It wasn’t until Jean-Claude Van Damme began working exclusively in the direct-to-video market that I became a fan. He was taking risks and really giving it his all in many of those films, which made me reevaluate his entire catalogue. That’s when I realized that very few filmmakers knew how to elicit strong performances from Van Damme, especially during his action blockbuster phase. The one director who knew him best was Sheldon Lettich.
When the two cemented their friendship, their working relationship would prove to be one of his most successful, having worked together on films like Bloodsport (1988), Lionheart (1990), and Double Impact (1991). The first film introduced him, the second one broke him to a wide audience, and the third one proved him to be a major force in the action genre. The MVD Rewind Collection is continuing its streak by releasing the box office blockbuster Double Impact in a stunning 4K edition, and it’s everything I was hoping for.
Twin brothers Chad and Alex Wagner (both played by Jean-Claude Van Damme) were separated as infants after their parents were murdered during a violent takeover in Hong Kong. Raised worlds apart, Chad in Los Angeles as a refined martial artist and Alex surviving on the streets as a smuggler, the brothers reunite as adults with the help of their father’s loyal friend, Frank Avery (Geoffrey Lewis).
Though their personalities clash, the twins join forces to uncover the truth behind their family’s murder. As they track down the ruthless crime syndicate responsible, the brothers combine their fighting skills to exact long-awaited revenge.
Double Impact is Van Damme and Sheldon Lettich’s ode to The Corsican Brothers. The story morphed over the years, from its early inception with Cannon Films involved until it landed with Columbia Pictures, and what we get is Van Damme at his best. We knew he could handle the action stuff, but he successfully pulls off playing the twins with two distinctly different personalities.
He also proves for the first time that he can handle comedy. He has a natural timing that, until now, has gone largely unnoticed. The cast, which includes Geoffrey Lewis, Alonna Shaw, Philip Chan, Corey Everson, and the legendary Bolo Yeung, is terrific. Sheldon’s confidence behind the camera is apparent from the first frame, making it one of Van Damme’s greatest on-screen accomplishments.
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The new 4K transfer was supervised by Lettich and the disc is loaded with special features that include a collectible “4K LaserVision” mini-poster, reversible cover art, a making of presented in two parts, deleted/extended scenes, Anatomy of a Scene [with Lettich], a 1991 behind the scenes featurette, B-Roll selections, interviews, trailers, a limited edition slipcover, and more.
Most fans already have copies of this in one format or another. However, the explosions never looked so sharp and vibrant, making the 4K release the definitive release of this action classic.
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