Hard Target (1993)

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:

Louisiana | Dead Policewoman | Revenge | Policewoman Killing | Psychopath

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)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Norway:(Banned) (uncut european version) (1993-2003) (cinema release) | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:18 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Philippines:R-18 | Malaysia:18SG (tv rating) | Iceland:16 | 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:

Alphaville Films

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [John Woo] [reflection]Chance sees Stephan's reflection in the motorbike visor.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the opening sequence, when Binder falls through the wood, you can see an arrow stuck in his thigh even though no-one fired at him there.

Quotes:

Emil Fouchon: [his last line] Whoops!

Movie Connections:

References Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Up there with Die Hard a true action classic

John Woo's first u.s film is a hugely underrated hugely enjoyable action thriller beautiflly shot and bursting with style this is certainly Van Damme's best film and in my books is at the top of the action genre. It's a sort of updating of 1930's thriller The Most Dangerous Game. It centres around a women searching for her father in New Orleans who enlists the help of tough cajun chance boudreux i don't wanna say any more about the plot cos i don't wanna give to much away.this is the part of Van Damme's career when his acting wasn't too bad, the rest of the cast are mostly a solid bunch of unknowns who prove they've got what it takes to make this a tight well made thriller. Lance Henriksen is great as Fouchon and Arnold Vosloo equally as good as accomplice Van cleef. Even though in my opinion this is Woo's best u.s film it took him 2 more attempts to breakthrough into the Hollywood mainstream in which he finally struck gold with Face/Off. Hard Target comes out a dark action thriller packed with a superb blend of martial arts shootouts and explosions. I recommend this to any 1 weather your an action junkie, die hard van damme fan or just a general film buff. Up there with Die Hard this is a true action classic