all honesty, after the first 30 minutes I couldn't wait for this movie to end. Im just happy I didn't have to pay to see this and only lost 90 minutes of my life. Id rather watch Wrestlers vs Zombies over that this offered and that's not saying much
Save yourself. Don't waste your time .
- twalchusky-707-34837
- 2 feb 2025
- Permalink
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.
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.
Right, well never having heard about this movie, all I knew about it when I sat down to watch it was that it was a horror movie of sorts. And that was essentially all I needed to know, given my life-long romance with all things horror.
27 minutes into the ordeal and still nothing interesting had happened, nor any clues as to what the movie was about or anything. I was just about good and ready to up and call it quits, but I opted to endure, hoping that the movie would pick up and improve at the hands of writer and director Lowell Dean. But 47 minutes into to the ordeal that is "Dark Match" and it was clear that this movie was not going to become any better. This movie was an utter dumpster fire. There was no coherent plot in the movie, and watching people wrestle just doesn't cut it as entertainment for me.
There were two familiar faces on the cast list for me, and that was Steven Ogg and Michael Eklund, both being rather talented performers. The acting performances in the movie were definitely good, despite the fact that the script was garbage.
I would not recommend you to waste 94 minutes on watching "Dark Match", it just simply isn't worth the effort or the light of day. Some of us suffered through this dumpster fire of a movie, so you don't have to; you're quite welcome.
Listed as a horror movie, and that is why I opted to watch the movie. But there isn't a shred of an ounce of horror to be enjoyed in the movie, not unless you consider the movie in itself and how pointless the narrative is to be the true horror.
My rating of writer and director Lowell Dean's 2024 movie "Dark Match" lands on a generous two out of ten stars, and that is solely because of the acting performances. How this movie has snatched a 5.7 rating on IMDb, at the time of me reviewing it, simply is beyond my comprehension.
27 minutes into the ordeal and still nothing interesting had happened, nor any clues as to what the movie was about or anything. I was just about good and ready to up and call it quits, but I opted to endure, hoping that the movie would pick up and improve at the hands of writer and director Lowell Dean. But 47 minutes into to the ordeal that is "Dark Match" and it was clear that this movie was not going to become any better. This movie was an utter dumpster fire. There was no coherent plot in the movie, and watching people wrestle just doesn't cut it as entertainment for me.
There were two familiar faces on the cast list for me, and that was Steven Ogg and Michael Eklund, both being rather talented performers. The acting performances in the movie were definitely good, despite the fact that the script was garbage.
I would not recommend you to waste 94 minutes on watching "Dark Match", it just simply isn't worth the effort or the light of day. Some of us suffered through this dumpster fire of a movie, so you don't have to; you're quite welcome.
Listed as a horror movie, and that is why I opted to watch the movie. But there isn't a shred of an ounce of horror to be enjoyed in the movie, not unless you consider the movie in itself and how pointless the narrative is to be the true horror.
My rating of writer and director Lowell Dean's 2024 movie "Dark Match" lands on a generous two out of ten stars, and that is solely because of the acting performances. How this movie has snatched a 5.7 rating on IMDb, at the time of me reviewing it, simply is beyond my comprehension.
- paul_m_haakonsen
- 3 feb 2025
- Permalink
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.
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.
Running a special show in a new arena, a woman hoping for a big break in her career joins several other local wrestlers in a run-down venue for a shady promoter, but when they start to become suspicious of their host they realize that there's Satanic rituals in play and must get away alive.
