As a long-time fan who has followed Jean-Claude Van Damme‘s action-packed journey through the years, I can confidently say that “Darkness of Man” is definitely worth watching. While JCVD has been a staple in the action genre for decades, this film showcases a more emotionally nuanced performance from him, which adds depth to his character and provides a refreshing twist to his usual hard-hitting roles.
Stepping into another gripping and rugged action part, I find myself immersed in Jean-Claude Van Damme’s latest thriller, untitled movie, which roars onto screens on December 20. Directed by James Cullen Bressack, this film offers a hard-hitting, gritty narrative that is synonymous with Van Damme, yet introduces a character with a deeper emotional layer than we’ve seen in some of his most iconic roles. Despite being well into the twilight of his action hero career, Van Damme delivers a performance that surpasses many of his recent works.
In “Darkness of Man,” I step into the shoes of Russell Hatch, a once-venerated Interpol agent whose life spirals into grief when my partner meets an untimely end during a high-risk mission in bustling Los Angeles. Propelled by a profound sense of duty, I find myself tasked with safeguarding his son, Jayden – my real-life son in this film. This sets me on a perilous journey through the treacherous underworld of crime syndicates and enigmatic street gangs. Despite the relentless brutality that permeates the storyline, it’s the tender bond between Hatch and Jayden that offers a poignant respite – a testament to our deep-rooted emotional connection.
Bressack’s independent films are marked by their emphasis on character-centric narratives, which are often wrapped in intense, action-packed scenes. In the movie Darkness of Man, Tzi Ma and Peter Jae also star, but it is evident that this film, as with many others, belongs to Van Damme. His portrayal alongside his real-life son is particularly praised by critics as one of his most genuine performances to date.
Is ‘Darkness of Man’ Worth Watching?
Contrary to concerns about an emphasis on drama over action in Van Damme’s films, there is no need for alarm. The fight scenes are as skillfully orchestrated as one would anticipate from a martial arts expert, yet they do not veer into excessive complexity that detaches them from reality. This movie offers a variety of elements such as nail-biting chases and intense, hard-hitting fights, which have become emblematic of the Muscles from Brussels throughout his extensive career.
At first glance, the movie “Darkness of Man” might seem underwhelming with a Tomatometer score of 63%, but given that most of Van Damme’s films receive lower ratings, this “fresh” rating is quite significant. Critics have praised the film for offering Van Damme more than just fighting and explosions, which he certainly delivers in abundance. However, viewers seemed somewhat less enthused, with only 55% approving of the movie and some criticizing the acting as unacceptable. It’s possible that these viewers haven’t kept up with Van Damme’s four-decade career in cinema.
The low-budget film, “Darkness of Man,” raked in an impressive $17 million at the global box office in 2024, and performed well on video-on-demand platforms in March of the same year. With its recent addition to Netflix’s library, it now has a shot at reaching a broader audience and potentially garnering more recognition as one of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s most overlooked films from the past decade. If you have a Netflix subscription, you can catch it starting December 20th.
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2024-12-15 21:03