Death Warrant (1990)

In a violent and corrupt prison, decorated cop Louis Burke must infiltrate the jail to find answers to a number of inside murders. What he finds is a struggle of life and death tied in to his own past.

Director:

Deran Sarafian

Writer:

David S. Goyer

Stars:

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Robert Guillaume, Cynthia Gibb

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Louis Burke
Robert Guillaume	...	Hawkins
Cynthia Gibb	...	Amanda Beckett
George Dickerson	...	Tom Vogler
Art LaFleur	...	Sergeant DeGraf
Patrick Kilpatrick	...	Christian 'The Sandman' Naylor
Joshua John Miller	...	Douglas Tisdale (as Joshua Miller)
Hank Stone	...	Romaker (as Hank Woessner)
Conrad Dunn	...	Konefke (as George Jenesky)
Jack Bannon	...	Ben Keane
Abdul Salaam El Razzac	...	Priest
Armin Shimerman	...	Dr. Gottesman
John Lantz	...	Sam Waldon
Hans Howes	...	Guard Keller
Harry Waters Jr.	...	Jersey

Storyline

The Canadian policeman Louis Burke is assigned in a jail to investigate some murders of prisoners and jailors. When in jail, Lois, using his outstandings martial arts, is able to save his life and make himself respected in that violent world. At last, helped by two another prisoners, he succeeds in finding the truth about the dreadful crimes.

---

Plot Keywords:

prisoner | murder | jail | solitary confinement | prison guard | 

---

Taglines:

In "Bloodsport" and "Kickboxer" he won it all, now there are no rules, no escape, and NOBODY'S playing games!

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bruce Willis was considered for the part of Louis Burke but turned down the part due to scheduling conflicts with Die Hard 2 (1990).

---

Goofs

At the very beginning of the film Louis Burke enters a building and is slashed across the chest by "The Sandman", Louis Burke drops his gun which lands more than arms reach away, he then tries to reach for it, and cannot reach it. In the exact next shot, he has it in his hand and then holds it in front of him and then shoots "The Sandman".

---

Quotes

Priest: [shotgun blasts DeGraf] Hawkins... You Make A Deal With The Priest... It's For Life!

---

Alternate Versions

The part where The Sandman jumps out of the fires and continues fighting Burke until he gets his head gored on a pipe, is cut in the Norwegian VHS-version.

---

Connections

Referenced in Dead to Rights (2002)

---

Soundtracks

Bring Me a Dream
Written by Martha Davis and Gary Chang
Performed by Craig Thomas
Produced by Gary Chang and Curt Taylor

User Reviews

I don't pay!.. I don't punk!

Jean-Claude Van Damme is definitely a guilty pleasure for me. I don't go looking for fine acting and a great script. I want action and lots of it! Van Damme is a Canadian cop who goes undercover in LA to find out what is going on in a prison. He is made for this type of role, as he will have plenty of opportunity to display his considerable martial arts skills.

He isn't in prison long before he ticks of the Hispanic gangs and has to continually fight to stay alive.

Cynthia Gibb provides the essential "babe" in these flicks, even if she wasn't completely satisfying. And, when does a prisoner in the hole get out for conjugal rights? I always enjoy Robert Guillaume, and he didn't disappoint. Patrick Kilpatrick made a formidable foe and the final bout was well worth the time spent getting there.

A guilty pleasure, but a pleasure nonetheless.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 September 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dusted

Filming Locations:

413 East 7th Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,019,902, 16 September 1990

Gross USA:

$16,853,487

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,853,487

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cannon Films, Cannon Group, Pathé Pictures International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1