Reneé O'Connor

in

Darkman II:

The Return of Durant

Story Synopsys:
- In this second of the Darkman series we find Dr. Peyton Westlake fighting crime to confiscate the criminal's money so he can continue his research for synthetic skin that will last longer than 99 minutes without disintegrating. Another scientist, Dr. David Brinkman, has also been working on a synthetic skin and the two may be able to break the 99 minute barrier together. All seems well until Robert Durant comes out of his coma and seeks to rebuild his criminal empire. One of the resources he needs is the building that Dr. Brinkman owns and contains his laboratory. Of course Durant tries to strong arm Brinkman to sell and the doctor's resulting death forces Darkman to go after Durant again, not only because Durant ruined his life but also because Brinkman took the secret of permanent synthetic skin to the grave.
- Reneé plays Dr. Brinkman's sister, Laurie. She gets involved because the building now is hers after her brother's death and she goes into negotiations with Durant's so called land development company to sell. She doesn't know that Durant killed David, she just thinks the $1million is fair compensation for her brother's life and good enough for her to get back to school and restart her own life. Of course Darkman tries to reason with her and convince her that Durant is the bad guy and selling to him would be a big mistake and that she'd be taking blood money. Finally, but too late, she realizes he's right but she's captured by Durant's gang and used as bait for Darkman, who Durant wants dead.

My thoughts on Reneé's performance
- Okay, first I think Reneé did an excellent job here. Second, I'm still wondering about her character. Laurie works in a strip club but I'm assuming as a manager since she's only seen in conservative business wear, though her position is never revealed. It doesn't matter to the story, I'm just curious because it's Reneé's character. Third, in the beginning they have Reneé in far too much makeup. Those heavy fake eyelashes just have to go. Is the heavy makeup a hint to her job?
- Reneé got third billing in this movie. I'm still unsure why Kim Delaney is more prominent in the credits and even has her picture on the tape box (back). Her role is a smaller and Reneé had more screen time. I can only assume name recognition was the driving force in that decision.

Just click on the thumbnail to see the larger picture

Laurie surveys her brother's lab after his death

Her emotions get the better of her

Showing that classic ROC smile in a broken picture

At David's funeral

Again at her brother's funeral

Laurie talks with one of Durant's men as Dr. Westlake
looks on in the background

She doesn't yet know he's a bad guy

She's been mourning her brother

Dr. Westlake confronts Laurie at work

He's trying to convince her that David was killed by Durant

Of course she doesn't believe him

She's just gonna have to learn the hard way

Laurie meets Durant at the meeting to sell the building

She seems confident she's doing the right thing

Durant feeds her some more bull

She wonders why there are so many thugs in the room

Laurie begins to worry about her business partners

She realizes that Durant is the infamous finger chopper

She confronts him about his motives in wanting the building

About to sign the deal, she thinks twice about it

Finally Laurie backs out of the deal

She runs because she knows these guys are killers

But can she get away before they catch up to her?

Taxi! She needs a taxi, and fast!

One of the bad guys catches up, but it's Darkman in disguise

Darkman has no time to explain the truth about himself

He stuffs Laurie in a cab to try to save her

It doesn't work and Durant captures her

Laurie is shackled in a chair at Durant's hideout

She struggles with one of her captors

(my favorite picture out of all these, that's why it here)

Told she's going to be used for target practice

Laurie, with Dr. Westlake, tries to resist the bad guy

They face the weapon to be used against them

Laurie and Dr. Westlake take cover after an escape attempt

There's lots of shooting going on out there

Laurie hesitantly draws a weapon

You gotta ask yourself, do you feel lucky, punk?

Ready to blast Durant into the hereafter

Laurie is knocked back by the force of an explosion

Caught again by Durant as he yells out at Darkman

Durant is listening for clues to where Darkman is hiding

Laurie makes her escape! Hooray!

She sees Dr. Westlake as he really is, Darkman

Darkman explains his connection with Durant to Laurie

Laurie thanks Darkman and says her goodbye as he leaves

I really enjoyed constructing this page. I hope you enjoyed it as well.
Copyright© Marla Bay Productions 1998 David L. Papp
Any and all Darkman® characters are property of MCA/Universal Pictures and/or Renaissance Pictures
All rights are respected.

	Laurie surveys her brother's lab after his death
	Her emotions get the better of her
	Showing that classic ROC smile in a broken picture
	At David's funeral
	Again at her brother's funeral
	Laurie talks with one of Durant's men as Dr. Westlake looks on in the background
	She doesn't yet know he's a bad guy
	She's been mourning her brother
	Dr. Westlake confronts Laurie at work
	He's trying to convince her that David was killed by Durant
	Of course she doesn't believe him
	She's just gonna have to learn the hard way
	Laurie meets Durant at the meeting to sell the building
	She seems confident she's doing the right thing
	Durant feeds her some more bull
	She wonders why there are so many thugs in the room
	Laurie begins to worry about her business partners
	She realizes that Durant is the infamous finger chopper
	She confronts him about his motives in wanting the building
	About to sign the deal, she thinks twice about it
	Finally Laurie backs out of the deal
	She runs because she knows these guys are killers
	But can she get away before they catch up to her?
	Taxi! She needs a taxi, and fast!
	One of the bad guys catches up, but it's Darkman in disguise
	Darkman has no time to explain the truth about himself
	He stuffs Laurie in a cab to try to save her
	It doesn't work and Durant captures her
	Laurie is shackled in a chair at Durant's hideout
	She struggles with one of her captors
	(my favorite picture out of all these, that's why it here)
	Told she's going to be used for target practice
	Laurie, with Dr. Westlake, tries to resist the bad guy
	They face the weapon to be used against them
	Laurie and Dr. Westlake take cover after an escape attempt
	There's lots of shooting going on out there
	Laurie hesitantly draws a weapon
	You gotta ask yourself, do you feel lucky, punk?
	Ready to blast Durant into the hereafter
	Laurie is knocked back by the force of an explosion
	Caught again by Durant as he yells out at Darkman
	Durant is listening for clues to where Darkman is hiding
	Laurie makes her escape! Hooray!
	She sees Dr. Westlake as he really is, Darkman
	Darkman explains his connection with Durant to Laurie
	Laurie thanks Darkman and says her goodbye as he leaves