Ghost Rider: Damnation
Genre: Action/Superhero/Supernatural
Director: Ilya Naishuller
Writer: Mark Newton
Based on Marvel Comics characters
Cast: Aaron Paul, Emma Greenwell, David Duchovny, Thomas Jane, Greta Lee, Eamonn Walker, David Denman, Virginia Madsen
Plot: Burned demonic symbols, shattered windows and the stench of sulfur in the air litter a dark, decrepit factory on the outskirts of Detroit. The silence is shattered by the roar of a motorcycle engine. Danny Ketch (Aaron Paul) - as Ghost Rider - bursts through a concrete wall, his skull ablaze with blue flames. His motorcycle blares through the building. He sniffs the air, announcing that he knows there are demons there. He uses his flaming chains, dragging one demon out of the shadows, slamming him against a wall. Another demon tries to flee, but Ghost Rider launches his chain like a whip, wrapping it around the demon's leg. Ghost Rider incinerates the demons in a blaze of hellfire, sending them back where they belong, leaving only ashes behind.
As the factory burns behind him, Danny Ketch reverts to his human form, exhausted. He rides north, away from the city, heading deep into the woods of northern Michigan. He retreats to a remote cabin, secluded and far from the evils and sins of civilization. Inside, the cabin is sparse. He's clearly been living there for some time now, with newspapers covering recent supernatural events and a map pinned to the wall marked with locations of demonic activity. Danny briefly stares at his own reflection in a cracked mirror before collapsing on a cot to sleep as the sunrise begins to creep in through the window curtains.
Back in Detroit, Barbara Ketch (Emma Greenwell), Danny's sister, is still recovering from her previous injuries. She runs her fingers over the bullet scar on her shoulder. She is working as a waitress working the graveyard shift at a 24 hour diner. Outside, Detective Michael Badilino (David Denman) sits in his car, sipping coffee, keeping his promise to Danny to keep Barbara safe. When the sun rises and Barbara's shift at the diner ends, she gets into Michael's car. She gives him a kiss on the cheek and he drives her home.
In Hell, Mephisto (David Duchovny), is still seething with anger at his minions' failure to defeat Ketch. In his fiery throne room, where he is surrounded by infernal landscapes and tormented souls, Mephisto summons his daughter Jezebel (Greta Lee), a beautiful and seduction demon. He orders her assistance in capturing the Ghost Rider. Mephisto reveals his plan to Jezebel. First the will eliminate any allies Ketch might have and then use Stephen Lords as bait to draw him out. Mephisto, in a cloud of sulfuric smoke, materializes before Stephen Lords (Eammon Walker) in his prison cell. Lords is terrified, but intrigued by the offer Mephisto makes: freedom in exchange for his assistance. Mephisto warns Lords not to betray or fail him again, promising him unimaginable power if he succeeds.
In the ruins of her church, Ketch's mother, Sister Clara (Virginia Madsen) prays, sensing a dark presence approaching. The air grows cold, and Clara's candles flicker. Mephisto suddenly appears. He demands to know where Danny is hiding. Clara refuses to tell him anything. Mephisto tries o intimidate her, but Clara stands firm. Mephisto tortures Clara, twisting her body with dark magic as she screams in anguish. He promises to end her suffering if he tells him what he wants to know, but she remains resolute. Infuriated, Mephisto decides that Clara serves no further purpose and kills her with a wave of his hand, leaving her distorted, lifeless body crumpled at the burned altar of her church before setting it ablaze with hellfire.
Stephen Lords sits in his prison cell as the lights around him begin to flicker. A thick, sulfurous mist begins to seep through the bars of his cell. Jezebel materializes out of the shadows. She moves silently through the corridors of the prison, her presence causing the very walls to crack and crumble. Inmates cower in fear, sensing the evil that radiates from her. She finally reaches Lords' cell and with a wave of the hand, the cell door melts away. Together they make their way to the death row wing of the prison, where the most dangerous and depraved inmates are kept. The death row inmates are drawn to Jezebel. She begins a dark ritual and black flames engulf the prisoners, transforming them into monstrous demon minions, becoming servants of Mephisto. Jezebel turns to Lords and tells him that now is the time to draw the Ghost Rider out as he won't be able to resist the pull of so much darkness.
