How is it that we’ve never had a horror in the world of professional wrestling?
After all, in recent years, we’ve seen horror willing to take us in the wildest of directions with films such as Cocaine Bear, Hundreds of Beavers and Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey. As a result, with violence aleray built into its framework, a story that takes us into the dark side of pro wrestling feels long overdue.
Directed by Lowell Dean, Dark Match tells the story of a small-time wrestling organization that suddenly gets a big paycheck from a mysterious booker. Drawing the performers into the backwoods, they are soon horrified to discover that they’re working for an evil cult leader (Chris Jericho) with murder on the mind. Now, Joe Lean (Steven Ogg), Miss Behave (Ayisha Issa) and the rest of the team try to fight for their lives.
In terms of style, Dark Match feels more like Dean’s famed franchise, Wolf Cop, than it does his more recent sci-fi drama, Die Alone. While this might sound flippant, in no way is it meant to speak ill of the film. Instead, I only mean to point out that Match is dark, often insane and very, very violent. This is the sort of horror which leans into its most wild tendencies as opposed to grand metaphors.
And Dark Match’s in-ring battles are definitely wild.
Matches including flames, broken glass and wind turbines take the violence up a notch without ever taking itself too seriously. Though it focuses on an underground cult with evil intentions, Dark Match is an absolute love letter to professional wrestling. Each match is treated with a mixture of both seriousness and silliness. While Dean’s world is meant to be bloody and brutal, the film also winks at the camera with wild plot twists and otherworldly mechanisms.
Credit must be given to the performers who are willing to push themselves physically as well. While much of the matches are meant to horrify, the physicality of the battles is never lost. This is especially true of an enthusiastic Issa who shows great skill in the ring. With a background in Brazilian JuJitsu, Issa has all the athleticism necessary to step between the ropes and she’s allowed to showcase those skills. (In fact, she even gets some reps in with WWE/AEW legend Chris Jericho as well.)
In this way, Match is a story that understands the theatricality of professional wrestling yet also honours the physical sacrifices that are made in the ring. (In this case, quite literally.) There’s an acknowledgment that professional wrestling is built upon sacrifice, both physically and emotionally. Although she continues to play her part, Miss Behave remains frustrated that she’s not allowed a title shot. For her, there seems to be a glass ceiling that prevents her from taking her career to the next level. What’s more, with a life of constant travel, these characters (just like in actual pro wrestling) struggle to maintain stability in their lives. What matters most is the next job and they are always on the move.
In short, ‘home’ is the road.
Even so, while these conversations are embedded within Dean’s Dark Match, they aren’t its focus. Instead, this is a film that’s all about the violent fun. This is the sort of horror that revels in the unhinged and has fun doing it. And, for Dean, the more brutal it is, the better it becomes.
Dark Match is available in theatres on Friday, January 31st, 2025.
