Review of Death Warrant (1990) by Steven1981 — 22 Mar 2020

Death Warrant is a 1990 movie that's hard to describe in terms of genre, IMDb on Google states it's an action, thriller, drama mystery but hard to really categorize to be honest. Certainly it's an 18 rated and quite violent movie unsuitable for children but I grew up with films like Death Warrant and I must admit the opening with Van Damme shooting the Sandman guy was excellent and well directed.

... Perfect slice of film making but sadly Death Warrant goes downhill from there and becomes less and less entertaining and enjoyable and pretty dull at times. Jean Claude Van Damme plays some guy named Burke and whilst in prison hangs around with black guys and also makes trouble for himself and Cynthia Gibb keeps tabs on him or something and they are seen together in at least one or two scenes in the movie.

Patrick Kilpatrick as The Sandman villain was laughable but okayish I guess so not bad and brought a fair level of intimidation to Jean Claude Van Damme's character. None of the inmates if very few were actually likeable and this film being in a prison actually made me feel like I was in the prison with the actors because the film felt horrible and bad.

It entertains the viewer with good fighting sequences but at times feels, flat, uninspiring and dull and sometimes makes the viewer think they are glad they aren't in prison. The film feels a bit racist towards blacks in the film with at least one racist remark made by someone in the prison facility and it feels dark and depressing.

Not the best movie.