This was a bit underwhelming and had some issues with it. Among the main enjoyable factors with this one is the central setup of the group arriving at the venue and finding themselves at the beginning stages of the takeover. With just enough background on the different characters as to why they would go through the short-notice program just days before the supposed show, there's a lot to enjoy here with this one going for the slow-building revelation about them being duped once they get to the facility and put through the ringer during their matches. As the night goes on and they realize that the whole thing has been a setup, using the type of matches they're to go through involving special rules and stipulations as well as being fought to the death, this offers up an intriguing enough premise and some fine brutality in the action playing up to that. However, beyond that, there are some big drawbacks holding this back. The main detrimental factor here is that there's no clue what the plan for the villains really is as they introduce multiple plot threads to be an acceptable point but never settle on one. Initially brought into the venue thinking the purpose is to participate in a special show for locals only to get put off by the barbaric rituals, this sets up the idea of the show being a revenge killing against the new group arriving for the show. Then it brings up the purpose of the whole thing as a Satanic ritual used to summon their dark masters before bringing up the experience being recorded and broadcast to others who enjoy this kind of material and then finally a bit of revenge for his family. This is immensely disorganized and jarring leaving this one too scattered to be of much use. The other real detriment to this one is the rather unimpressive plot as a whole where it never really feels like much of an actual story is taking place. The idea of getting the group to the building and using them for nefarious purposes other than a wrestling card is fine, but how this one presents everything needs a lot of work. From the general lack of information on the different figures going along with the mission while also getting all the confusing information about the villains, what the purpose of the wrestling matches is supposed to accomplish, and where the throughline of the whole congregation of cultists getting what they wanted only to be turned off and frightened at it so the finale makes little sense, this has some real trouble getting some cohesion out of everything. As well as some rather obvious low-budget material found here, this one has some issues to hold it back.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, and drug use.
This was a bit underwhelming and had some issues with it. Among the main enjoyable factors with this one is the central setup of the group arriving at the venue and finding themselves at the beginning stages of the takeover. With just enough background on the different characters as to why they would go through the short-notice program just days before the supposed show, there's a lot to enjoy here with this one going for the slow-building revelation about them being duped once they get to the facility and put through the ringer during their matches. As the night goes on and they realize that the whole thing has been a setup, using the type of matches they're to go through involving special rules and stipulations as well as being fought to the death, this offers up an intriguing enough premise and some fine brutality in the action playing up to that. However, beyond that, there are some big drawbacks holding this back. The main detrimental factor here is that there's no clue what the plan for the villains really is as they introduce multiple plot threads to be an acceptable point but never settle on one. Initially brought into the venue thinking the purpose is to participate in a special show for locals only to get put off by the barbaric rituals, this sets up the idea of the show being a revenge killing against the new group arriving for the show. Then it brings up the purpose of the whole thing as a Satanic ritual used to summon their dark masters before bringing up the experience being recorded and broadcast to others who enjoy this kind of material and then finally a bit of revenge for his family. This is immensely disorganized and jarring leaving this one too scattered to be of much use. The other real detriment to this one is the rather unimpressive plot as a whole where it never really feels like much of an actual story is taking place. The idea of getting the group to the building and using them for nefarious purposes other than a wrestling card is fine, but how this one presents everything needs a lot of work. From the general lack of information on the different figures going along with the mission while also getting all the confusing information about the villains, what the purpose of the wrestling matches is supposed to accomplish, and where the throughline of the whole congregation of cultists getting what they wanted only to be turned off and frightened at it so the finale makes little sense, this has some real trouble getting some cohesion out of everything. As well as some rather obvious low-budget material found here, this one has some issues to hold it back.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, and drug use.
- kannibalcorpsegrinder
- 20 feb 2025
- Permalink
- kevin_robbins
- 13 feb 2025
- Permalink
If there's a wrestling horror movie then I'm all over it but this one committed the cardinal sin... Cutting to black at the final scene. Maybe it's just my hatred of this sort of ending but I always feel a bit short changed when something awesome is about to happen then the movie cuts to black.
The story is a good premise but the execution could've been a better and there wasn't much gore or anything inventive that kept my attention. I was hovering over a 2 or 3 rating but it's not worth much more, mainly for to the lazy end.
All in all a forgettable movie with a terrible ending.
...............
The story is a good premise but the execution could've been a better and there wasn't much gore or anything inventive that kept my attention. I was hovering over a 2 or 3 rating but it's not worth much more, mainly for to the lazy end.
All in all a forgettable movie with a terrible ending.
...............
I wasn't expecting much from this film but I was very surprised. As a big wrestling fan I had fun watching this cheese fest. But the reason I couldn't review this higher is because of the horrendous acting of Chris Jericho. As a former word champion I expected him to at least be able to act in a wrestling film of all things. But no his ridiculous bad guy cult leader is just painful to watch. He's more wooden than a barn door. Thankfully though the rest of the cast are fantastic. Well worth a watch just ignore Jericho and his obnoxious attempt at acting. Steven ogg as always is a huge shining show stealing star we need more of.
