DEATH WARRANT

US, 1990, 89 minutes, Colour.
Jean- Claude Van Damme, Cynthia Gibb, Robert Guillaume.
Directed by Deran Sarafian.

Death Warrant is a police and prison thriller capitalising on the screen presence of martial arts actor Jean- Claude van Damme. Van Damme made an impression in Cyborg, Kick Boxer and Wrong Bet.

The screenplay is completely predictable in its story of a policeman going in under cover to a prison to unmask a scheme (this time the selling of organs of murdered prisoners for profit). It also seems the kind of screenplay that had Arnold Schwarzenegger or Chuck Norris in mind - and van Damme acts and struts and fights accordingly. (If Arnold Schwarzenegger could become a successful star, there is no reason that van Damme couldn't either.) He is given a strong supporting cast including Robert Guillaume and Cynthia Gibb.

Predictable - but probably enjoyable for those keen on this style of action thriller and fans of the star.

1. Police and prison thriller? Background of martial arts? Violent touches?

2. Los Angeles settings, the prison and its interiors? Light and darkness, shadow? Musical score? Final song?

3. The title, Louis Burke's going under cover, the risks to his life, the scheme in the prison, his death warrant? The confrontation with The Sandman?

4. Louis Burke, seeing him on the stakeout, fighting the street gang, confrontation with The Sandman and wounding him? 16 months later, his return to Los Angeles? The request to go under cover? Hesitations, Amanda and his suspicions, in the rain? The decision to go in? The routines of going into prison, the doctor and the information, Hawkins and his routine with the clothes? The tough warder and his speech, the peanut shells and violence? His cellmate and the confrontation, Louis Burke overcoming him, their working together? His making contacts in the prison, friendship with Hawkins, at the black table, the white toughs and their threats? The ugliness of prison? The routines? The visits with Amanda, her getting him the information, the money? Getting to see Priest (with his women)? Information, the keys to the filing room, his bleeding in the filing room and almost being caught, Hawkins helping? The build-up of information? The threat to his life? In solitary - and then allowed out to see Amanda? His discovery of the truth? The expose? His getting the keys from the electrified guard, letting the men out, the chase? The fight with the guards and their deaths, help from priest and Hawkins? The confrontation with The Sandman, the finale fight and his death? Saving Hawkins, reunited with Amanda? Vindicated? The expected hero?

5. Amanda, law studies, contact with Louis, the visits, her information, the sexual encounter and falling in love, the young boy with his computer, getting the information, the codes, cracking the mystery? Going to the authority - and the truth that he was running the racket? Helen giving her the opportunity to escape? Reunited with Louis?

6. The Sandman, the violence, coming back to the prison, confronting Louis, the final fight, into the furnace? Conventional monster villain?

7. Hawkins, murderer, bad eye, at the black table, warnings to Louis? Helping him? Covering for him? The finale, the escape with Priest? His being shot, the warder almost killing him? Saved?

8. Priest, his place in the prison, the women, wealth? Decision to help Burke? Helping in the escape, saving Hawkins, The Sandman killing him?

9. The various prisoners - the cellmate, his being killed? Myerson and in solitary, the information, set alight? The brutal prisoners used by the warders - and their deaths? The warders, tough attitudes? In on the racket? The discredited doctor and his fronting the scheme?

10. Tom, the official, helping Amanda? Predictable that he was the villain? Transferring The Sandman? Confrontation with Amanda - and his explanation of his motives, his wife's presence?

11. Popular ingredients - the stereotypes of prison films? The undercover policeman? The ugliness of the racket? Good over evil?