Noble Kale (Thomas Jane) arrives at the burning remains of the church, finding Clara's body lying amidst the ruins, on his motorcycle. His leather jacker bears the symbol of an ancient order. He dismounts his bike and walks through the charred remains, his face filled with sorrow as he surveys the devastation. He kneels beside Clara's corpse. In a flashback, we see younger Noble and Clara in a happier time, laughing together in a sunlit meadow. As Noble walks back to his motorcycle, the flames of the church suddenly flare up, responding to his anger. He revs his motorcycle and speeds away, determined to find Ketch, as he rides into the night.
As Danny Ketch sleeps, he experiences a vivid and terrifying nightmare that has been invaded by a vision sent by Mephisto. In the nightmare, Danny is powerless, watching as Barbara is hunted by demonic forces. Shadowy, monstrous figures with glowing eyes close in on Barbara. These figures are led by Jezebel, who taunts Barbara, promising her that she will suffer for her connection to the Ghost Rider. The vision climaxes with Jezebel raising a clawed hand, ready to strike Barbara down. Just as Barbara screams for Danny's help, he awakens with a jolt, drenched in sweat. The echoes of Barbara's screams and Jezebel's laughter still ring in his ears. Danny believes it was not merely a dream, but rather a warning. As Danny tries to shake off the terror of the vision, he feels the Spirit of Vengeance within him stir more violently than ever before. Danny realizes that staying in Michigan, close to Barbara, will only put her in the crossfire of Mephisto's vendetta. The Spirit of Vengeance compels him to leave, to take flight away from Barbara and those he cares about. He quickly packs a bag and gets onto his motorcycle, determined to put as much distance between himself and Barbara as possible. He leaves a note for Barbara, telling her that he's sorry but that it's too dangerous for her right now. In the letter he urges her to stay safe and to avoid any contact with anyone connected to the supernatural world. As Danny revs up his motorcycle, the flames of the Ghost Rider flicker faintly around the tires, leaving scorch marks on the ground as he speeds out of the woods and onto the open road toward the heartland of America. Noble Kale, follows Danny at a distance on his own vintage motorcycle.
A small, quiet town rests in the American heartland, the kind of place where everyone knows each other, and the days pass by without much incident. As night falls, the town's tranquility is shattered. The townspeople look up confused as the air grows cold and violent. From the shadows at the edge of town, Jezebel emerges, accompanied by Stephen Lords and the demonic death row inmates. With a wave of Jezebel's hand, the demonic figures charge through the down, turning the peaceful town into a scene of chaos and horror. Jezebel spots the town church where a group of townspeople have taken refuge, praying for deliverance. With a single gesture, Jezebel summons a wave of dark energy that collapses the church's walls, burying the people inside under rubble. By the time the night ends, the small town is in ruins. Buildings have been reduced to smoldering rubble, the streets littered with bodies. Jezebel and Lords leave the town, their twisted followers in tow. Jezebel murmurs that this is only the beginning.
The next day, Danny Ketch arrives in the town, following the pull of the Spirit of Vengeance. As he rides through the ruined streets, he sees the aftermath of Jezebel's attack. The devastation confirms to Danny that he is on the right path. Danny continues down the road to Route 66. To stop for a brief rest, Danny pulls off to a nearly empty roadside diner. Danny orders a coffee and takes a seat. As he sits, Noble Kale enters the diner. After Danny finishes his coffee and stands to leave, Noble tells Danny that he is running from something that cannot be outrun. Noble introduces himself, revealing that he has been following the trail of supernatural disturbances, leading him to Danny. Noble shares his backstory with Danny, explaining that he is nearly 400 years old, his life extended unnaturally by the Spirit of Vengeance, revealing himself as a Ghost Rider. Noble reveals that he first became a Ghost Rider in early colonial America when he was a simple farmer in a small Puritan village deeply in love with a woman named Magdelena, a healer and wise woman in the village. Driven by superstition and paranoia, the village elders accused Magdelena of witchcraft and condemned her to death. Noble reveals that he was forced to watch as Magdelena was burned alive at the stake, and in his moment of despair it was Mephisto who answered his calls, offering the power to avenge to Magdelena's death in exchange for his soul. Noble tells Danny that, blinded by his desire for revenge, he accepted the deal to become the first Ghost Rider. He unleashed his wrath upon the village, burning it to the ground and condemning the souls of those who wronged him. Danny asks what all of this has to do with him. Noble then reveals to Danny that the only woman he ever loved other than Magdelena was Danny's mother Clara. At the mention of his mother, Danny gets a bad feeling, quickly realizing that Noble tracked him down because Clara has been killed. Noble offers to help train Danny, to help him control the Spirit of Vengeance rather than be controlled by it.
