Replicant (film)
| Replicant | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Ringo Lam |
| Produced by |
David Dadon Danny Lerner John Thompson |
| Written by |
Lawrence David Riggins Les Weldon |
| Starring |
Jean-Claude Van Damme Michael Rooker Catherine Dent Brandon James Olson Pam Hyatt Ian Robison Allan Gray James Hutson |
| Music by | Guy Zerafa |
| Cinematography | Mike Southon |
| Editing by | David M. Richardson |
| Studio |
777 Films Corp Millennium Films |
| Distributed by | Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment |
| Release dates |
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| Running time | 101 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $17 million |
Replicant is a 2001 American science fiction action film directed by Ringo Lam, and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michael Rooker, Catherine Dent and Brandon James Olson. It is the second collaboration between Jean-Claude Van Damme and Hong Kong film director Ringo Lam. The film was released on direct-to-DVD in the United States on September 18, 2001.
Plot
Edward "The Torch" Garrotte (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a serial killer who has a penchant for killing women and setting them on fire. All of his victims are also mothers. Detective Jake Riley (Michael Rooker) is a Seattle police detective who has spent three years chasing Garrotte. Just days before Jake's retirement, Garrotte strikes again, but Jake is off the case. During his retirement party, Jake receives a call from Garrotte, who threatens to go after his friends and family. Realizing Garrotte needs to be stopped no matter what, Riley sets out to stop him.
A secret government agency hires Jake as a consultant on a special project. They have cloned Garrotte from DNA evidence found at a crime scene. They need Jake's help to train this replicant, who has genetic memories from Garrotte, and a telepathic link to the killer. The replicant, has the body of a 40 year old, but the mind of a child. Jake's job is to help the Replicant track Garrotte down by using the memories stored in Garrotte's DNA.
The Replicant and Jake begin to hunt Garrotte. Jake believes the Replicant could turn on him at any time, as Garrotte's killer instinct may take over. The Replicant tries to understand the world, and his connection with Garrotte. The replicant does not understand why Jake treats him so roughly, since the Replicant views Jake as family. Though Jake is abusive, the Replicant looks to him for protection and guidance as they close on Garrotte. Garrotte and the Replicant confront each other in a bar after Garrotte fails to kill Jake with a bomb. Garrotte kills a bartender, but lets the Replicant live. An origin story shows that Garrotte was abused by his mother, who then killed her unfaithful husband, and tried to burn their house down, which reveals why Garrotte hates women.
They confront each other later in a parking garage. Garrotte tries to convince his "brother" that Jake cannot be trusted. Frustrated that Garrotte got away, Jake asks why the Replicant let him go. The Replicant replies, "We are the same." They find out Garrotte's real name: Luc Sevard and go to the hospital to talk with Sevard's mother (Margaret Ryan), but she had already died of a heart attack. Garrotte wants his "brother" to join him by killing Jake, but he refuses. Jake and the killer fight, leading to an ambulance chase in the parking garage. The van crashes, but the killer escapes. He hits Jake with a shovel, and plans to burn him alive.
The Replicant and killer fight again in the hospital's furnace room. The Replicant wants to kill Garrotte, but realizes that he is not the killer Garrotte is. The killer hits the Replicant with a shovel, which causes Jake to shoot him. The Replicant suddenly understands that Jake is his real family. An air conditioner, damaged in the fight, explodes, supposedly killing the Replicant after he gets Jake to safety. Upset by the death of his new "partner", Jake decides to retire from his new job as a consultant.
Weeks later, Jake is with his wife Anne (Catherine Dent) and stepson Danny (Brandon James Olson). Jake spots a man in a raincoat put a package in their mailbox. However, Jake realizes the Replicant is alive when he finds the package contains a music box as a gift for Jake's help. The Replicant is dating with Hooker (Marnie Alton), as the film ends.
Cast
- Jean-Claude Van Damme as The Replicant / Edward "The Torch" Garrotte
- Michael Rooker as Detective Jake Riley
- Catherine Dent as Anne
- Brandon James Olson as Danny
- Pam Hyatt as Mrs. Riley
- Ian Robison as Stan Reisman
- Allan Gray as Roarke
- James Hutson as Snotty Concierge
- Jayme Knox as Wendy Wyckham
- Paul McGillion as Captain
- Chris Kelly as Chris
- Peter Flemming as Paul
- Margaret Ryan as Gwendolyn
- Marnie Alton as Hooker
- Lillian Carlson as Nurse
Production
It is set and filmed at Vancouver, British Columbia Canada in 82 days on January 15 and April 6, 2000.
Reception
The reaction was mixed. Mike Jackson of DVD Verdict said, "It's far from a great film, but Replicant is quite possibly the best film Van Damme has starred in since his debut in Bloodsport. Fans of the genre should at least give it a rental." [1]
Earl Cressey of DVD Talk called Replicant "a decent sci-fi action flick" that's "always engaging and has some great action scenes that fans of Van Damme will certainly enjoy." [2] John Fallon of Arrow in the Head praised the film for "[putting] the emotional aspects of the story [...] first and the action [...] second." Fallon concluded, "The film does have its snags [but I] got way more than I expected." [3]
Home media
DVD was released in Region 1 in the United States on September 18, 2001, and also Region 2 in the United Kingdom on 7 January 2002, it was distributed by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.
References
External links
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