Utterly, utterly bizarre production designs highlight this otherwise routine tale which rehashes the old plot elements from the likes of ROBOCOP and THE CROW with the lead character being brought back from the dead as a "cyborg" and going to get revenge on those who killed him. Once again filmed on the cheap in Hungary and Eastern Europe - and set in Moscow of all places - much like Hauer's 1996 offering OMEGA DOOM - this is bizarre, cheap stuff with a mish-mash of plot ideas and sub plots thrown into the arena to usually poor effect. I'm not sure if this film was heavily cut in the television version I saw but some scenes suddenly jump from one sequence to another, very confusing, and when characters change hairstyles or disguise themselves as each other that just muddies the waters still further.
Although set in the near future, REDLINE has lots of old-fashioned machinery and devices and some of the settings are very old buildings in Europe. The bizarre cross between old and new is kind of disorientating but gives the film a unique visual look you won't find anywhere else. And check out the strange set that's used at the beginning and end of the film - a field full of huge statues of people's heads and hands. Very weird and never explained.
Although Hauer's character in the film is dead, this plot element is never explored - instead it degenerates into a mindless display of brutal violence and routine chases and encounters to appetise the masses. There are plenty of shoot-outs in the film to enjoy, which use John Woo-style slow-motion in the deaths of the bad guys as they stagger backwards, still firing their machine guns, and usually fall over banisters or through windows. However, there are also other scenes which drag loads with too much plot exposition and by the time the triple-cross comes at the finale, it's just too late. What the heck happened to the plot?
Rutger Hauer once again dons the same black trench coat as in OMEGA DOOM and hams through his role like there's no tomorrow - yet still you can't end up but liking the actor. Mark Dacascos is cast this time as the bad guy and he has ample opportunity to show off his figure in some homoerotic bath sequences and his martial arts skills in the action. The explicit, hard-knuckle violence and numerous sex scenes will no doubt mean this is mildly watchable for the male audience but it's frustrating because it could have been so much more. As it is, REDLINE has some great visuals but a rubbishy plot which drags it right down into being a confused, muddled mess.
Although set in the near future, REDLINE has lots of old-fashioned machinery and devices and some of the settings are very old buildings in Europe. The bizarre cross between old and new is kind of disorientating but gives the film a unique visual look you won't find anywhere else. And check out the strange set that's used at the beginning and end of the film - a field full of huge statues of people's heads and hands. Very weird and never explained.
Although Hauer's character in the film is dead, this plot element is never explored - instead it degenerates into a mindless display of brutal violence and routine chases and encounters to appetise the masses. There are plenty of shoot-outs in the film to enjoy, which use John Woo-style slow-motion in the deaths of the bad guys as they stagger backwards, still firing their machine guns, and usually fall over banisters or through windows. However, there are also other scenes which drag loads with too much plot exposition and by the time the triple-cross comes at the finale, it's just too late. What the heck happened to the plot?
Rutger Hauer once again dons the same black trench coat as in OMEGA DOOM and hams through his role like there's no tomorrow - yet still you can't end up but liking the actor. Mark Dacascos is cast this time as the bad guy and he has ample opportunity to show off his figure in some homoerotic bath sequences and his martial arts skills in the action. The explicit, hard-knuckle violence and numerous sex scenes will no doubt mean this is mildly watchable for the male audience but it's frustrating because it could have been so much more. As it is, REDLINE has some great visuals but a rubbishy plot which drags it right down into being a confused, muddled mess.