| Replicant | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ringo Lam |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Mike Southon |
| Edited by | David M. Richardson |
| Music by | Alex Khaskin Guy Zerafa |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Artisan Entertainment Eagle Films Lionsgate Home Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $17 million[1] |
| Box office | $71,263 (Italy)[2] |
Replicant is a 2001 Americanscience fictionaction film directed byRingo Lam and starringJean-Claude Van Damme andMichael Rooker. It is the second collaboration between Van Damme and Hong Kong film director Ringo Lam, and the third time that Van Damme has starred in adual role. The film had a limited theatrical release in many European countries and was released ondirect-to-DVD in the United States on September 18, 2001.[3]
Edward "the Torch" Garrotte (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is aserial 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 aSeattle 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 havecloned Garrotte fromDNA 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 him. 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 he views Jake as family. Though Jake is abusive, the Replicant looks to him for protection and guidance as they close in 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. Anorigin 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 Garrottehates 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." Jake tries to tell the Replicant that Garrotte is asociopath, but he refuses to listen. They find out Garrotte's real name, Luc Savard, and go to the hospital to talk with Savard's mother (Margaret Ryan), but she had already died of a heart attack. Garrotte arrives and beats Jake and also wants his "brother" to join him by killing Jake, but he refuses, forcing Garrotte to try and execute both of them. Jake and the killer fight, leading to anambulance chase in the parking garage. The van crashes into atoll booth, but the killer escapes. He hits Jake with ashovel and plans to burn him alive.
The Replicant and the killer fight again in the hospital'sfurnace room. The Replicant wants to kill Garrotte, but realizes that he (the Replicant) is not a killer like him. Garrotte 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 putting 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 Hooker[verification needed] (Marnie Alton) as the film ends.
Shooting took place in Bulgaria[4] and Vancouver.[5]
Rotten Tomatoes, areview aggregator, reports that 27% of eleven surveyed critics gave the film a positive review; the average rating was 4.3/10.[6] Mike Jackson ofDVD Verdict said, "It's far from a great film, butReplicant is quite possibly the best film Van Damme has starred in since his debut inBloodsport. Fans of the genre should at least give it a rental."[7] Maitland McDonagh ofTV Guide stated, "The action sequences are well-staged ... the 40-year-old martial artist still has the physical goods, executing 180[°] splits and gymnastic stunts with the grace and apparent ease of someone much younger."[8] Earl Cressey ofDVD Talk agreed, callingReplicant "a decent sci-fi" film that is "always engaging and has some great action scenes that fans of Van Damme will certainly enjoy."[9]