Over the past ten years, I can't name many films with Jean-Claude Van Damme, which would become my favorites. Are remembered “swore enemies” And "Lucas“, which I liked. I tried to give the film a chance.”The Last Mercenary” 2021, but every time I turned it off after a few minutes of watching.
This is a rather strange position for a fan of the star of the golden era of American action films. Despite my love for the actor, I can't blame those who now doubt his films, as well as the films of other similar stars. Suffice it to say that “Human darkness” gives me the same mixed feelings.
I love a good, solid noir thriller. Van Damme and director James Cullen Brassack trying to convey this energy from beginning to end: from acting and scene setting, to atmosphere and camera work in some moments. Moreover, Van Damme carries the film on his shoulders with dignity whenever he can.
Unfortunately, this is sometimes undermined by weak performances from some of the actors, slow pacing, and an overall dull atmosphere. Things only start to improve after the first major action scene, which occurs towards the end of the first hour. That's when the story begins to unfold, although questions remain about why the film, which should have been more exciting, falls short of expectations.
The plot of revenge and redemption begins in Miami, where a botched operation results in the death of a witness. Russell Hatch (Van Damme) is a dispossessed former Interpol agent who must protect Jaden (Emerson Ming), the son of a murdered witness (Chika Kanamoto). The action jumps forward two years to Los Angeles after the opening credits.
Hatch lives in a motel with the beautiful Claire (Kristanna Loken). When he's not in bed or trying to numb the pain with his habits, he drives Jayden to and from school. The only one who cares about Jaden is his grandfather Kim (Lee Ji-young), the owner of a small store.
The film highlights the conflict between the Korean and Russian mafias, with Hatch having a personal grudge against the latter. But he doesn't know that Kim's son, crime boss Dae Hyun (Peter Jay), wants to drag Jaden into the family business, which Hatch intends to prevent at all costs in order to fulfill the will of Jaden's mother.
The climax comes when Hatch and Dae Hyun come to an agreement, but events force Jaden to face his mistakes. This leads to a desperate search when Hatch suspects the Russian mafia has kidnapped him.
The film runs about 110 minutes and picks up in the second half, finally getting into its plot. There are several action scenes and fight moments, the best of which is Hatch's fight with two of Dae Hyun's soldiers while Jaden waits in the car. The camera carefully captures the fight, allowing the scene to breathe a little.
The rest of the action scenes are also well done, and among the supporting characters, Chris's performance stands out Spencer Breslin, Hatch's motel roommate. He is a slacker drug dealer whose limited charm makes him useful only up to a point, which underscores the mood of the film.
However, it's hard to say the same about Jaden. The scene where he has to deal with his trauma feels unconvincing and disconnected from the overall plot development. Movie "Darkness Of Man” struggles with the balance between creating atmosphere and developing the relationship between Hatch and Jayden. The end result is achieved, but the path to it is thorny.
Additional roles such as a cameo as a famous MMA fighter Nick Diaz and son Van Damme, Christopher Van Varenberg, seem less significant. There is one more cameo that fans of the genre will enjoy, but I won't reveal it here.
All in all, "Human darkness“Approximately on par with Brassac’s previous film”Outlaw” . "Explosive game” offered something more, but Brassac still has a lot to achieve. The good news is that, unlike some of the Van Damme remakes, The Darkness of Men delivers a decent crime noir that may appeal to you depending on your tastes.
By Lee B. Golden (FilmCombatSyndicate)
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Tags: Darkness of Man, James Cullen Brassack, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kristana Loken, Christopher Van Varenberg, Spencer Breslin
Tags: Darkness of Man, James Cullen Brassack, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kristana Loken, Christopher Van Varenberg, Spencer Breslin
Yes.
The previous ones are the ones from Tiger Style Media?
Complete crap, not a movie. The previous two are much better.
Damn, that looks pretty good. I'll have to take note. Thanks.