"Replicant" is a Jean Claude Van Damme movie that lost a ton of money at the box office. I don't think it's because it's among his worst films ("Street FIghter" was godawful but did better box office)...I think it's because it's so unoriginal. After all, the die-hard Van Damme lovers are bound to notice that this is the fourth movie of his where he played dual roles! Four?!! Yep...four times. And I think he just went to the well too many times with this plot device.
The plot to "Replicant" is pretty dumb...bear with me while I explain it. Detective Jake Riley (Michael Rooker) has spend years trying to arrest a serial killer (Van Damme) and he's about to retire....and is disgusted because he never caught the guy. Soon some government agents approach Riley....telling them he can help him find the killer by using their new secret weapon...a clone. Apparently, they can make clones which look exactly like the original...though HOW the clone is not a baby but a man is confusing. What's more confusing is that the clone has some of the original's memories...and regains more as the movie progresses. The scientist explains that 'memories are contained in the DNA'...no, they really are NOT...this is ludicrous.
What's also ludicrous is that the Feds give the clone of the killer to Riley to use! Now this guy is supposed to be the very first clone...and they just give it to Riley1 And, Riley treats him worse than a dog....which makes no sense as he looks like a killer but isn't one. You can only assume the replicant will become evil as well...but as a result of Riley's abuse. Oddly, however, the replicant seems nice and is bent on stopping his twin...at least at first. Why? I have no idea. What also is odd is that they do very little to teach the replicant to walk, talk and reason....but after a while, he seems to just start doing this on his own. It makes you wonder who writes this stuff AND do they really think the audience would buy it? Well, for the latter, apparently they didn't!
The best thing I can say about this is that it IS better than "Street Fighter"....faint praise indeed! The plot is really dumb and the film will likely make you laugh...unintentionally so.
The plot to "Replicant" is pretty dumb...bear with me while I explain it. Detective Jake Riley (Michael Rooker) has spend years trying to arrest a serial killer (Van Damme) and he's about to retire....and is disgusted because he never caught the guy. Soon some government agents approach Riley....telling them he can help him find the killer by using their new secret weapon...a clone. Apparently, they can make clones which look exactly like the original...though HOW the clone is not a baby but a man is confusing. What's more confusing is that the clone has some of the original's memories...and regains more as the movie progresses. The scientist explains that 'memories are contained in the DNA'...no, they really are NOT...this is ludicrous.
What's also ludicrous is that the Feds give the clone of the killer to Riley to use! Now this guy is supposed to be the very first clone...and they just give it to Riley1 And, Riley treats him worse than a dog....which makes no sense as he looks like a killer but isn't one. You can only assume the replicant will become evil as well...but as a result of Riley's abuse. Oddly, however, the replicant seems nice and is bent on stopping his twin...at least at first. Why? I have no idea. What also is odd is that they do very little to teach the replicant to walk, talk and reason....but after a while, he seems to just start doing this on his own. It makes you wonder who writes this stuff AND do they really think the audience would buy it? Well, for the latter, apparently they didn't!
The best thing I can say about this is that it IS better than "Street Fighter"....faint praise indeed! The plot is really dumb and the film will likely make you laugh...unintentionally so.