Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Robert Guillaume, Cynthia Gibb, George Dickerson, Art La Fleur, Patrick Kilpatrick, Hank Stone

Director: Deran Sarafian

Summary: Louis Burke, a Canadian policeman, is given the task of investigating the murder of prisoners and prison wardens. To do this he must go undercover in jail, whilst there he makes a grim discovery...

In DEATH WARRANT, Louis Burke (Jean-Claude Van Damme), a Canadian detective and master of martial arts, poses as an inmate in a penitentiary to find out who is behind a series of brutal cell block murders. If his cover is blown, the "Sandman" (Patrick Kilpatrick) will be out to put him to sleep...permanently.

WIN DVDs by rating this DVD

Average User Rating:

WIN DVDS by being amongst the first to review this DVD. Reviewing DVDs earns you bonus entries and lets you WIN DVDs!Please login before reviewing this DVD. If you're a new user, register for free and enter to WIN FREE DVDs!

In 1990, Death Warrantwas one of several back-to-back action movies that suddenly made Jean Claude Van Damme's name a rival to Stallone's and Schwarzenegger's. Its distinction from the likes of Cyborgor Double Impactis in its firm grounding in reality. In fact, Los Angeles County Jail couldn't seem more harshly real. That's where Detective Burke finds himself going undercover to investigate a string of mysterious (and politically embarrassing) deaths. Of course, the prison environment is ideally suited to Van Damme's strengths, where he elicits sympathy as the innocent abroad during one fight sequence after another. Lots of colourful secondary characters are along for the ride, such as the enigmatic Priest, tough-as-nails peanut-shucking Sergeant DeGraf and Burke's arch nemesis, the Candyman (Patrick Kilpatrick). There's an admirable attempt at portraying the action with some panache. Light and shadow is used to good effect and every kickbox move is punctuated by a double cut. Although the script dispenses with the essential Van Damme elements in the opening seconds (he lost a partner / he's from Canada / he can kickbox), this is definitely an above-average Van Damme flick.

On the DVD:The bare-bones transfer offers an occasionally grainy picture in 1.85:1 ratio and a three-channel surround soundtrack. The only extra off the static menu is the original theatrical trailer. --Paul Tonks

Aspect Ratio:	1.85 Wide Screen, 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Original Theatrical Trailer, Interactive Menu Screens, Chapter Selections
Subtitles:	Danish, Dutch, English, French, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
Year:	1990
Release Date:	July 9, 2001
Runtime:	85 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	15798 D V D
Keywords:	Action, Death, General, Wide, Screen, Warrant, Adventure
Genre:	Action/Adventure