Such a frustrating disappointment

Instant Favorite.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Scientists create a genetic clone of a serial killer in order to help catch the killer, teaming up with two cops. Replicant boasts another terrific and strong perfomance from Jean Claude Van Damme and this time? in both sides of the coin. I mean i love the shy and also pretty dangerous clone but i also very much enjoyed the bad psychotic murderer role as well. Michael Rooker was also very good in his role as well. If you enjoyed seeing the double Arnie's from The 6th Day (2000) you're going to love this fast paced action thriller as well.... (10/10)

Disclaimer: If you are a viewer that mainly prefers art-house-type movies, then you might as well ignore this review. In addition, if you're not able to take a Van Damme underrated, science fiction, action film from Ringo Lam, ignore this review, as well. We'll both be better off.Replicant (2001) is Van Damme's third Direct to Video decent Science Fiction/action movie, that I think is very underrated and bashed off. In my opinion this is my favorite Van Damme. It is the second movie from Van Damme that is direct to video I saw on VHS. The first one would be Legionnaire which I liked that movie, but I love this one. In my opinion this movie is far way better than Knock Off, Derailed and Inferno aka Desert Heat! I seriously hate those movies. Each of them suck and Replicant is miles way better than those movies together, that I think Van Damme made a shitty job in there. The movie starts off about a scientists who create a genetic clone of a serial killer in order to help catch the killer, teaming up with two cops.Replicant is about obsessed serial killer (Jean-Claude Van Damme) and the recently retired cop (Michael Rooker) intent on stopping him. After finding his hair follicle at a crime scene, a secret government agency clones the killer in the hopes that the replicant will aid in the search. Although he's full-grown, the clone (also played by Van Damme) has the emotional and mental capacity of a young child. Soon the naive replicant begins to have visions of past murders and an abusive mother, leading him to escape and seek the killer on his own. The film it self is more about retribution for a cop and a serial killer's replicant clone. I love Michael Rooker as Det. Jake Riley, I seriously love his acting performance in this movie, the same I did love his acting performance in his other movies as a cop. Renegade Force (1998) and The Replacement Killers (1998), which I own this movie on Blu-ray disc. Jean-Claude Van Damme did a solid job acting performance in this movie, the fight choreographer was good, and the fight scenes where also good.This was the second collaboration between Jean-Claude Van Damme and Hong Kong film director Ringo Lam that they where working together. This first one was Maximum Risk and this is the second one. Honestly Direct to Videos that Van Damme made, my favorites are Maximum Risk and this one Replicant. I love how smart and brilliant this movie is, that Van Damme's replicant helps Jake (Michael Rooker) catching the serial killer his original clone./: Edward "The Torch" Garrotte (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a serial killer, who prey's for the female's who are mom's or a single mom's and kills's them. Each of the mom is picked up randomly whenever she say's words like "You're a bad boy" than he attacks and kill's them. He uses his martial arts to escape from the cops, who are after him. Det. Jake Riley is actually a cop, who is chasing The Torch for a years not successfully. So now he is forced to get retired, but The Torch call's on the phone him and pushes him, beyond the limit. A scientist clone the killer with the help of his DNK and they gave him to Riley (Michael Rooker) in to the care. The replicant will help him to catch The Torch.I love how Rooker's character hated, the replicant and blaming him for everything that is happening in his life and so on. I also love how the replicant saves Jake on the end, beats up The Torch, fake's his own death and flees the crime and starts the new life with the hooker, he just saved. Seriously a good movie and not bad for 51 year old Van Damme. There are few more movies Van Damme made direct to video that I like beside this one. I am giving this movie a sold 8, because Ringo Lam did made a great job directing this movie and working together for the second time with Van Damme. I love this movie and it is my favorite Van Damme movie. I will get this movie on Blu-ray disc next month, I hardly wait. Replicant is a 2001 American science fiction action film directed by Ringo Lam, and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Michael Rooker. It is the second collaboration between Jean-Claude Van Damme and Hong Kong film director Ringo Lam, and the fifth time that Van Damme has starred in a dual role. The film had a limited theatrical release in many European countries, and was released on direct-to-DVD in the United States on September 18, 2001.8/10 Grade: A Studio: Artisan Entertainment Eagle Films, Lionsgate Home Entertainment Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michael Rooker, Catherine Dent, Brandon James Olson, Pam Hyatt, Ian Robison, Allan Gray, James Hutson, Marnie Alton Director: Ringo Lam Producers: David Dadon, Danny Lerner, John Thompson Screenplay: Lawrence David Riggins, Les Weldon Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 40 Mins. Budget: $17.000.000 Box Office: $848,053

