First off, lemme just say, Jean-Claude Van Damme. The Muscles from Brussels! Enough said, right? But seriously, this movie… it’s something else. I mean, the premise alone? A detective needing a clone of a serial killer to catch the *actual* serial killer? Talk about a mind-bender.
I vaguely remember seeing this back in the day, probably on late-night cable. You know, back when late-night cable was *actually* good and not just infomercials for ab-rollers and psychic hotlines. Good times. Anyway, I remember thinking it was kinda cheesy, but in a gloriously 90s/early 2000s action movie kind of way. Think lots of explosions, questionable acting, and Van Damme doing his signature splits. (I’m pretty sure there’s a split somewhere…right?)
The whole “clone trying to understand humanity” thing? It’s a classic sci-fi trope, y’know? But Van Damme (playing both the replicant *and* the killer!) actually pulls it off…mostly. He’s got that wide-eyed, innocent thing going on as the replicant, and then he flips a switch and bam! Cold-blooded killer. It’s pretty impressive, tbh.
Now, where to watch it? Well, according to what you gave me, Hulu’s got it. (Always gotta sign up for *another* streaming service, ugh.) I guess a free trial is an option if you’re feeling cheap… I mean thrifty. But honestly, is it worth it? Depends on how much you love JCVD, I suppose. I mean, I’m a sucker for those old action flicks, so for me, maybe.
Look, “Replicant” ain’t winning any Oscars. Let’s be real. It’s got plot holes the size of Texas, and the dialogue can be… well, let’s just say Shakespeare wasn’t involved. But it’s a fun, action-packed, slightly bonkers movie that’s perfect for a night in with some pizza and maybe a few beers.