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)
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)
I'll admit despite the amateur theatric, jokey performances and(some) would say fake fighting, I would take wrestling over football anytime. At least there is a sense of fun, massive amounts of self-deprecating humour and fans that don't destroy front line service vehicles if their respective sides lose the game/battle.
It is the basis for one of the most underrated films of the last twenty five years-Stephen Merchants' Fighting With My Family and is the decent basis for a horror.
A group of wrestlers find themselves at the mercy of a group of bloodthirsty cult members.
The level of cheapness may put some off and the usual' tick box' of casting Ayisha Issa in the lead is tiresome. But remember, black woman are powerfully built and certainly would dominate the wrestling ring , she is no exception.
Her romance with the excellent Steven Ogg rings true and he convinces as a older wrestler just trying to earn a living.
This fun if forgettable horror is a mash up of The Running Man and The Wrestler.
It is the basis for one of the most underrated films of the last twenty five years-Stephen Merchants' Fighting With My Family and is the decent basis for a horror.
A group of wrestlers find themselves at the mercy of a group of bloodthirsty cult members.
The level of cheapness may put some off and the usual' tick box' of casting Ayisha Issa in the lead is tiresome. But remember, black woman are powerfully built and certainly would dominate the wrestling ring , she is no exception.
Her romance with the excellent Steven Ogg rings true and he convinces as a older wrestler just trying to earn a living.
This fun if forgettable horror is a mash up of The Running Man and The Wrestler.
- dweston-38669
- 21 apr 2025
- Permalink
This is a really mixed movie for me, on the one hand the concept was a lot of fun. As a former indie wrestler, I loved how accurate it all felt, from the moves to how they called it in the ring, it was all putting a smile on my face.
The low rating comes down to two things, first and foremost is the absolutely awful acting of Chris Jericho. While I think the main two characters, played by Ayisha Issa and Stephen Ogg, are both well developed and well acted, the main villian played by Jericho is Razzy worthy. Every line from him sounds like a bad heel promo, not a charismatic cult leader. At first I thought that was the point, like he'd drop the façade... But no, he really just played the character like that throughout the whole movie. Insanely distracting.
While he brought the movie down a full two or three points for me, killing every scene he was in, I do want to take a moment to highlight the rest of the cast who were all far better; Ayisha Issa especially impressed the hell out of me. This was the first film I've seen with her in it and she blew me away, was shocked to hear the director say on Last Drive In that she had never been a wrestler considering how smooth she was in all the wrestling match scenes. She was hitting moves better than some of the actual wrestlers! Her and Stephen Ogg (who was equally as great) were the heart of the film, and their characters romance was legitimately touching. Was definitely routing for them by the ending, which speaking of..
The second major issue I mentioned? It's the ending, specifically the very last scene. I won't get too far into it to avoid spoilers, but I really question why that's the direction they went. It looked terrible, and felt so far out of left field I was legitimately laughing out loud.
Look, this is whole movie a weird one. I liked the plot, I liked the characters, but the ending and Jericho's "acting" were so bad they took me out of everything else and were all I could think about when the movie was over. I guess in the end, it's the best 4/10 movie I've ever seen.
The low rating comes down to two things, first and foremost is the absolutely awful acting of Chris Jericho. While I think the main two characters, played by Ayisha Issa and Stephen Ogg, are both well developed and well acted, the main villian played by Jericho is Razzy worthy. Every line from him sounds like a bad heel promo, not a charismatic cult leader. At first I thought that was the point, like he'd drop the façade... But no, he really just played the character like that throughout the whole movie. Insanely distracting.
While he brought the movie down a full two or three points for me, killing every scene he was in, I do want to take a moment to highlight the rest of the cast who were all far better; Ayisha Issa especially impressed the hell out of me. This was the first film I've seen with her in it and she blew me away, was shocked to hear the director say on Last Drive In that she had never been a wrestler considering how smooth she was in all the wrestling match scenes. She was hitting moves better than some of the actual wrestlers! Her and Stephen Ogg (who was equally as great) were the heart of the film, and their characters romance was legitimately touching. Was definitely routing for them by the ending, which speaking of..
The second major issue I mentioned? It's the ending, specifically the very last scene. I won't get too far into it to avoid spoilers, but I really question why that's the direction they went. It looked terrible, and felt so far out of left field I was legitimately laughing out loud.