I have seen Replicant quite a few times now, and I appreciate it more,each time I view it. For a direct to video film, your not gonna find many better than this one. Replicant is so sinister in its approach,taking us on a wild ride, we soon won't forget. It's got much more depth then the usual serial killer film . It's unrelentingly brutal nature only helped the film. It starts off with a disturbing sequence of Van Damme burning a mother to death,then putting on one hell of an exciting chase sequence, when Rooker shows up. Van Damme's double performance as Garrotte and The Replicant is truly astonishing. I have been a Van Dammefor many years. He's never been known for his acting, but lately he's been putting on some incredible performances, as far as him is concerned. He is absolutely chilling as Garrotte the serial killer,with no remorse, yet perfectly restrained as The Replicant, and vulnerable. I enjoyed him most as The Replicant, because he brought a lot of humor to the film's proceedings, with his mimicking of Michael Rooker.It also boasts some of the most impressive flashback scenes i've ever seen. Every flashback scene shown of Garrotte managed to send chills up and down my spine, especially the one's of him as a kid, with his mother scolding him. Though, I have to say, the non flashback one of him visiting his Mom in the hospital, out does it. The veteran presence,Michael Rooker has in this film, is all that more beneficial. UnlikeMr.Seagal|Who I like, but has become very lazy with his films} VanDamme always puts effort into his DTV films. Van Damme obviously cared a lot about the project, and because of it, the film turned out really good. It develops it's relationships perfectly. I do feel the need to warn you all though. This is not your typical Van Damme film. This one has plenty of action, plenty of roundhouse kicks, but it's more story oriented then anything else. Replicant's plot is a pretty simple one,but it all comes together extremely well, due to its well structured story, and it's relentlessness.Performances. Jean Claude Van Damme has played doubles before, but he's better this time around. He gives one of the finest performances of his career. He is a complete madman as The Serial Killer, yet managed to not go too over the top. If your used to seeing him as a good guy, your in for a shock, when you see his fantastically sickening performance, as The Serial Killer. As The Replicant, he is wonderfully vulnerable. His chemistry with Rooker is truly excellent. It's obvious Van Damme thought this role was special, because he put his heart and soul into the role. Michael Rooker is one intense guy. I always enjoy watching him on-screen. Nobody can match this guy's intensity, nobody!well very few, anyway. Catherine Dent is OK as the wife, she did what she had to do adequately.Bottom line. Replicant is one of Van Damme's best films. Don't be put off, because it's DTV, Replicant is a great film, in pretty much all aspects. If you want action, emotion, well-developed characters and good acting, you've come to the right place. Clone this!.8/10

OK, I can see a few slight redeeming glimmers in this mess but only a few. Co-star Michael Rooker puts in his usual grim-faced hard-nosed performance and Van Damme makes a convincingly creepy bad guy. OK. So? Well, Van Damme's other role as the semi-psychic "replicant" might as well be played by a Orangutan. In fact you would have hardly noticed any difference in the acting. I am not kidding because that is essentially who the replicant is personality-wise. It only goes to show how obviously flawed the concept was. I am not saying it is bad acting -- it isn't bad acting when you are playing the part of a "blank slate." The whole idea here is that clones could have "psychic connections" with their "twin" and this might allow Homeland Security to use them to "sniff out" an evil-doer. Duh, wait a minute. A clone is just a twin. It makes me ill to see effort wasted on a really stupid movie idea like this one and to see it labeled "Science Fiction." These Hollywood producers should stop doing so many hard drugs. There is a ton of written Science Fiction that has never made it to the large or small screen, and certainly some large quantity of that is better material than the rubbish of this movie. This is pretty lame garbage for 2001. Maybe it was a kneejerk 911 idea?