Darkness of Man

First off, if you are going into this film expecting your normal JCVD action film with high flying kicks and straight up action then stop right now because you will be disappointed, but that doesn't mean that the film wasn't enjoyable. Darkness of Man may not be a straight up action vehicle that Van Damme has released before but this film does offer entertainment and I enjoyed Van Damme a lot in this film, but the real Suprise for me was Spencer Breslin (Santa Clause, The Kid, Cat in the hat, Zoom) as his character was definitely not what I was expecting, their are also a slew of cameos, like 90210's Shannon Doughtery who had a small part in the film, legendary actor Eric Roberts actually had a blink of an eye cameo in the film and then martial arts dragon Queen Cynthia Rothrock as a Nurse in the film. The tone of this film gave a noir film feeling with a little gritty tone, the acting was good, the story was good and overall Darkness of man was a entertaining and great film. You can definitely tell that JC has more focus on acting now then anything and it shows ..

After an informant by the name of "Esther" (Chika Kanamoto) dies while in protective custody, the Interpol agent responsible for her safety named "Russell Hatch" (Jean-Claude Van Damme) takes it upon himself to fulfil a promise he made to her to protect her son "Jayden" (Emerson Min) from the bad elements that surround him. The problem, however, is that Jayden lives with his Korean relatives who are involved in the illegal drug trade and the Russian mob is doing everything it can to muscle in on their territory. To that effect, Russell has to try to calmly navigate between these two groups in order to keep things peaceful, while at the same time, Jayden's uncle "Dae Hun" (Peter Jae) is doing his best to stir things up. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that, although the plot had definite possibilities, the overall direction left much to be desired. For starters, I didn't especially care for the narration provided by Jean-Claude Van Damme as it detracted from the movie rather than actually enhancing the overall effect. Likewise, having the main character sustain so many serious injuries within a limited span of time, only to engage in repeated fights to the death not long afterward, really strained all sense of reality. Only in Hollywood. Be that as it may, while I don't consider this to be a terribly bad film necessarily, it didn't quite realize its true potential, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.

Omg... it's bad... it's not just bad... it's... uh.. Nicholas Cage bad, if you get my drift. I mean, I have no idea what I just watched and the story that just went nowhere with jittery action scenes that were boring and predictable.

Calling this low budget would be an understatement, and the monologue? Wow... puts me to sleep. Just skip this one and put JCVD on the list of washed out actors looking to pay their rent.

I was watching this while on the computer doing my work and it still irritated me like no tomorrow. Dark, hard to see, and just boring... save yourself the time.

I think 2 out of 10 is generous.

I wonder what all the negative voices expected. The film has a good atmosphere, it doesn't look cheap and Van-Damme shows again that he can act. The rest of the cast acts solidly and there is no disruptive factor. The action scenes are also impressive and are staged subtly but crisply. A particular highlight is a fight scene from the perspective of a van. Very creative and the force is literally noticeable. The days of helicopter kicks and splits are over. And somehow I'm even happy about it. Van-Damme is 63 and his roles should also be tailored to his age. For me, it's the perfect midnight film because of its neo-noir atmosphere.

Set against the backdrop of a grim Los Angeles, the film weaves a complex narrative around Hatch's promise to a slain informant to protect her son, Jayden. As Hatch grapples with his own demons and the city's underworld, "Darkness of Man" delves into themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the cost of survival. While the film does not boast the high-octane action sequences of Van Damme's heyday, it compensates with a gritty atmosphere and a focus on character-driven storytelling. The noir elements are executed with a commendable finesse, adding layers to the plot and elevating the film above many of its DTV counterparts. Van Damme's performance is nuanced, showcasing his range beyond physical prowess. The supporting cast, including Emerson Min and Andrey Ivchenko, deliver solid performances that anchor the film's emotional core. The action, when it occurs, is well-staged, albeit less frequent than one might expect. The violence is visceral, with a raw edge that suits the film's darker tone. The cinematography and score complement the narrative, creating a cohesive and immersive viewing experience. In conclusion, "Darkness of Man" is a laudable effort that blends action with a moody, noir aesthetic. It may not reach the heights of Van Damme's classic works, but it stands as a testament to his enduring appeal and ability to adapt to the evolving landscape of action cinema. The substitles reminded me of JOHN WICK Substitles and the action was quite pleased, made me intense a little bit.