Jean-Claude Van Damme plays Russell Hatch, an Interpol agent who begins the film with a bullet in the shoulder. His voiceover then takes the film forward two years in this neo-noir thriller from James Cullen-Bressack.
In that prologue, recovering alcoholic Hatch is tasked to look after the son, Jayden (Emerson Min), of an informer who happens to turn up dead shortly after. With Hatch mostly acting as a chauffeur, Jayden falls into bad company, namely the gang run by his uncle (Peter Jae). With a Russian gang attempting to take over Koreatown, Hatch is put at the centre of what potentially could be an all-out war.
While JCVD is a sexagenarian, he’s still a fantastic screen presence and can still hold his own in the flashily-shot action scenes, but, realistically, he often comes worse off. He also narrates the story in a grizzled, film noir fashion. Bressack’s nod to the genre extends to movie posters for the likes of The Big Sleep that adorn Hatch’s home. He occasionally adds a different dimension to the action scenes, filming the fights through unique angles and plenty of flair.
Keep an eye open for another old-school action hero, Cynthia Rothrock, in a cameo role, as well as brief appearances from Shannen Doherty and Zack Ward (who, despite a prolific career is probably still best known for A Christmas Story) amongst the international cast.
The stylish direction from Bressack gives what could have been a throwback action flick a fresh feel and while it might not be up there with JCVD’s best, it provides the actor a chance to show off more than his famous muscles.
DARKNESS OF MAN is out now in the US.
