Enemies Closer, 2013.
Directed by Peter Hyams.
Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Tom Everett Scott, Orlando Jones, Linzey Cocker, Christopher Robbie and Zahary Baharov.
SYNOPSIS:
Deep within a forest on the US-Canadian border, two sworn enemies must work together to escape a ruthless drug cartel hell-bent on retrieving a drug shipment which went missing there.
Having been given the lead villain role in Expendables 2, and become an internet phenomenon thanks to that fantastic Volvo truck advert, Jean Claude Van Damme may have expected slightly more of a career resurgence in the last year or so. Much like the follow-On from his career best (and what could/should have been redefining) performance in JCVD, when you expected perhaps one or two big name directors or producers to take a shot on Van Damme, it didn’t quite happen. In the end, on both occasions he merely reverted back to his place as one of the straight to video action kings.
So here we are, post Expendables 2 for Van Damme and his projects have bypassed (significant) theatrical release and been on the cheap end of the spectrum. That said, with Enemies Closer, which seems to have taken an age to make it to UK shores (it hit DVD in the US in March), Van Damme finds himself teaming up with director Peter Hyams for a third time. Hyams has previously directed Van Damme in Timecop and Sudden Death. The previous two collaborations would mark two of Van Dammes most expensive solo productions, whilst Enemies Closer is very much post-millennium Van Damme budget range.
Enemies Closer sees Van Damme taking on the role of villain once again, something he proved very adept at in The Expendables 2. The story sees Forest ranger Henry (Tom Everett Scott) being kidnapped for execution by a disgruntled ex-Navy Seal Clay (Orlando Jones) who holds a grudge against Henry. However both men must team up when they encounter the bat-shit crazy Xander and his group of mercenaries who are trying to recover a missing drug shipment, lost beneath a lake in the middle of the forest.
The simple premise, taking place largely at night, allows for plenty of stalking and action, and there’s a twist or two (somewhat lazily) thrown in for good measure. Hyams no longer has quite the strong visual eye, or creative inspiration he once did (or indeed that his son John, responsible for the last two Universal Soldier films has). The action is efficiently shot, but the limits of the location and night time setting soon become apparent. Visually the film is boring, whilst Hyams penchant for low light (and sometimes natural light) levels, means the film looks overly dark in places. It may well hide some budgetary restraints and possibly a few stunt doubles here and there, but it does little to attract the eye.
The cast are okay. Scott is pretty dull as the lead. His character doesn’t have a great deal of depth. Jones is actually pretty good in a real departure from his usual comic fare. He’s intense and he injects pathos into his role. Of course the real star is the headline name, Van Damme. Van Damme delivers an interesting, unpredictable and unconventional villain in Xander. It’s almost a shame the character isn’t in a film that’s a little more interesting.
Enemies Closer at least marks an improvement over Van Damme’s previous film, the misfiring comedy, Welcome to the Jungle. It’s a middle of the road, straight to video action film which provides passable entertainment as a piece of Friday night bash-em-up viewing, and is largely elevated when Van Damme is on screen.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Tom Jolliffe
Originally published July 21, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
