by Mo Moshaty

Dark Match (2024) ⭐️⭐️⭐.5

A small-time wrestling company accepts a well-paying gig in a backwoods town only to learn, too late, that the community is run by a mysterious cult leader with devious plans for their match.

Dark Match hit Fantasia Fest this weekend and its wild ride with it’s fun and fast-paced style of GLOW meets Satan. Two-bit wrestling promoter of S.A.W., Rusty Beans (Jonathan Cherry) feels that he could make a fast buck by agreeing to let his wrestlers play what they believe is a private and untelevised Dark Match. Nick, AKA Miss Behave, (Ayisha Issa) after a disastrous match with Kate the Great (Sara Canning)both vying for the eyes of a talent scout in attendance, feels that this might be her shot a title match. In tow are the motely crew of tag-team Thick (Jonathan Lepine) and Thin (Justin Lawrick), “Mean Joe Lean” (Steven Ogg), Kid Humble (Mitchell Clarke), Lazarus Smashley (Leo Fafard), Enigma Jones (Mo Jabari), Beast Brothers Wicked Wolf (Andrew Lewis) and Bad Badger(David Mercer). Cut to hitting the trail and ending at not a hotel or arena but a large secluded lodge. Suspicious on sight, Nick keeps the overly welcoming party at bay. After a the crew separates to mingle, sparks fly, liquor swirls and knees bend…to the guest of Honor, The Leader (Chris Jericho). The morning after their night of debauchery, the crew begins to realize that something is grossly amiss as their planned matches seemed to be kicked up at heinous levels.

Ayisha Issa is a standout as protagonist Nick, and it’s always great to see women of color front and center in horror and of course the charisma of Chris Jericho, which catapulted him to…cult status, knows no bounds. If you’re looking for bodies hitting the floor whether it be barely breathing or none at all, a fun cult horror and a fight to the death, Dark Match is your superstar.