Hard Target (1993)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

John Woo

Writer (WGA):

Chuck Pfarrer (written by)

Release Date:

20 August 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

Don't hunt what you can't kill.

Plot:

A woman hires a drifter as her guide through New Orleans in search of her father, who has gone missing. They discover a deadly game of cat and mouse behind his disappearance in the process.

Plot Keywords:

New Orleans | Money | Louisiana | New Orleans Louisiana | Missing Person

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Chance Boudreaux
Chuck Pfarrer	...	Douglas Binder
Robert Apisa	...	Mr. Lopacki
Arnold Vosloo	...	Pik van Cleef
Lance Henriksen	...	Emil Fouchon
Douglas Forsythe Rye	...	Frick
Mike Leinert	...	Frack (as Michael D. Leinert)
Yancy Butler	...	Natasha Binder
Lenore Banks	...	Marie
Willie C. Carpenter	...	Elijah Roper (as Willie Carpenter)
Barbara Tasker	...	Waitress
Kasi Lemmons	...	Det. Marie Mitchell
Randy Cheramie	...	Shop Steward
Eliott Keener	...	Randal Poe
Robert Pavlovich	...	Detective

Runtime:

97 min | Germany:73 min (cut version) | 116 min (Director's Cut) | 128 min (Workprint Version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:(Banned) (uncut european version) (1993-2003) (cinema release) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Malaysia:18SG (tv rating) | Malaysia:(Banned) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA (original rating) | Australia:R (DVD rating) | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Germany:18 | Ireland:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [John Woo] [reflection]Chance sees the thugs to rob Natasha reflected in the door of the cafe.

Goofs:

Continuity: The last minor bad guy that Chance kills, a shotgun shell is ejected from the gun even though he never pumped the weapon.

Quotes:

Chance Boudreaux: Now take your pig-stick and your boyfriend, and find a bus to catch.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in JCVD (2008)

The Best Of Van Damme

Hard Target is arguably Jean Claude Van Damme's best film. The action sequences, particularly the chase through the cemetery and the shootout in the Mardi-Gras warehouse are are smoothly and stylishly directed by John Woo. It stands up to repeated viewings and is worth watching along with Broken Arrow and Face/Off just to see how John Woo has progressed since coming to Hollywood. Lance Henriksen is perfect as the villain and Van Damme is a good hero. Overall quite an exciting and well done film, though not perfect.