Product: Replicant (2001)
Rating: 4.0
Deserved a theatrical release 7.5/10
Replicant made in 2001 released straight to DVD directed by Ringo Lam he directed a great drama called In Hell that also starred Van Damme. It stars Jean Claude Van Damme as Garrotte he also plays a clone of himself. Michael Rooker as Jake Riley. Story is Seattle Washington cop Jake Riley has been after a serial killer named Torch he targets young single mothers. Jake thinks he has him 1 night but he gets away & unfortunately this was his last night on the force the FBI offer Jake a job he declines but when Garrotte The Torch Killer continues with threatening phone calls he accepts. The Defense Department have cloned The Torch Killer but he's the opposite. They also have a telepathic bond The Clone has visions of Garrotte's murders & it gets them closer to stopping him. Van Damme did a good job as the villain his performance here reinforces why I though he should've been the bad Terminator in T3. Michael Rooker was great. It was a return to form for Van Damme after doing a few flops in the mid to late 90's. Martial arts was decent also the fight between Garrotte & The Clone was interesting. If you can't find anything to rent I say rent Replicant it'll be worth your time. It's a shame that this didn't get a theatrical release it had a $20 million budget & looks like it belongs in a theater same budget as Machete & it looks direct to video & was released theatrically. Replicant doesn't look direct to DVD. So it's no clunker.