Watch Darkon

Darkon is a 2006 documentary that takes a close look at the world of live-action role-playing games (LARPing), specifically a game called Darkon. Directed by Andrew Neel and Luke Meyer, the film follows the lives of several players as they navigate the intricacies and politics of this complex game. The central player in the film is a man named Skip Lipman, who goes by the LARP name of Bannor the Bloodless. Bannor is the leader of the Kriegsherrin, a powerful faction in the world of Darkon. We learn early on that Lipman is not only a devoted LARPer, but also a deeply conflicted man with a troubled personal life.

The film also introduces us to Kenyon Wells, who goes by the name of Keldar the Destroyer. Keldar is the leader of the Iron Band, a rival faction to Bannor's Kriegsherrin. Wells is presented as a more down-to-earth, likable character than Lipman, but he is still fully invested in the Darkon world.

Finally, we meet Daniel McArthur, who plays the character of Treggor, a villainous Necromancer. Unlike Lipman and Wells, who use their real-life personalities as the basis for their LARPing characters, McArthur's Treggor is a complete departure from his real-life persona. We learn that McArthur initially began playing Darkon to escape some personal issues, but he quickly became consumed by the game and the power that his character possessed.

Throughout the film, we see Lipman, Wells, and McArthur preparing for and playing in various Darkon battles. These battles are intense, physically demanding affairs, with dozens of players dressing up in elaborate outfits and battling each other with foam weapons. The battles are choreographed in advance, and the players adhere to strict rules and guidelines to ensure safety and fair play.

As the film progresses, we see the players' personal lives start to bleed into their Darkon experiences. Lipman's troubled marriage is a major source of conflict for him, and he struggles to balance his desire to lead the Kriegsherrin with his responsibilities as a husband and father. Wells, meanwhile, is dealing with some health issues that may prevent him from continuing to play Darkon. And McArthur finds himself becoming increasingly isolated as he pours more and more of himself into his Treggor character.

One of the most interesting aspects of Darkon is the way that it explores the question of what it means to "play" in different ways. For some of the players, Darkon is purely a game - a chance to escape their mundane lives and immerse themselves in a fantasy world. For others, though, Darkon is much more than that. It's a way of life, a community, and a source of meaning and purpose. Lipman, Wells, and McArthur all fall somewhere on this spectrum, and their different approaches to the game provide a fascinating look at human nature and the ways we seek fulfillment.

Overall, Darkon is a compelling and insightful documentary that sheds light on a little-known subculture. Through its portraits of three different players, the film explores the motivations, conflicts, and joys of LARPing in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Whether you're a fan of role-playing games or simply interested in human behavior, Darkon is definitely worth a watch.

Darkon is a 2006 documentary with a runtime of 1 minute. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.