Chain Reaction (1996)

Two researchers in a green alternative energy project are put on the run when they are framed for murder and treason.

Director:

Andrew Davis

Writers:

Arne Schmidt (story) (as Arne L. Schmidt), Rick Seaman (story)

Stars:

Keanu Reeves, Morgan Freeman, Rachel Weisz

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keanu Reeves	...	Eddie Kasalivich
Morgan Freeman	...	Paul Shannon
Rachel Weisz	...	Dr. Lily Sinclair
Fred Ward	...	FBI Agent Leon Ford
Kevin Dunn	...	FBI Agent Doyle
Brian Cox	...	Lyman Earl Collier
Joanna Cassidy	...	Maggie McDermott
Chelcie Ross	...	Ed Rafferty
Nicholas Rudall	...	Dr. Alistair Barkley
Tzi Ma	...	Lu Chen
Krzysztof Pieczynski	...	Lucasz Screbneski
Julie Pearl	...	Emily Pearl (as Julie R. Pearl)
Godfrey	...	Chidi Egbuna
Gene Barge	...	James Washington
Nathan Davis	...	Morris Grodsky

Storyline

Eddie Kasalivich, an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, works as a technician for a scientific team that discovers an alternative, low-cost, pollution-free fuel source. Eddie and Lilly were involved in the research that was done at this first lab. The first lab was sabotaged and it exploded. One of the chief scientists is murdered during the attack and the sabotage of the lab, Eddie and physicist Lily Sinclair are framed for it and have to flee for their lives, with the FBI, CIA and other involved parties in close pursuit. Paul Shannon, Eddies mentor, is the director of a secret CIA contractor which - unknown to Eddie - has commercial interests in the lab equipment. Eddie and Lily flee police, FBI and CIA secret contractors but Lily winds getting captured and is driven to the underground experimental lab. Eddie follows Lily to this not yet fully working lab and quickly gets it working since it needed two different frequencies for the energy to get produced and Eddie has kept ...

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Plot Keywords:

man wearing glasses | on the run | cold fusion | die hard scenario | outrunning explosion | 

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Taglines:

Reaction Time 8-4-96

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some intense action/violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 August 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dead Drop

Filming Locations:

53rd Street & Blackstone Avenue, Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,546,000, 4 August 1996, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$20,550,712, 29 September 1996

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$38,200,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

3 Arts Entertainment, Chicago Pacific Entertainment, The Zanuck Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The early scenes in the movie were filmed at the Inland Steel plant in East Chicago, Indiana.

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Goofs

When Eddie is escaping the explosion, he appears to be lying in the pit on dirt and also is surrounded by dirt. Whoever when he gets up to climb out of the pit to inspect the damage, there is a set of wooden steps seen where he had been lying down.

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Quotes

FBI Agent Doyle: Holy!... did you see that?
FBI Agent Ford: Whoa!

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Crazy Credits

As the end credits come to the end, the music fades out and a rumble gets louder and louder. This is the start of a shockwave resulting from the massive explosion at the end of the film. The viewpoint is of Keanu Reeves who by now is in a helicopter and comes straight on screen after the last of the credits has gone up. The ground implodes briefly and you hear Agent Ford say "Whoa!".

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Connections

Spoofs Talk Soup (1991)

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Soundtracks

One Love
(uncredited)
Written by Bob Marley
Performed by Rachel Weisz

User Reviews

Fast and exciting film that makes you think after watching.

This film is fast and exciting. The story is about a scientist working at a University lab. to make renewable energy out of water. Upon succeeding, the plant explodes but not before Reeves returns to find one of the top researches suffocated. Upon investigation Reeves and Weiss are set up and the FBI are on their case. In seeking to find the truth, they uncover an undercover agency established by the Government that is so secret that top Officials at the White House are unaware of its activities, the FBI are unaware and the is no paperwork of its existence.

This film really gets you hooked and makes you think about what does really go on in the world.