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SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Dark Match. Please read with caution if you haven’t seen it yet.
I’m a huge fan of horror movies and wrestling. So, when I heard about Shudder’s new slasher, Dark Match, I couldn’t wait to check it out. This film is a wild ride packed with everything a fan like me could want: a low-budget wrestling promotion, a creepy cult, and a plot that goes off the rails. Plus, it features one of the most unbelievable endings I’ve seen this year!
One of the aspects that makes this film special is the mix of horror and wrestling. If you enjoy both, you’ll find this to be a must-see wrestling flick.
Dark Match centers around The Prophet (played by Chris Jericho), a former wrestler turned cult leader. He films deathmatch wrestling shows to sell on the black market. He invites the SAW Wrestling roster—an imaginary Canadian promotion—to put on a special event for his cult followers. As the story unfolds, it channels the chaos reminiscent of WCW’s last days. Just when you think you know what’s going on, the twists keep coming!
The Prophet appears to be making dark sacrifices, but is he just faking it? The suspense builds until, in the final moments, the surviving characters come face to face with Lucifer himself. Yes, the devil challenges them to a fight, leading to a fantastic cliffhanger ending.
This film embraces the campiness of wrestling and horror. Want to see babyface wrestlers become mindless zombies? There’s a match with a wrestling mat that’s actually a giant fan. And yes, there’s an inferno match that ends hilariously. Dark Match is a love letter to both genres, blending silly horror with outrageous wrestling antics.
Despite its goofy tone, the movie gets many things about wrestling right. The way characters are organized into good and bad wrestlers during their journey to the compound is a nod to the traditional wrestling world. Everything, from the in-ring action to the rivalries, feels authentic, especially the dynamic between Kate the Great and Miss Behave, which encapsulates classic wrestling drama.
Chris Jericho shines as The Prophet. He is known for playing villainous roles in wrestling, and he nails it here too. The ambiguity of his character—whether he’s a true believer or just a charlatan—adds depth to the film. I’d love to see him explore more roles like this!
While I wouldn’t categorize Dark Match as one of the best horror movies ever, it’s surprising fun. It captures the essence of wrestling and the thrill of horror in an entertaining way.
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Chris Jericho, Dark Match, horror movies, Shudder, deathmatch wrestling, Lowell Dean, wrestling promotion