Look, this is whole movie a weird one. I liked the plot, I liked the characters, but the ending and Jericho's "acting" were so bad they took me out of everything else and were all I could think about when the movie was over. I guess in the end, it's the best 4/10 movie I've ever seen.
- NickKDoucet
- 25 lug 2025
- Permalink
This was a film that I decided to check out since I'm unable to go to the movie theater at this time due to the birth of my second child. I went through my streaming services, added to my lists 2025 wide release films so I could continue my pace and have featured reviews on these podcasts. This one sounded the most interesting of the ones that were available that I hadn't seen. I've also given it a second watch to see how it held up.
Synopsis: a small-time wrestling company accepts a well-paying gig in a backwoods town only to learn, too late, that the community is run by a mysterious cult leader with devious plans for their matches.
This has an interesting way to start that I appreciate. We are at an event and we're introduced to the members of this independent wrestling company, SAW, as they describe ahead of their matches. Ones of note are Lazarus Smashley (Leo Fafard) who is against Mean Joe Lean (Steven Ogg). He's the main star currently as well. Kid Humble (Mitchell Clarke) is fighting Enigma (Mo Jabari), a tag team of Thick (Jonathan Lepine) and Thin (Justin Lawrick) who are going up against the Beast Brothers, Wicked Wolf (Andrew Lewis) and Bad Badger (David Mercer). The main event is a women's match between Miss Behave (Ayisha Issa) and Kate the Great (Sara Canning).
A major issue here is that Kate the Great is a 'face' so she wins over Miss Behave. There is a talent scout here, so she wants her opponent to help make her look good. She gets upset during the end of the match and hits Kate, for real, without pulling it. Miss Behave is also seeing Joe. She tells him that it might be time to move on since they're never going to give her a shot at the title. The guy who runs the company is Rusty (Jonathan Cherry). He had to dock her pay for the incident after the match. There are no hard feelings, it is just business.
That night he gets a couple of calls from a mysterious person. They've been trying to get this group to go out of their way to a dark show. Rusty tells them the price to do it and they agree. The crew loads up and heads out. When they arrive, there are red flags. There isn't a hotel. It is a community. There is a welcome party for the visitors and it is here that Joe gets drugged and panics. He thinks that a former opponent of his is here. He went by the name of The Prophet (Chris Jericho). This was introduced briefly in Joe's room the next before. Now he's going by the Leader.
There are things that happen and it causes tension the next morning. Regardless, the show must go on. Miss Behave looks at the matchups with Joe and they notice something odd. The types of matches are associated with the elements. There is wind, water, earth, inferno and the last is a mystery match. The first up is Thick and Thin against the Beast Brothers, but there's something not quite right about how intense things are. We are seeing things from the point of view of the 'heels' and they're now fighting for their lives.
That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start is that I did love the concept here. This was made by someone who loves wrestling. Getting Chris Irvine aka Jericho is a good pickup. Knowing that he's a horror fan helps for sure. It also looks like Jabari might also be a wrestler, but I don't recognize him. What is interesting here is that we're incorporating things that I enjoy like a cult, rituals and then the backdrop of wrestling, it makes for an intriguing idea.
Let's then delve deeper into what we're getting and I'll begin with the wrestling aspect. This is acknowledging the truth that professional wrestling is predetermined who wins. Notice here that I'm not saying it is fake. People can get hurt. The moves that they do cause pain. They are choreographed in a way to alleviate as much of that as possible. The Leader is annoyed that people think it is fake so he's taking these a step farther to show it isn't. These matches are to the death. I do like that they're done in ritualistic sacrifice style where each one is corresponding with an element. There is a great reveal here though showing that a cult leader will do things even if they don't believe it. It shows it is all about control.
Something I'll also credit here is the names of the wrestlers. They are clever like Miss Behave, Mean Joe Lean, Thick and Thin. I've already said that I like films with cults in them so having a wrestler who was religious and going by the Prophet, then becoming the Leader as his views get darker. That's a good touch. It is even more terrifying that they're in his compound that is in line with someone like David Koresh or Jim Jones. These two and their groups are inspirations. It helps build the atmosphere.
