Dark Match

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.

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.

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 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.

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.