Replicant is a 2001 film starring Michael Rooker and Jean-Claude Van Damme and directed by Ringo Lam. It is set in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Seattle, Washington, United States. It's the second collaboration between Van Damme and Chinese action helmer Ringo Lam.
Plot
Edward "The Torch" Garrotte (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a serial killer who has a penchant for killing women and then setting them on fire. Another pattern to his murders is the fact that the women are all mothers. Jake Riley (Michael Rooker) is a Seattle police detective who has spent three years trying to stop Garrotte. Just days before Jake's retirement, Garrotte strikes again, but Jake is off the case.
A secret government agency hires Jake as a consultant on a project they have been working on. They have cloned Garrotte from evidence found at a crime scene, and need Jake to help train this replicant (Jean-Claude Van Damme), who has some genetic memories from Garrotte, plus a telepathic link with him, but is like a newborn in many other respects. The Replicant has the body of a forty year old, but the mind of a child. Jake's job is to help use the Replicant track Garrotte down by using the memories stored in Garrotte's DNA.
As the Replicant and Jake work to track Garrotte down, tension is constant. Jake feels that the Replicant could turn on him at any moment, as Garrotte's killer instinct may take over and dictate the Replicant's tendencies. The Replicant tries to understand the world and life. He tries to understand his connection with Garrotte. The replicant also tries to understand why Jake treats him so roughly. As they work together, the Replicant views Jake as either a friend or as family. Though Jake is abusive toward him, the Replicant looks to him for protection and guidance as the two close in on finding Garrotte and stopping him once and for all.
Reception
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]
References
- ^ Review, Mike Jackson, DVD Verdict, November 15th, 2001
- ^ Review, Earl Cressey, DVD Talk, January 26, 2002
- ^ Review, John Fallon, Arrow in the Head, 2004
External links
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Films directed by Ringo Lam |
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| 2000s |
Replicant (2001) · Looking for Mr. Perfect (2003) · In Hell (2003) · Triangle (2007)
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