Back in Detroit, Det. Badilino is investigating the events surrounding Stephen Lords' escape from prison. No other detectives believe the supernatural could be involved, stalling the investigation. After Badilino leaves the crime scene, Barbara tells him that she is worried about Danny. She decides to visit Danny's cabin. Badilino insists on accompanying her, suspecting that Danny could have a connection or knowledge that could help his own investigation. When Barbara and Michael arrive at the cabin, they find it eerily quiet. Michael observes that it looks like Danny left in a hurry. Barbara finds Danny's letter. She tells Michael that Danny left to keep her safe and has asked that she stay away. Barbara then tells Michael that they have to go after him. Michael questions her, pointing out that the letter specifically says to stay away. Barbara scoffs, insisting that Danny would only write that if he needed help. They get back into the car. Michael asks what direction they should head. Barbara tells Michael to drive south for now.
After an intense training session where Noble has begun teaching Danny to have more control over his powers, they sit to rest. Noble tells Danny that the Spirit of Vengeance is not just a curse but a force that seeks out those capable of bringing justice to a world filled with evil - however, the line between justice and vengeance is thin. Danny changes the subject, asking Noble about his relationship with Clara. Noble reveals that he and Clara were once in love, and that Danny is his son. He explains that he left Clara because he knew the darkness that followed him would endanger her and young Danny. This revelation hits Danny hard, stirring up a mix of anger and sadness. Noble gives Danny some space to process when suddenly an intense surge of dark energy ripples through the air. Both Danny and Noble feel it - a powerful force calling out to the Spirit of Vengeance.
Dark skies loom over a remote supermax prison, a fortress holding the most evil souls around. Jezebel and Stephen Lords arrive at the prison, shrouded in darkness. Jezebel's presence causes the guards to cower in fear as she rips their bodies apart with hellfire. Lords looks around at the heavily secured cells containing the most dangerous and depraved criminals - serial killers, terrorists, mass murderers. He turns to Jezebel, questioning why they need more minions to complete their mission as they already have enough beasts. Jezebel smirks. She tells Lords that her father has underestimated her for too long, viewing her as a pawn in his game, but she has bigger plans. She tells Lords that she plans to build such an army that she can create a new Hell on Earth that will overthrow her father's rule. Lords is taken aback by Jezebel's revelation. Jezebel begins transforming the inmates, just as she did with the death row inmates earlier. The prisoners scream in their cells as their bodies contort and mutate.
Meanwhile, Barbara and Michael are following Danny's trail across the heartland by tracking reports of strange occurrences and unexplained fires. They stop at a small gas station along a deserted stretch of highway. The grizzled attendant warns them that the next town down the road has been cursed. Barbara asks if a man on a motorcycle has passed through recently. The attendant says there have been a couple of them. Barbara and Michael continue toward the cursed town where they find the aftermath of Jezebel massacre - charred human remains, burnt houses, total destruction.
Danny and Noble ride down the road to the supermax prison on their motorcycles, knowing that evil awaits. They burst through the prison's gates as they transform into their Ghost Rider forms - Danny with blue flames and Noble with orange flames. As soon as they enter the prison, Jezebel's demonic minions attack, commanded by Stephen Lords. Danny wields his chains, using them to rip the minions apart, while Noble uses a shotgun to blast holes in the monsters. Jezebel watches from a distance, confident that her minions will overwhelm Danny and Noble. Noble fights off the monsters while Danny goes after Lords. Danny grabs Lords by the neck and uses his Penance Stare, forcing him to relive all the pain and suffering he has caused. Overwhelmed by his own sins, Lords is consumed by the flames of the Ghost Rider. Jezebel decides to join the fight herself, creating shadowy tendrils that snake through the air, seeking to ensnare Danny and Noble. She hits Danny, sending him crashing through a wall. With Danny momentarily incapacitated, Jezebel turns her attention to Noble. She taunts him, bringing up the memory of Magdelena, insisting that she has spent the last few centuries being tortured in Hell. Noble, channels every last bit of the Spirit of Vengeance he has left. Engulfed in flames, Noble grabs Jezebel and unleashes a massive explosion of hellfire. The shockwave of the attack destroys the remaining demonic minions, reducing them to ash. Noble's body begins to disintegrate. Noble turns to Danny and with his dying breath tells him to continue to use his powers for good. Noble's body crumbles to dust. Danny rises back to his feet, but doesn't find Jezebel anywhere. In the dust of Noble's body, Danny finds an ancient map.
