‘Dark Match’ Review #2
Stars: Ayisha Issa, Steven Ogg, Chris Jericho, Sara Canning, Michael Eklund, Jonathan Cherry, Leo Fafard, Skene Kittle, Damian Chao, Stephanie Wolfe | Written and Directed by Lowell Dean
Dark Match, from Wolfcop director Lowell Dean, is a wild, blood-soaked mashup of indie wrestling and satanic horror that feels like it was birthed in the mind of a pro wrestling fan who fell asleep watching films like The Green Room and Mandy after eating an entire batch of mommas special brownies. Set in the gloriously grimy 1980s, Dark Match sees a ragtag crew of small-time territory wrestlers against a cult led by none other than wrestling legend Chris Jericho, chewing scenery like it’s a steel chair in a No DQ match. Does it deliver a piledriver of fun, or does it tap out under the weight of its own ambitions? Let’s step into the squared circle and discuss.
The premise is gloriously bonkers: the struggling Stars of Amateur Wrestling (SAW) promotion, led by promoter Rusty (Jonathan Cherry, looking like he’s one bad decision away from a cocaine bender), gets a lucrative gig to perform a series of un televised “dark matches” in a remote town. The catch? The town is run by The Prophet (Chris Jericho), a cult leader with a Manson vibe and a wardrobe that screams “I cos-play as Ozzy.” What starts as a chance for quick cash turns into a nightmare when the matches reveal themselves as sacrificial rituals, possibly for summoning demons, maybe for making snuff films, or maybe both the movie itself isn’t always sure, and honestly, neither are we.
The film leans hard into the grindhouse aesthetic of 1980s horror, with green-soaked lighting that makes every scene look like it’s been dipped in radioactive jelly. It’s a visual choice that’s either brilliantly atmospheric or headache-inducing. The VHS sheen and high-contrast hues are a love letter to the era, but at times, it feels like Lowell is trying to compensate for a budget that’s as tight as a wrestler’s spandex.
Our Heroes are a motley crew of indie wrestlers, each with their own gimmicks and baggage. Ayisha Issa stars as Miss Behave (real name Nik), the heel with a heart of gold and a chain as her signature prop. Issa, a real-life Brazilian jiu-jitsu champ, brings a steely intensity to the role. She’s the first to smell trouble, and her no-nonsense attitude is a breath of fresh air in a film that occasionally gets lost in its own nonsense.
Steven Ogg, as “Mean” Joe Lean, is the grizzled veteran who looks like he’s seen every bingo hall and dive bar in the territories. Ogg, best known as Trevor from Grand Theft Auto V, is the emotional anchor of the film, and his chemistry with Issa is surprisingly tender, especially when they’re navigating their on-again, off-again romance amidst literal life-or-death stakes. Their dynamic is the heart of the film, and it’s a shame the script doesn’t give them more room to breathe outside the ring.
Then there’s Enigma Jones (Mo Adan), a masked luchador who never speaks and stays in character 24/7, even when facing certain death. Adan’s physical performance is a silent comedy goldmine, and his one-word line of dialogue—“kayfabe”—is a perfect nod to wrestling’s own terminology. It’s a moment that got a chuckle, but it also underscores the film’s central question: in a world where everything is fake, how do you survive when the danger is real?
Chris Jericho, as The Prophet, is both the film’s biggest asset and its most frustrating liability. On the one hand, he’s clearly having a blast, delivering promos that feel like they were ripped straight from his attitude era days. His raspy, quiet menace is effective, but the script can’t decide what his deal is. Is he a vengeful ex-wrestler with a grudge against Joe? A snuff film entrepreneur? A literal Satanist summoning demons? The film jumps between these ideas, finally settling on an answer that feels out of character considering the movie.
Michael Eklund, as Spencer, The Prophet’s right-hand man, is menacing but way underused, and the film’s biggest villain reveal lands with a thud because the character is barely present. It’s a shame because the potential for a campy, over-the-top antagonist is right there, but Dark Match plays it too straight when it should be leaning into the soap opera madness of it all.
The wrestling sequences are where Dark Match shines brightest. Dean, known for Wolfcop, knows how to stage carnage, and the themed matches – Air, Water, Earth, and Fire – are gloriously gory. Jets of flame, broken glass, and melee weapons turn the ring into a death trap, and the practical effects are bloody and painful-looking. It’s like watching ECW meets Mortal Kombat, and for fans of both wrestling and horror, it’s a joy to see the choreographed chaos unfold.
Dark Match does struggle a little with tone, and that’s its biggest flaw. It’s not as funny as Wolfcop, nor as gritty as it wants to be. It’s not an Evil Dead 2-style comedy-horror romp, but it’s also not a dark thriller like Se7en, despite some visual nods to the latter. The film resists its own potential for madcap fun, and while the actors play it fairly straight, generating empathy for their characters, the material cries out for more.
Dark Match is a not-so-guilty pleasure that delivers gory fun and retro vibes but frequently feels like an unfinished thought. It’s a sports entertainment take on The Green Room, but it’s not the full-blown wrestling horror hybrid it could be. The cast, especially Issa, Ogg, and Adan, elevate the material, and the ring action is a blast, but the script needed to embrace its strangeness and play up the demonic aspects more. It’s like a wrestler who hits all the high spots but botches the finish—you still cheer, but you leave feeling slightly cheated.
For wrestling fans and horror buffs, Dark Match is worth the price of admission. It’s bound to develop a cult following in the overlap of those communities, and it’s easy to imagine it playing at a B-movie watch. But for those looking for a more cohesive or innovative film, you might tap out early
***½ 3.5/5
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go watch some old ECW tapes and dream of a world where Dark Match tried to be more ECW and less AEW. Also, check out our review of the film from last year’s Fantasis Fest right here.
