After Jean-Claude Van Damme became an action icon in the early 1990s with “Bloodsport”, “Universal Soldier” and “Hard Target”, the athletic Belgian’s career quickly went downhill again – and it was his own fault. Not only did he let a $36 million deal that included four major films slip through his fingers. His increasingly excessive drug addiction also led to problems.
The tide has now turned somewhat. Although Van Damme is certainly not an A-league star, he is one of those action warriors who can age gracefully – and always surprise. An example of this is “Till death“ by Simon Fellows, can be seen today January 25 at 10:05 PM on Tele 5.
But watch out! Today’s TV broadcast has been shortened! For example, if you want to see ‘Until Death’ in the completely uncut FSK-18 version, you can switch to the Prime Video channel FILMTASTIC. After a 7-day free trial subscription, which you can cancel at any time, you pay 3.99 euros per month.
That’s what ‘Until Death’ is about
Anthony Stowe (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a drug cop. He is currently hunting like crazy for Gabriel Callaghan (Stephen Rea), his ex-partner, who has since changed sides and has become a major player in the New Orleans underworld. During his campaign he has forgotten his own dark places from the past and presents himself to the outside world as the big beautiful man.
Stowe does not shy away from putting a little something on the knife to a colleague who is about to retire. But the lonely fight has turned Stowe into a paranoid wreck. To distract himself from the hunt for Callaghan, he rapes prostitutes and uses heroin, becoming the very thing he should be fighting. Until one night he suddenly stands in front of Callaghan…
Jean-Claude Van Damme doesn’t understand jokes here
In ‘Until Death’ we are dealing with a Jean-Claude Van Damme who completely omits ironic statements or comic intermezzos. Instead, he embodies a broken figure whose daily life sinks into pure suffering. In the official FILMSTARTS review (3 stars), our author Björn Becher writes about this:
“Befitting his age, Van Damme no longer plays a kickboxer who whirls through the air.[…] In addition, the script gives his character much calmer, thoughtful and emotional scenes that require acting talent. Against some expectations, Van Damme manages to make this his own, even though he is obviously still not a good actor. Yet he gets a lot out of the different facets of his character, who is first a pathetic mental and later a physical wreck.”
You should also keep in mind that ‘Until Death’ is still an action thriller, but the explosive fights do not take over. While there are some truly bloody gunfights here, Van Damme fans should be aware from the outset that ‘Until Death’ is very much about the dark soul of a tormented police officer’s descent – and thus gives the “Kickboxer” star in the leading role the opportunity to show what he is really made of.