Only a few years into the 90s and Jean-Claude Van Damme was at his peak of stardom as a global action star. At this same time a director out of Hong Kong with a skill set for elegantly violent action movies named John Woo would be making his way out to Hollywood. In his first American film Woo would pair with Van Damme to deliver a full throttle romp I consider to be a quintessential 90s action flick. So, in this episode of Vintage 90s we’re stepping back into 1993 and diving into Hard Target.
A movie that delivers both action and unintentional humor. To me Hard Target is a high-octane action thriller that epitomizes the style and flair of 1990s action cinema. Known for his balletic, slow-motion gunfights and dynamic choreography, Woo brings his signature touch to this film, turning what could’ve been a simple manhunt movie into a visceral, visually captivating spectacle, lined with amusing bravado.
Woo clearly did his homework on Van Damme. He knew the kind of action star he was working with, and I think Woo was able to help create Van Damme’s most dynamic action movie. Being able to showcase Van Damme’s trademark movies but also creating scenarios for him to broaden his impact in the action department to create a ton of scenes that really pop but also fit into the plot scenarios.
For those unfamiliar Van Damme plays a drifter with a fantastic mullet named Chance Boudreaux who when helping a gorgeous Yancy Butler find her papa ends up finding himself entangled with a group of wealthy businessmen who hunt other men for sport. Butler’s Natasha learns her father, a homeless veteran, was a victim lured into this scheme of human hunting and never lived to tell the tale. This deadliest game is orchestrated by the villainous Emile played by 80s and 90s legend Lance Henriksen. But when Boudreaux, with his military background and unmatched fighting skills, becomes a prime target for the hunters. Emile and his crew will quickly realize they’ve picked a…hard target.
The primary attraction of Hard Target is easily the high-energy action sequences, which are typical of John Woo’s bold filmmaking style. His flair for stylized shootouts, choreographed fights, and slow-motion sequences are on full display here.
There’s a particular emphasis on dynamic gunplay, which is Woo’s wheelhouse. Van Damme’s effortlessly handling firearms with that Woo gusto but he’s also engaging in frequent hand-to-hand combat with various adversaries. So, you get a variety out of Van Damme here. He even punches a snake and gloriously stands on a motorcycle while shooting bad guys and it’s a buffet of magnificent cinematic cheese. But Woo ramps it up even more with his trademark use of slow-motion and ultra explosive action sequences that defy-gravity, and at times logic all in an effort to create a wildly fun action movie that gives all the violence an artistic elegance which Hard Target certainly does. It’s over the top theatrical in every way possible.
Van Damme is great in this film and soaking in the scenery with Woo. He has a handful of slow-motion scene intros in this movie that make you chuckle. This character of a drifter is far from complex, and he certainly plays it overly stiff, but it works for the needs of this movie that entertain without the need of brainpower.
Hard Target isn’t a thinker. It’s superficial. It’s flashy, and it’s over-the-top. So, when Van Damme is called on to deliver some macho bravado, comical one-liners, and kick some ass, he gives you all you need for this action-heavy script, that wastes no time on melodrama or forced romantic angles. The plot here is relatively basic. The characters are relatively basic as well. But the cast and stylistic direction certainly elevates the experience. Countering Van Damme is Lance Henriksen as Emile the main heavy. Henriksen brings an eerie, cold calm to the role of the villain, making him both menacing and intriguing. Henriksen injects a capable mysteriousness to his outing as the villain here and he’s the perfect more complex counterpart to Van Damme’s straightforward hero.
Arnold Vosloo is a great number two villain. Yancy Butler is solid as well, and we get the Quaker Oat man himself Wilford Brimley as Boudreaux’s Uncle Douvee. And Woo even gets a chance to put him on a horse with a bow and arrow so you can’t argue that the amusement park of action this movie delivers is 97 minutes to remember. The setting of New Orleans provides a cool unique backdrop for the action. The score also gives this one a moody vibe that almost makes it feel like a bayou/western hybrid. It all just cements the charming atmosphere of this movie to pull you into the settings effectively.
Now on the downside, while Hard Target is undeniably thrilling and visually exciting, it does have its flaws. The dialogue is often clichéd, with the script occasionally leaning into exaggerated one-liners and predictable tropes. The plot, while serviceable, is fairly straightforward as I mentioned earlier, and it shows zero effort in delving deeply into character development. But let’s be real, all of that would get in the way and slow the pace of this movie down. For what it needs to accomplish, Hard Target succeeds with even its flaws coming off as nostalgically comical.
Ultimately, Hard Target is, like I said, a quintessential 90s action film. It’s to the 90s action genre what Cobra was to the 80s action genre. It’s filled with all the explosive action, creative fight scenes, and spectacle-fueled set-pieces that fans of the genre crave, and I’ve always loved it. Hard Target knows what it is: a vehicle for thrilling action and stylish choreography, driven by a charismatic star and directed by one of the masters of the genre. It may not offer much in terms of deep narrative, but it delivers on its promise of non-stop excitement and has earned its place as a cult classic in the action film canon.
Anthony J. Digioia II © 2025 SilverScreen Analysis & Movies Never Say Die
