TWO Jean-Claude Van Dammes get revenge in Hong Kong for their parent’s murder in Double Impact, the 1991 solid action flick from Sheldon Lettich. MVD gives a 4k upgrade to their 2019 Blu-ray release.
To use the meme: if I had a nickel for films where Jean-Claude Van Damme plays twins who didn’t know they were twins until bad guys catch up to them, I’d have two nickels. When I put Double Impact, the 1991 action flick directed by Sheldon Lettish and written by Lettish and Van Damme, I thought, “Didn’t I watch this like two years ago? I remember JCVD twins, but this isn’t it.” No, that film is 1997’s Maximum Risk. Putting that aside, Double Impact offers double the Van Damme in a highly entertaining collision of culture and characters as two brothers are reunited to avenge their murdered parents in 1991 Hong Kong. JCVD puts in a good show, plenty of great fighting, and a sense of energy drive through a mostly standard, minus the double Van Dammes, plot. But Lettish’s direction keeps a bumping beat, and as I said on today’s other MVD JCVD 4KUHD (that’s enough acronyms!) release Knock Off, you know what you’re getting into when you pop in a 90s JCVD flick. Whether it be Knock-Off, Timecop, Sudden Death, or Double Impact (and a slew of others), it’ll be an enjoyable flick well worth an afternoon of popcorn and fightin’ friends.
I can’t be the only person who almost writes Double Team, the film JCVD did with Dennis Rodman, every time. Double the Doubles! Of course, Double Team is a basketball term, and Double Impact here comes from JCVD talking editing with Sheldon Lettish while working on Lionheart, who directed both that and Double Impact. JCVD referred to showing the same punch twice as a Double Impact, which led to this story and film, thinking of himself punching someone twice as two different people.
I’ve always liked Jean-Claude Van Damme. While yes, his acting can be a little wooden, he is also committed and cares about giving something special. And he has a great sense of humor about himself, and I like to watch him. He’s having fun, and he does pretty well as Alex, the tough brother from the streets of Hong Kong, and as Chad, the goofier guy from Los Angeles. In his performance and script, there’s a notable attempt at character arcs and interaction in fun ways. And the twinning effects look great with no-seams split-screening and use of doubles (a set of real twins!).
As noted, the plot is pretty standard: the twins are out for revenge 25 years after their parents were gunned down by a rival businessman played by Alan Scarfe, in Hong Kong (over ownership of a tunnel, silly). They have to break down the walls around him on a legal ways, with the help of inside woman Alonna Shaw and their “uncle” Geoffrey Lewis; and get through his henchmen in the punching way: mainly Corinna Everson, relishing playing evil, and the always welcome presence of JCVD’s Bloodsport (KUMATE! KUMATE!) fighter Bolo Yueng, the Chinese Hercules himself (yes, he and one JCVD have a shirtless fight; of course). But it has a sense of fun and humor as it goes through the motions. Director Lettich can shoot great action, chase, and fight sequences, with a quick pulse and exciting methods. Love a fantasy sequence when the brothers fight one another. Some skill to put that together.
Double the Van Damme is double the fun. A boilerplate plot, but that’s not why we’re watching. For that: fights, humor, and enjoyable character bits by character actors like Lewis, we get what we want. It’s a good time watching Van Damme spar and bicker with himself (and Bolo!)
The Package
MVD presents Double Impact 4kUHD & Blu-Ray as an update to their 2019 MVD Rewind collection (reviewed by Felix), now as part of the 4k LaserVision Collection. The two discs (with the label’s VHS-styled disc printing) fit on either side of a black 4k case, with a fold-out poster nestled within. The sleeve is double-sided, with the original artwork on one side and an edit of said poster, focusing on the JCVD pair on the other. The poster and the O-sleeve feature this art, which has a fun touch of artificial water damage, as an old VHS might have. Akin to the VHS theming, the discs open with the sound and video akin to loading a VHS tape into a VCR. The spine is numbered 17 (for MVD Rewind) and 8 for 4k LaserVision.
The Presentation
The 4k is a newly rescaned restoration from the original negative. A good look of the 90s darkness, with great detail, the sort of “oh, I can see the caked-on make-up.” But it’s clear and doesn’t betray the effects of the two JCVDs. The sound is LPCM 5.1 Surround and 2.0 stereo. It has English, Spanish, and French subtitles.
The Features
All features are ported from the 2019 Blu-Ray MVD rewind release and are only found on the Blu-Ray disc.
The Making of Double Impact, Parts 1 (53 minutes) and 2 (55 min).
You might scoff at “wait, no commentary!” but this same-length-as-the-film making of from 2019 will more than cover everything it would discuss. From the creation, the how-tos of making it work with the twinnings, the reflections from so many years later, and developed and fun to hear. JCVD is having a good time, showing his self-deprecating sense of humor. Without having to match scene-specifics, folks can get into more detail. In a few ways, it can get repetitive, to me thinking “did I accidentally hit the back button?” but overall it’s a good time.
Deleted/Extended scenes
Mostly extensions, I can see why many were cut, adding a moment or two, but it would make a slightly overlong film too long. A little VHS, fuzzy but watchable. (55m)
Anatomy of a scene
Sheldon Lettich discusses the “all-around Hong Kong” chase scene and how it was put together. (6m)
Behind the Scenes featurette (1991)
Contemporary interviews and BTS footage. A fun look at how the effects were achieved. (7m)
B-Roll footage (1991)
Most of the broken-down scene above is raw footage from the set. (8m)
Film Clips (1991)
5 45-second clips from the Electronic Press Kit (EPK) for use in promotions, mostly fight-based. (5m)
EPK Interviews (1991)
Interview segments from JCVD, Moshe Diamot, and Charles Layton about the film (6m)
MVD Promo
JCVD promotes the collection (24 seconds)
Trailer (1m40s)
Final Thoughts
MVD presents Double Impact, another highly enjoyable JCVD action flick, and like so many of the area based around Hong Kong. Heck yeah, go to where the action is. It makes good use of twin effects, and JCVD plays well for himself and presents a good one. For JCVD fans, it’s worth a pick up with the note that the new aspect is the 4k. If you have the previous Blu-ray release, the upgrade would be for presentation only, if that’s your thing.