Van Damme’s Action Flick Tried to Top Die Hard 30 Years Ago, But Went Too Far!

There have been numerous attempts to clone John McTiernan’s “Die Hard” since its 1988 debut. The “Die Hard” formula has been widely emulated, but only a few projects have stood out. Some have come close, while others, like “Sudden Death,” stumbled by adhering too closely to the original.

The Tale of a “Die Hard-like” Film

After failing to save a little girl in a fire, Darren McCord shifts careers to fire security at a hockey stadium. Just minutes before attending a game with his children, a commando squad storms the arena, kidnaps the VIPs from the box seats, and, of course, Emily, Darren’s daughter. McCord’s sole mission becomes to rescue the hostages and his daughter.

This type of plot is what Americans refer to as “Die Hard-like,” inspired by “Die Hard,” where an everyday hero must confront terrorists in a confined space. This genre peaked in the 1990s with movies such as “Air Force One” and “Passenger 57” (on a plane), “Cliffhanger” (on a mountain), “Under Siege” (on a ship), and “Speed” (on a train).

In “Sudden Death,” Jean-Claude Van Damme plays the typical hero, an underappreciated man faced with an extreme situation, this time in a stadium. As the genre dictates, the action unfolds in real-time and in a single location, heightening the tension and sense of urgency.

The Van Damme – Peter Hyams Pairing

Director Peter Hyams and Jean-Claude Van Damme team up again after “Timecop,” filmed the previous year. Like that movie, “Sudden Death” remains entertaining despite some flaws.

The villain is no longer Hans Gruber, played by Alan Rickman, but an unnamed character portrayed by Powers Boothe (credited as Joshua Foss). Like his predecessor, this terrorist leader stands out with his charisma and memorable lines: “I just want enough to pay off my American Express,” or when he threatens McCord’s son: “I always wanted to have a son.”

Where the Film Falls Short

The main issue lies in the believability of Van Damme as a man in peril. Unlike Bruce Willis, whose John McClane seemed vulnerable and human, Van Damme is too skilled for there to be any doubt of his survival. We know he’s capable of defeating the terrorists, which diminishes the dramatic tension.

That said, the film serves its purpose: it delivers effective entertainment, albeit predictable, up to the spectacular trapeze scenes by Van Damme. Although “Sudden Death” never quite matches “Die Hard,” it’s far from the worst imitator.

Reception and Sequel

In the United States, the film did not achieve the anticipated success and flopped at the box office. Internationally, however, audiences were more forgiving, allowing “Sudden Death” to find its audience.

A sequel was released in 2020, “Sudden Death 2,” which revisits the concept of the original with new characters and a more comedic tone, based on a script initially rejected for the first film.

Sudden Death and its sequel are available on VOD.

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