Next then will be discussing filmmaking aspects. I've already said that I liked the atmosphere and I think that the cinematography helps there. They're able to frame things in a way where it almost feels surreal. There are moments where people are drugged and they capture that well. On my first watch, I had an issue with the wrestling scenes filmed. I'm not sure why because with a second watch I didn't have it. If anything, the fourth match felt rushed. The effects though are done practically and are brutal. I loved that. Soundtrack also helps build what was needed with the vibes. There is something eerie about wrestling in front of a cult, especially for the tag team match. They're supposed to be religious and they get booed. It helps build an unsettling atmosphere.
All that is left then is acting performances. I like Issa as our lead. Something I haven't brought up is that she has these dreams of becoming champion, both figurative and literal. She plays a good heel wrestler. Unfortunately, Ogg does steal the show though. I'm just a fan of his, first hearing his voice in Grand Theft Auto V. He has a grimy feeling that fits a guy who's been an indie wrestler for decades and can't give it up. Jabari is interesting as this masked guy. It is interesting that we're seeing from the POV of the heel wrestlers. The faces then become villains and I like the reasons why. We're playing with the conventions. Canning, Fafard, Clarke, Lepine, Lawrick, Lewis, Mercer and any other wrestlers are good. Jericho is great as our villain. The cult members also round this out for what is needed. They help build this feeling that our group won't be able to escape which adds tension.
In conclusion, this film was one that sounded interesting and I enjoyed my time. They do well at capturing this independent wrestling production, then putting them in a compound where a cult is forcing them into a ritual. The acting performances are good to bring their characters to life. This is made well enough to capture the atmosphere through the setting, cinematography, framing and the brutal effects. If I have an issue here, the ending feels tacked on. I do like that we built toward it and what the lasting image is. It does just feel rushed. I still enjoyed my time and glad that I sought this out for sure. I would recommend it, especially if you are a horror fan who loves wrestling.
My Rating: 7 out of 10.
Synopsis: a small-time wrestling company accepts a well-paying gig in a backwoods town only to learn, too late, that the community is run by a mysterious cult leader with devious plans for their matches.
This has an interesting way to start that I appreciate. We are at an event and we're introduced to the members of this independent wrestling company, SAW, as they describe ahead of their matches. Ones of note are Lazarus Smashley (Leo Fafard) who is against Mean Joe Lean (Steven Ogg). He's the main star currently as well. Kid Humble (Mitchell Clarke) is fighting Enigma (Mo Jabari), a tag team of Thick (Jonathan Lepine) and Thin (Justin Lawrick) who are going up against the Beast Brothers, Wicked Wolf (Andrew Lewis) and Bad Badger (David Mercer). The main event is a women's match between Miss Behave (Ayisha Issa) and Kate the Great (Sara Canning).
A major issue here is that Kate the Great is a 'face' so she wins over Miss Behave. There is a talent scout here, so she wants her opponent to help make her look good. She gets upset during the end of the match and hits Kate, for real, without pulling it. Miss Behave is also seeing Joe. She tells him that it might be time to move on since they're never going to give her a shot at the title. The guy who runs the company is Rusty (Jonathan Cherry). He had to dock her pay for the incident after the match. There are no hard feelings, it is just business.
That night he gets a couple of calls from a mysterious person. They've been trying to get this group to go out of their way to a dark show. Rusty tells them the price to do it and they agree. The crew loads up and heads out. When they arrive, there are red flags. There isn't a hotel. It is a community. There is a welcome party for the visitors and it is here that Joe gets drugged and panics. He thinks that a former opponent of his is here. He went by the name of The Prophet (Chris Jericho). This was introduced briefly in Joe's room the next before. Now he's going by the Leader.
There are things that happen and it causes tension the next morning. Regardless, the show must go on. Miss Behave looks at the matchups with Joe and they notice something odd. The types of matches are associated with the elements. There is wind, water, earth, inferno and the last is a mystery match. The first up is Thick and Thin against the Beast Brothers, but there's something not quite right about how intense things are. We are seeing things from the point of view of the 'heels' and they're now fighting for their lives.
That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start is that I did love the concept here. This was made by someone who loves wrestling. Getting Chris Irvine aka Jericho is a good pickup. Knowing that he's a horror fan helps for sure. It also looks like Jabari might also be a wrestler, but I don't recognize him. What is interesting here is that we're incorporating things that I enjoy like a cult, rituals and then the backdrop of wrestling, it makes for an intriguing idea.
