Review of Wake of Death (2004) by Taba H — 01 Dec 2010

As we move on into the great career of JCVD I happened to come across this action gem entitled Wake of Death. I've been determined to buy every JCVD film I can find and review each of them. Wake of Death is not only Van Damme's top acting performance (next to Until Death), it's one of the best action movies I've seen in a long time.

To keep the premise short and sweet, JCVD plays Ben Archer, a former European gangster who has since turned his life around to spend time with his loving wife and young son. Ben's wife Cynthia is a successful INS agent who works to keep illegal Chinese immigrants out of the United States. But after helping a young teenage girl, she decides to take her home and take full responsibility for her. But what Ben and Cynthia don't know is Kim (the girl) is running for her life from her father Sun Quan, the leader of the Chinese Triad. After Quan finds out who took in his daughter he murders everyone involved including Ben's wife and entire family. Ben and his son are the only survivors and it's now time for Ben to take revenge on his family's murder.

Just an absolutely phenominal movie and it's actually part action and part drama with an awesome performance by the Van Damminator. It's such a solid film all the way around, and for a direct to DVD movie it's one of the best in its genre. Wake of Death belongs at the top of the heep with any film in the genre. And once again JCVD shows his acting talents and shows he actually makes some very good films. You just have to go out and find them. Van Damme deserved to have this film as a major motion picture release because it's head and shoulders better than any of the shit that's being released these days.

98% From me.