By EWAN McDONALD
(Herald rating: * * )
The Muscles from Brussels have shrunk in the past three years. Jean Claude Van Damme debuts his films on video rather than in the cinema where he made his name with Universal Soldier, Kickboxer, Hard Target and other suitably testosterone-tweaked titles.
This one
features Jake Riley (Michael Rooker, Cliffhanger), a Seattle detective who has been following a serial killer (Van Damme) for three years. Days before his retirement, the killer strikes again — as they always do in the movies.
A secret government agency hires him as a consultant on a project they have been working on. They have cloned the killer from evidence found at a crime scene, and need the cop to help train the duplicate, who has some genetic memories from the real killer, plus a telepathic link with him, but is like a newborn in many other respects.
Yes, it's low-budget, it's a tired concept, but somehow it works. Well, you can tell him it doesn't, if you like ...
Rental video, DVD: Today
• DVD features: movie (100 mins); commentary with Van Damme and Rooker; deleted scenes; trailer; storyboard and photo galleries.