Let's then delve deeper into what we're getting and I'll begin with the wrestling aspect. This is acknowledging the truth that professional wrestling is predetermined who wins. Notice here that I'm not saying it is fake. People can get hurt. The moves that they do cause pain. They are choreographed in a way to alleviate as much of that as possible. The Leader is annoyed that people think it is fake so he's taking these a step farther to show it isn't. These matches are to the death. I do like that they're done in ritualistic sacrifice style where each one is corresponding with an element. There is a great reveal here though showing that a cult leader will do things even if they don't believe it. It shows it is all about control.
Something I'll also credit here is the names of the wrestlers. They are clever like Miss Behave, Mean Joe Lean, Thick and Thin. I've already said that I like films with cults in them so having a wrestler who was religious and going by the Prophet, then becoming the Leader as his views get darker. That's a good touch. It is even more terrifying that they're in his compound that is in line with someone like David Koresh or Jim Jones. These two and their groups are inspirations. It helps build the atmosphere.
Next then will be discussing filmmaking aspects. I've already said that I liked the atmosphere and I think that the cinematography helps there. They're able to frame things in a way where it almost feels surreal. There are moments where people are drugged and they capture that well. On my first watch, I had an issue with the wrestling scenes filmed. I'm not sure why because with a second watch I didn't have it. If anything, the fourth match felt rushed. The effects though are done practically and are brutal. I loved that. Soundtrack also helps build what was needed with the vibes. There is something eerie about wrestling in front of a cult, especially for the tag team match. They're supposed to be religious and they get booed. It helps build an unsettling atmosphere.
All that is left then is acting performances. I like Issa as our lead. Something I haven't brought up is that she has these dreams of becoming champion, both figurative and literal. She plays a good heel wrestler. Unfortunately, Ogg does steal the show though. I'm just a fan of his, first hearing his voice in Grand Theft Auto V. He has a grimy feeling that fits a guy who's been an indie wrestler for decades and can't give it up. Jabari is interesting as this masked guy. It is interesting that we're seeing from the POV of the heel wrestlers. The faces then become villains and I like the reasons why. We're playing with the conventions. Canning, Fafard, Clarke, Lepine, Lawrick, Lewis, Mercer and any other wrestlers are good. Jericho is great as our villain. The cult members also round this out for what is needed. They help build this feeling that our group won't be able to escape which adds tension.
In conclusion, this film was one that sounded interesting and I enjoyed my time. They do well at capturing this independent wrestling production, then putting them in a compound where a cult is forcing them into a ritual. The acting performances are good to bring their characters to life. This is made well enough to capture the atmosphere through the setting, cinematography, framing and the brutal effects. If I have an issue here, the ending feels tacked on. I do like that we built toward it and what the lasting image is. It does just feel rushed. I still enjoyed my time and glad that I sought this out for sure. I would recommend it, especially if you are a horror fan who loves wrestling.
My Rating: 7 out of 10.
- Reviews_of_the_Dead
- 2 apr 2025
- Permalink
- BandSAboutMovies
- 29 mar 2025
- Permalink
Over the years, there have been a few attempts to bring film and wrestling together. While this has resulted in modern favourites such as The Wrestler or The Iron Claw, there have also been some real stinkers, such as Death From Above. There has also been a few attempts to mesh wrestling and horror together too, which yields mixed results in the world of professional wrestling and thus far has provided little entertainment on film, but Dark Match proved to be a step up from the likes of Pro Wrestlers Vs Zombies.
First and foremost, there's some decent acting in this movie, with Steven Ogg once again stealing the show. Very few actors become successful after starring in a video game, but since his infamous role as Trevor in Grand Theft Auto V, he's made the most of every opportunity he's given to display his versatility, even in roles such as this where's if anything, he's the anchor that keeps the viewer, especially wrestling fans, grounded. Elsewhere, Chris Jericho, who isn't the greatest actor in the world but always understands the assignment, does a perfect job as the villain, falling somewhere between Linus Roache's performance in Mandy and Gene Simmons in Never Too Young To Die, giving us a solid mix of cult and camp.
