Product Details

• Actors: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Robert Guillaume, Cynthia Gibb, George Dickerson, Art LaFleur
• Directors: Deran Sarafian
• Writers: David S. Goyer
• Producers: Andrew G. La Marca, Mark DiSalle
• Format: NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: July 8, 1994
• Run Time: 89 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008FEC8
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #336,695 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hey JCVD! Don't drop the soap!, September 3, 2008

By 

Jason (Funkytown) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Death Warrant (DVD)

The Jean Claude Van Damme Review Matrix (JCVD-RM)

1. Who is he? He's Detective Louis Burke, who goes undercover as a prisoner in a penitentiary with a lot of unexplained deaths.
2. Which family member/friend must be avenged? His partner was murdered by a maniac named Sandman.
3. Does he take his shirt off? Not only does the Sandman homoerotically remove Louis' shirt in the shower, but in the climactic final battle, Louis is pressed up against an iron furnace door. Naturally, this singes the shirt to smithereens, and Sandman kindly removes the rest. Sandman has clearly been in prison too long.
4. Does he have sex with a C-List actress? Unless there was a deleted scene with his cellmate, I don't think so.
5. Is there a tournament? As far as I'm concerned, being in general pop. at a penitentiary IS a tournament.
6. Is training needed for this tournament? The only training needed was in regards to a firm grip on the soap when showering.
7. Does he do the splits in training or in the tournament? Only in the shower room.
8. Does he punch someone in the balls? No. I don't think he wants to insinuate anything to the larger prisoners.
9. Does he do a series of flying or 360 kicks? There are approximately 78 spin kicks in this movie; Louis only receives about 3 of them.
10. Is his enemy unbeatable? He may be the most unstoppable force JCVD has ever met. Let's put it this way: Louis shoots the Sandman five times early in the movie, and the Sandman survives. Later, the Sandman gets kicked into a 1500 degree Celsius blast furnace, gets out, does a little stop-drop-and-roll, and is ready to fight some more.
11. Does he overcome an injury or other hindrance? Early in his fight with Sandman, Louis gets hit in the face with a two foot wrench. So, I guess that counts.
12. Does he win? After impaling the Sandman on a bolt sticking out of some piping, and getting taunted, Louis calmly walks over scrambles the Sandman's brains - just picture the process by which McFlurries are made at McDonald's and you have a good idea.

With grunting and mono-syllabic lines galore, the true genius of everyone's favorite Belgian homunculus is in full force with Death Warrant. Not only that, but the sound effects are incredibly trumped up for this one, with every kick and punch accompanying a swoosh through the air and finishing with a thud into raw meat. The "organ harvesting with the help of corrupt police"-angle is also an oddly interesting one for a JCVD movie. Overall, this isn't the best of his oeuvre, but it's got a few hardcore battles that will have you air-punching to get in on the action. This is solid JCVD gold.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertainment Warrant, October 11, 2008

By 

"Rocky Raccoon" "Hey, Doc, It's Only ... (Wild, Wild, West) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Death Warrant (DVD)

Jean-Claude Van Damme's martial arts extravaganza is bolstered by some fine editing, a dark, scary soundtrack, and some mighty fine camera work. Despite some B-level acting (except for Robert Guillaume as a supply doling inmate) director, Deran Sarafian, keeps the whole affair rolling along well enough to provide some key suspenseful moments. The plot involves police investigator, Louis Burke (Van Damme), who becomes a mole in prison while investigating a deadly crime ring while the elusive "Sandman" lurks in the background with nine-lives more reminiscent of Michael Myers than a super criminal. Although this element breaks up the film's credibility somewhat, it ups the tension as well. In the end 'Death Warrant' is a lively hour and a half movie that has enough going for it to make you forget its weaknesses.

A J.P.'s Pick 3's = Good

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Van Damme takes it to a whole new level..., April 29, 2003

By 

Zachary (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death Warrant (DVD)

If you would of said Van Damme back in 1990,people would of responded he was in Bloodsport or Kickboxer which were simply martial art type of films.Van Damme stepped up to the level with Schwarzenegger and Stallone in this box-office hit.Even though jail movies have been done before like Stallones "Lockup" and Sean Penn's "Bad Boy's" Death Warrant took it into overtime,having a convincing villian in the "Sandman" and a believing hero in Van Damme.An undercover cop in jail?Dangerous if you ask me but Van Damme fights the odds and comes up victorious in an all out supercharged war.With fast pace kicks and fight sequences Van Damme is your ticket to nonstop action...