Black Water is about a deep cover operative who is abducted by the CIA and interrogated on a black site submarine. Naturally he eventually escapes and carnage ensues. That alone is an intriguing premise. What makes it a must-see is the simple fact that said operative is played by none other than Jean-Claude Van Damme! And guess what? He’s got some pretty cool back-up…
Not bad! This is a pretty action-packed preview and while it’s highly likely that all of the films action setpieces are teased within, it looks to be a very entertaining flick even before you factor in the plot and cast. Having Van Damme imprisoned illegally in an unconventional location conjures images of Escape Plan to me.
This only increases with the addition of Dolph Lundgren as an ally. Black Water will mark the fifth film the pair have done together, after three Universal Soldier outings and Van Damme’s villainous turn in The Expendables 2. If that weren’t enough, we’ve got Patrick Kilpatrick as an antagonistic spook. Even if you don’t know his name, you’ll recognize the man from his appearance in countless films such as Last Man Standing, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, Eraser, and Minority Report. Van Damme fans, however, will instantly zero in on the fact that he played the serial killer “The Sandman” in Death Warrant.
Black Water comes from the mind of writer Chad Law, who previously scripted the Van Damme film 6 Bullets. I haven’t seen that particular film, so I cannot comment on whether or not this is a good thing. Law has also penned scripts for low budget actioners starring the likes of Cuba Gooding Jr. (The Hit List) and Scott Adkins (Close Range), as well as an uncredited rewrite on Lundgren’s One in the Chamber, so he certainly knows his way around the genre.
Much like Kill ‘Em All, this offering has some potential. Here’s hoping it turns out to be a keeper when it arrives later this year.
