Get ready to dive deep into the world of action cinema with the latest episode of the Four Takes Movie Podcast! Join hosts Martin, David, Luke, and Adam as they take on the 1991 cult classic, "Double Impact" starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.
In this episode, our team grapple with a film that evokes both fond memories and objective criticism. From the outset, it's clear this isn't just a simple review; it's a full-throttle discussion of a classic 90s action film.
A major highlight of the film, and a key talking point for the hosts, is Jean-Claude Van Damme's awesome job portraying two distinct characters: "Pretty Boy" Chad and "Bad Boy" Alex. The podcast praises the editing that made this double portrayal work remarkably well, especially for a relatively low-budget film from the early 90s.
David offers a concise summary of the "Double Impact" story: twins separated after their family is killed over a Hong Kong tunnel (the film's "mcguffin"), who later reunite for vengeance and to reclaim their "birthright". Be prepared for discussions about the tunnel's profitability and legal rights (or lack thereof).
The movie is heavily built on action scenes, starting from the very beginning. The hosts laud the opening ambush and car chase sequence, with one calling it "phenomenal" and "one of the best car chases they'd ever seen" due to its practical effects. There's plenty of kicking ass and shooting people throughout the 1 hour and 50 minute runtime.
Discover the 1991 film's budget of $15 million and how it compares to blockbusters of the same year like Terminator 2 ($100 million) or even Jaws ($9 million in 1975, equivalent to $22 million in 1991 after inflation). The hosts speculate on how the budget was allocated, particularly highlighting the impressive practical effects (explosions, squibs) and complex editing required for Van Damme's dual role.
Double Impact isn't without its quirks. The podcast critically discusses the film's bad scriptwriting, poor editing, and continuity issues. You'll hear about everything from blood packs going off too early to visible stage sets and ever-changing guns in gunfights. There's even a curious and "totally unnecessary" imaginary sex scene that leads to a twin vs. twin fight.
Beyond Van Damme, the episode touches on the "nasty" portrayal of Lex Luthor in Superman (played by Nicholas Hoult) and the distinctive presence of Bolo Yeung (the "weirdest shaped man" from Blood Sport), who plays a bad guy and gets shot in the cheek in Double Impact.
Before diving into Van Damme's flick, the hosts share their recent cinema experiences, including their impressions of "Jurassic World Rebirth" (not impressed) and the new "Superman" film (enjoyed, very colourful and "closer to the really early comics"). They also chat about "Renfield" starring Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage as Dracula, which they found to be a "fun film".
Whether you're a long-time fan of Jean-Claude Van Damme movies, curious about 90s action cinema, or just love a good film review podcast, this episode of Four Takes Movie Podcast offers an insightful and entertaining listen.
As one host puts it, "it's fun even though it's daft, but you can objectively watch a movie that's poor and still have still have fun watching it". This episode of the movie podcast certainly lives up to that sentiment.
Don't miss out on this deep dive into "Double Impact" and more!
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