Dark Match Review

October 2, 2024 at 8:12pm
By Jason Stettner

This is a smaller scale horror film based around the idea of a group of wrestlers being paid off to go do a dark match. This takes place in some mysterious forest area out in the country. The price tag is high and too enticing to miss out on. Except sometimes the extra pay isn’t quite worth just how sketchy a situation may become.

There are of course some cult like elements that come into play and some rather wild surprises right to the credits roll. I’m, very serious about that and after watching you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about for that aspect. There’s not necessarily the greatest level of depth here, but if the premise entices you the experience is rather fun and enjoyable. I knew exactly what I signed up for and the movie delivered on that.

We have a narrative that largely follows Miss Behave (Ayisha Issa) as she deals with a perspective of pressure after striking Kate the Great (Sara Canning) and trying to hit higher aspirations for herself in wrestling. What starts out as a rougher day quickly only gets worse however when the true motives of the group become realized and the grim danger within the ring begins…

This was actually decently well shot featuring an intimate focus on the characters and environment. It felt graphic in terms of violence having some rather gory moments that didn’t come across as cheap in design which helps sell the experience. I also found the wrestling moments to be well done, particularly since they were integrating some darker elements into that part of it.

The performances also help sell the situation, despite how ridiculous it may come across at times. I’m not sure if all the jokes effectively land however, and some of the references were slightly dated. Still, it looks like fun was being had and it’s believable enough of a situation. Well, most of the way through at least I suppose.

The Conclusion

Dark Match is a fun, violent and satanic look at wrestling featuring some rather bizarre surprises along the way. I enjoyed watching it getting exactly what I had anticipated and a little bit more beyond that since this had a really fun conclusion to it. The combat felt brutal as it should with the mixed in spicy elemental portions and it was neat to see that really get revealed to the wrestlers that were a tad in over their heads.

I do believe the suspense of the situation could have been built up slightly more, or at least the mystery as once things were revealed it just rolled on until things wrapped up. Definitely a neat horror film and if you’re into this type of a scenario I do feel you’ll have a good time watching this one. It does punch above its weight visually, you will be satisfied by the gore.

Dark Match Review at Theater with Standard Viewing
Screening Provided by Calgary Film

Rating Overall: 7.0