Dark Match
Dark Match
Professional wrestling back in the early 1980s was nothing less than the wild, wild west. Formally, there were important associations in a section of the country, but up until the growth of WWF, territories formed the core of the business. Still, there was no order and there was no business that was formal in structure, therefore much of it depended on the geography. So A24’s The Iron Claw was such a fine representation of the standing of things during one side of this period. However, it is in a much simpler, outlaws promotion that the story of Dark Match unfolds.
The reality series that is focused on one specific Wrestler – Dark Match, centers around the life of a bunch of wrestlers who in the story find themselves wrestling in lowly rated movies. Considering the rapidly dwindling resources available, one of the resorts that the company owner agrees to is to entertain a sizable audience in a non-broadcasted program commonly referred to as ‘Dark Match’ in a remote area away from the normal population. When the wrestlers show up, it is now a different story, although there is a rather heartening welcome, some things seem not right, but with drink, and drugs in the midst, things, in reality, become very strange, very fast. All while matches commence, an ex-wrestler who goes by The Prophet (played by Chris Jericho) and his dark cult, instigates a bizarre turn of events that leaves the wrestlers in a life and death fight.
An apparent major strength that Dark Match employs and makes the best out of is the aesthetic of desperation style of wicked low-budget films. Hence, everything may appear as extremely lo-fi but in a very well rounded and engulfing manner and in this case, the director Lowell Dean was able to induce a vague sense of dread that sits behind the screen. The place, or rather the compound, where satanists do business is frightening, part mansion, part barn, part crazy. Luckily, it would appear that a fair number of the occupants of the place where the crazy events happen are rather crazy themselves, and their leader is among the worst.
Even though Chris Jericho is known to be dramatic in the ring, in this performance as The Prophet he has managed to reign himself which has resulted helped him to perform well in the role.
A few others have also been brilliant and in this regard, Kate the Great is played by Sarah Canning and Miss Behave by Ayisha Issa, were both on point. There’s really good tension between the two leading ladies, both of whom are rivals in and out of the ring. However, in spite of all that, the most overpowering performance is from Steven Ogg who is known as the face and voice of Trevor Phillips in GTA V, he also features in one more FrightFest 2024 movie s action comedy – Scared Shitless. Ogg embodies the archetypal 80s wrestler and coupled with his weathered appearance and demeanor gives a sense of credibility as to why he has been presented as The Prophet’s greatest enemy.
Dark Match is still a work in progress. The script is, perhaps, a little too easy on conflict – just about everything happens in one location. And as well, there are a couple of rather gaping logical assists and one quite bold twist in the middle of the story which on the whole does not authenticate. The ‘Happens to be’ moment was one of my favorite comedy parts of the movie, but the way Chris Jericho portrays The Prophet is where the pleasure stops. Those who knew something of the scope of the plan will know that his ‘hail satan’ motivations are really quite basic. Still, this isn’t exactly that kind of a picture that would necessitate a diabolical analysis, it is more appropriate to classify it as a straightforward, dumb trashy popcorn horror that leverages on the 80s wrestling craze and takes the audience on an definitely entertaining, though not particularly cerebral, ride. It would not be a five stars under meltzer scale but enough of it is entertaining to make dark match enjoyable to wresting fans as well as non wrestling fans.
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- Genre: Action, horror
- Country: United States
- Director: Lowell Dean
- Cast: Steven Ogg, Michael Eklund, Sara Canning, Chris Jericho, Jonathan Cherry, Ayisha Issa, Leo Fafard