Barbara and Michael arrive at the prison, seeing the aftermath of the battle, and Danny standing alone, his skull still ablaze with blue flames. Barbara calls out to her brother. Danny turns and the flames recede, reverting back to his human form. Danny tells Barbara that she needs to leave, that it's too dangerous, but Barbara refuses, insisting that they are stronger together. Michael awkwardly offers his support as well.
Mephisto appears before Jezebel, who has survived Noble's attack, though she is weakened. Mephisto is furious at his daughter's failure and orders her to join him in Las Vegas to set a trap for Ghost Rider.
Danny, Barbara and Michael ride west into the desert landscape, Danny on his motorcycle and Barbara and Michael following in a car. Michael questions where they are going, but Barbara insists that Danny must know something. They ride toward Las Vegas, its neon lights looming on the horizon. When they arrive on the Strip, they find the city's usual crowds are completely absent. All of the lights in the city suddenly go dark except for one casino. Danny motions in that direction as Barbara and Michael follow. They cautiously enter the casino where they are suddenly attacked by a horde of demonic revenants - zombie-like creatures transformed by Mephisto from the city's sinners. They move with unnatural speed and aggression, swarming toward Danny, Barbara, and Michael. Danny transforms into the Ghost Rider, his skull igniting with blue flames. The revenants attack in waves. Michael quickly arms himself and Barbara. They fire into the oncoming masses while Danny uses his chains to tear through the revenants. The casino's interior is torn apart by the chaos as the trio hold their ground and push deeper into the casino. Ghost Rider lets out a roar, firing a blast of hellfire from his mouth, which destroys the rest of the revenants.
Ghost Rider finds Jezebel in a large lobby with a grand fountain. Jezebel transforms the water of the statue into flames that engulf the Ghost Rider as he moves toward her. He trudges forward, finally getting close enough to get his hands on Jezebel. He attempts to use his Penance Stare on Jezebel, but she starts laughing at him, revealing that she has no soul. Danny wraps his chains around Jezebel's neck. He increases the heat of the chains, which become molten as the melt the Jezebel's flesh. Jezebel's head falls off her body, but she continues to taunt Ghost Rider. He stomps on Jezebel's head, crushing it into a black goo.
Mephisto suddenly appears and congratulates Danny on his victory over his petulant daughter. He makes Danny an offer to take away the curse of the Ghost Rider and allow Danny to live a normal life, free from the burden of the Spirit of Vengeance. Danny is tempted as Mephisto promises that Danny could leave all his troubles behind, forget the pain and suffering, and live a life of peace with his sister. Barbara, hearing the offer, emotionally suggests that Danny consider it. Despite the temptation, Danny refuses to make any deal with the devil. Instead of bargaining, Danny tightens his grip on his hellfire-infused chains. With a roar, Danny lashes out with his chains, wrapping them around Mephisto. The chains burn with blue flames as Danny hurls Mephisto with all his strength, forcing the demon lord back into the depths of Hell.
The flames of the Ghost Rider subside as the sun begins to rise over Sin City as Danny returns to his normal state. Danny is exhausted from the fight. Barbara and Michael help him walk out of the casino and out into the blinding morning light. Barbara asks Danny what he plans to do next. Danny tells her that this is only a temporary reprieve - Mephisto will return sooner or later and the forces of evil will continue to pose a threat. He tells Barbara and Michael that he plans on finding out where Noble's map leads, but that he must do it alone. Barbara understands. Michael puts his arm around her. Danny gets on his motorcycle and rides away from the city. Barbara watches as Danny disappears over the horizon.
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