Review: Death Warrant

As requested by the LA Attorney-General, Canadian Mountie Jean-Claude Van Damme goes undercover as a prisoner to investigate mysterious deaths in a maximum security prison, including the death of the Assistant Warden. He finds sadistic and corrupt prison staff (led by thuggish Art LaFleur), vicious inmates, and his old nemesis, a serial killer nicknamed ‘The Sandman’ (a seriously creepy Patrick Kilpatrick). ‘The Sandman’ of course is the one guy who can blow Van Damme’s cover. Hmmm, I wonder how he managed to get transferred to the same prison? Cynthia Gibb plays the lawyer who is posing as Van Damme’s wife (transferring crucial info during conjugal visits), Robert Guillaume is a wise old inmate, whilst other inmates are played by George Jenesky and creepy-eyed Abdul Salaam El Razzac, whose character seems to pimp out some transsexual prison hookers in a rather weird moment.

1990 Deran Sarafian (terrible films like “Gunmen” and “Terminal Velocity”, and a lot of TV) undercover cop/killer flick is a more straightforward action-thriller from Belgian arse-kicker Van Damme than he had previously made. That is to say, it’s not a martial arts tournament movie, more focused on plot, formulaic and disjointed as that plot sometimes is. It’s definitely one of his better and more respectable efforts to date (i.e. Critics didn’t hate it), though I’m not sure why a Canadian Mountie was chosen for the task at hand in an American prison.

The big problem is that one realises eventually that there are two plots going on here, both enjoyable (if awfully far-fetched with the non-‘Sandman’ storyline), but the ‘Sandman’ plot tends to take a backseat to the other storyline, unfortunately and that’s the plot strand I liked best. In fact, the ‘Sandman’ turns out to be more of a plot point added for purposes of creating added tension and little else. Good supporting cast is of significant help, notably Guillaume (Seriously, what the frig is “Benson” doing here?), the peculiar-looking Abdul Salaam El Razzac, Joshua Miller (as a horny computer nerd who assists Gibb), and a scene-stealing Kilpatrick, whose ‘Sandman’ ought to have been in the film more. Much less effective is the other villain, LaFleur, whose evil warden is an uninteresting cliché, and in LaFleur’s hands, entirely unthreatening. The guy’s hulking, but he reminds me of old character actor Paul Douglas or comedian Kevin James- bulky, but a bit of a teddy bear. Meanwhile, as a fellow inmate, the credits may read George Jenesky, but he’s better known as Conrad Dunn, and will forever be remembered as ‘Psycho’ Francis, from the early 80s comedy classic “Stripes”. In this film, playing the hero’s cellmate, I appreciated Jenesky’s edgy slant on the character. He’s essentially a sidekick, but he’s hardly trustworthy, and rather seedy. I’d also like to point out perennial action henchman, Al Leong (he of the Genghis Khan face, hence why he was cast in the role in “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure”) in his usual henchman role, but it’s probably his best work outside of “Big Trouble in Little China”. Hell, even Larry Hankin has a fun role here as a trustee prisoner (you might remember him as the standoff-ish guy who ‘played’ Cosmo Kramer on the “Jerry” pilot on TV’s “Seinfeld”). Gibb, as the love interest of-sorts, is serviceable and very cute, but not terribly talented. As for JCVD himself, well at least here he’s cast as a Canadian Mountie, which could in theory explain his French/Belgian accent. Otherwise, it’s his usual tolerable performance, but with less opportunity for action. He does show off his spin kick, which for my money is far greater than Chuck Norris’ roundhouse kick, but other than that, this isn’t a martial arts film.

With more action and more Kilpatrick, this could’ve been a damn fine film, instead it’s just pretty enjoyable. Easily Sarafian’s best to date, and probably one of Van Damme’s best films. I’d rank it a distant third behind “Bloodsport”, and “Wrong Bet/Lionheart”, and in the company of the likes of “Universal Soldier”, “Replicant”, “Until Death”, and “Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning”. Scripted by the now rather prolific David S. Goyer (“Blade”, “The Dark Knight”, “Dark City”, “Ghost Rider”). I do have one question: What in the hell does the title have to do with anything in the movie? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Rating: B-