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Critic Reviews
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Sometimes, it genuinely feels as if the viewer is being worked, as if the industry vets featured here are doing what they can to keep the ambiguities at the heart of their livelihood as obfuscated as they once were. In that sense, it’s as thrilling as a live wrestling show, though it does lack sports entertainment’s visual fireworks. From a cinematic standpoint, Dark Side Of The Ring unfolds like nearly any Investigation Discovery mystery, with shadowy reenactments accompanying the talking heads prodding the narrative.
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Equal parts nostalgia trip, investigative inquiry and tabloidy exposé, it revisits stories and stars that are defined by their notoriety. In doing so, it affords a fascinating glimpse at the unique dynamics that make wresting so popular.
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Dark Side of the Ring isn’t as tasteful as those Andre or Flair movies. It feels more like an offshoot of a show like Unsolved Mysteries, with shadowy re-creations of scenes that may or may not have happened in real life. It’s a more salacious and stylized take on the subject matter, and although that might frustrate serious wrestling fans who’ve been spoiled by 30 for 30 and HBO, that lurid appeal is an appropriate fit for both the subjects and time periods being discussed.
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The two that are the most interesting are the first to air--“The Match Made in Heaven” and “The Montreal Screwjob.” ... The other four episodes range from good to great.