Mario
Van Peebles is a cop who puts away a serial killer (James Remar) who likes to
crucify women upside with a nail gun. Remar
is executed but is revived in a mad scientist lab ran by the CIA, who turn him into
a brainwashed assassin. The
strong-willed killer rejects their mind-control conditioning and goes after the
jury who convicted him. He murders them
one by one, leaving their bodies posed in the ways inspired by martyred saints with
Bible verses shoved in their mouths. It’s
then up to Van Peebles to take him down.
When
Blowback was released, the DTV market was still riding high on the wave of serial
killer thrillers inspired by Seven. As
far as these things go, it’s not bad. The
opening scenes are appropriately bonkers, which had me hoping that this was
going to be some sort of minor cult classic.
Unfortunately, it becomes frustratingly more conventional (not to
mention boring) as it goes along. Director
Mark L. (Showdown in Little Tokyo) Lester’s handling of the WTF first act is
inspired. However, the rest of the film
is strictly by the numbers.
The
participation of Remar and Van Peebles helps keep your interest, even while the
film begins circling the drain. Remar in
particular looks like he’s having a blast playing the sleazy serial
killer. He chews the scenery admirably
while going into his crazy character’s religious diatribes. Van Peebles carries the movie as far as it
will go with his considerable charisma. He
also gets the best line of the movie when he says, “He’s one taco short of a
combo platter!” and even gets to make a funny New Jack City in-joke.
AKA: Crossing.
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