BLOWBACK

Canada/US, 2000, 91 minutes, Colour.
Mario Van Peebles, James Remar, Sharisse Baker- Bernard.
Directed by Mark L. Lester.

Blowback is something of a conventional police thriller. However, there are some religious twists. The policeman played by Mario Van Peebles is a former seminarian. He was able to catch a religious killer with his religious knowledge. However, the killer was executed – when a series of murders happens, the question is raised whether the killer was actually executed or whether these are copycat murders.

The film was directed by Mark L. Lester, an exploitation director who made a number of mainstream films in the 1980s including the version of Stephen King’s Firestarter as well as directing Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando. He also made Class of 1984 and Showdown in Little Tokyo.

1.Entertaining police drama? Action? Mystery, thriller? Conspiracies?

2.The atmosphere of the city, the police precincts, the police activity? The musical score?

3.The director, his reputation, blunt action? A Mario Van Peebles vehicle?

4.The opening, the religious connotations, the religious mania? The Scripture quotations? The killer and his story? The trial, the jury, the execution – and his being revived?

5.Mario van Peebles as Don Morrell, his work, personality, collaboration with his partner? The house, the slashing? Nightmares? His work with the other police? The discussions with the chief?

6.The capture of the criminal, the trial, the witnesses?

7.The execution, the impact on Don, his ex-wife?

8.The revival, the brainwashing? But the candid killing? Leading to revenge? The murder of the jurors?

9.The visualising of the murders, grisly? The frustrations in the investigation? The biblical clues?

10.The finale, the confrontation – and good versus evil?