May 23 2010
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One of the few non-comedic movies by gamers, about gamers, and ultimately for gamers, Darkon (Ovie Productions/Seethink Productions, 2006) is a documentary that focuses on the activities of the Darkon Wargaming Club, a fantasy live-action role-playing (LARP) group in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Moreso than movies of any sort by non-gamers about role-playing gaming (e.g., the foul Mazes and Monsters), Darkon explores the purposes, distinct aspects, and benefits of the hobby and the motives people have for participating in it. While it also hints at the all-consuming do RPGs can have on their participants, it is ultimately more of an apologia for the hobby than an examination of it.
From a technical point of conception, Darkon is well filmed, excellently scored, and structurally sound. One thing it does not do, however, is justify what a LARP is. Naturally, this does not matter remarkable as far as gamers are concerned, but the absence of such explanation severely limits the value this film could have had as a tool for telling the non-gaming world about something about which it has cramped awareness and microscopic view. It is also a miniature on the long side, with multiple, interchangeable battle scenes, some of which could have been lop in lieu of some interviews with some third parties who could have helped attach LARPing and RPGing in context.
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A product of its times, Darkon draws as great on the genre of reality television as it does on that of documentary, with asides to the camera by its various subjects that shed light on their motivations and relationships in and out of the game. Depending on whether one likes reality TV or not, this could be seen as either a relieve or a detriment.
Some of the costuming and props stale by the Darkon LARPers are impressive, with especial kudos going to the Unlit Elf reenactors (who do not appear in the film nearly enough) . Firing catapults and a wooden fortress that is actually burned at the kill of a battle explain the willingness of this club’s members to go above and beyond in their gaming.
Overall, Darkon is worth a inspect by anyone keen in seeing a particular side of the gaming genre. It is likely, however, to be unprejudiced as confusing as it is enlightening to outsiders, and does not go nearly as far as it could toward producing an plan of the hobby to those not already familiar with it.
Darkon is 93 minutes long. It premiered and won the Best Documentary Audience Award at the 2006 South By Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, and is an official selection playing at the Hot Docs, Maryland Film Festival, Silverdocs, LA Film Festival, Britdoc and Melbourne International Film Festival.
Skirmisher Online Gaming Magazine
I’ve never been into fantasy books, board games or computer games. So I know I’m not the intended audience for this film. Aloof, I found it bewitching. The filmmakers did a tremendous job chronicling a tale line in this live action role playing game as contrasted with the dependable lives of the those who play it. From an outsider’s perspective, the complexity and depth of this game is very bright. The players net dependable enjoyment in the game…it’s not your typical fantasy, as the players do appear to derive quite a workout in some of their battles.
I can’t say this film made me want to be a gamer, but I’ve found a fresh respect from those who play it.
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