While it's an enjoyable film that has some Easter eggs for fans, it is nonetheless predictable and at times a little flat. In particular our heroine, Miss Behave, feels less like the badass they attempt to portray her as, and more grumpy. Ayisha Issa may also be best known for her role in a video game (namely Fliss from Man Of Medan,) but she feels more real in that role, ironically. She doesn't do a bad job here, but the character itself feels a bit cookie cutter. I won't spoil the ending, but I think I audibly said, "Oh, they're going with this?" which left me a little disappointed.
All in all, Dark Match is a fun way to spend an hour and a half, with plenty of violence for horror fans and insider terms and a good adaptation of the grappling itself to please wrestling fans. Worth a watch if you just want to be entertained.
First and foremost, there's some decent acting in this movie, with Steven Ogg once again stealing the show. Very few actors become successful after starring in a video game, but since his infamous role as Trevor in Grand Theft Auto V, he's made the most of every opportunity he's given to display his versatility, even in roles such as this where's if anything, he's the anchor that keeps the viewer, especially wrestling fans, grounded. Elsewhere, Chris Jericho, who isn't the greatest actor in the world but always understands the assignment, does a perfect job as the villain, falling somewhere between Linus Roache's performance in Mandy and Gene Simmons in Never Too Young To Die, giving us a solid mix of cult and camp.
While it's an enjoyable film that has some Easter eggs for fans, it is nonetheless predictable and at times a little flat. In particular our heroine, Miss Behave, feels less like the badass they attempt to portray her as, and more grumpy. Ayisha Issa may also be best known for her role in a video game (namely Fliss from Man Of Medan,) but she feels more real in that role, ironically. She doesn't do a bad job here, but the character itself feels a bit cookie cutter. I won't spoil the ending, but I think I audibly said, "Oh, they're going with this?" which left me a little disappointed.
All in all, Dark Match is a fun way to spend an hour and a half, with plenty of violence for horror fans and insider terms and a good adaptation of the grappling itself to please wrestling fans. Worth a watch if you just want to be entertained.
- DiamondOzMU
- 18 giu 2025
- Permalink
Being a WWE and AEW wrestling fan I went into this film excited. Unfortunately though there isn't much offered here. (Dark Match) boasts a solid cast featuring pro wrestler Chris Jericho and Steven Ogg best known for his role as Trevor in GTA V. They do what they can with the script, It's just lacking any substance at all, with poorly written cheesy dialouge. The atmosphere and pacing were ok and it could've been a lot more, but it ultimately just falls flat on everything it tries to accomplish. It's nothing but Generic kills, a silly plot (in a bad way) and one of the dumbest endings I've ever seen.
- Cenobite136
- 19 lug 2025
- Permalink
Holy Moly, I started liking WWE after watching some of Monday Night RAW on Hulu, Peacock WWE's events like SummerSlam and others. Taking the popular sport on television and doing something completely bonkers. I have not seen wolfcop, but this Wrestling Action Horror film will ask yourself, this is nothing like WWE, this is a satanic cult in the Wrestling industry. Which I thought is a genius idea from my perspectives, will it be brilliant, possibly with the gorefest, that's because in most Wrestling shows, they have like cool entrances that takes a while before the event starts, these satanic people are to me the good ones and the female wrestler nothing like Reah Ripley, or others today. Definitely the most insane Wrestling Horror Gorefest I've seen this year.
- kmkevinn-66699
- 9 gen 2025
- Permalink
- michaelRokeefe
- 19 feb 2025
- Permalink
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]
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]
Firstly, I will emphasize that horror and gore are NOT my thing... but this movie is SO FUN.
The mix of suspense, awesome characters, and creative storytelling kept me hooked. The costumes and cinematography were top-notch, creating a visually stunning and immersive experience. There are laughs to be had, and unexpected twists along the way. I was amazed that this was made in the Canadian prairies, too.
I'm certainly impressed and feel it has the potential to be a future cult classic.
Even if horror isn't usually your genre, this movie is a captivating, well-crafted story you shouldn't miss!
The mix of suspense, awesome characters, and creative storytelling kept me hooked. The costumes and cinematography were top-notch, creating a visually stunning and immersive experience. There are laughs to be had, and unexpected twists along the way. I was amazed that this was made in the Canadian prairies, too.
I'm certainly impressed and feel it has the potential to be a future cult classic.
Even if horror isn't usually your genre, this movie is a captivating, well-crafted story you shouldn't miss!