Hard Target (1993)

50% of critics liked it
(30 reviews)
50% of users liked it
(34,587 ratings)

John Woo's first Hollywood feature stars Jean-Claude Van Damme as Chance Boudreaux, a down-and-out Cajun merchant seaman, who, after saving a young woman, Natasha Binder (Yancy Butler), from a gang of thugs on the streets of New Orleans, agrees to help her search for her father (Chuck Pfarrer), a… More John Woo's first Hollywood feature stars Jean-Claude Van Damme as Chance Boudreaux, a down-and-out Cajun merchant seaman, who, after saving a young woman, Natasha Binder (Yancy Butler), from a gang of thugs on the streets of New Orleans, agrees to help her search for her father (Chuck Pfarrer), a homeless Vietnam vet. They locate local businessman Randall Poe (Elliott Keener), for whom the vet had been working, and learn that her father has become a victim of wealthy sportsman Emil Fouchon (Lance Henriksen), who, along with his cronies, hunts homeless men as a form of recreation. After Fouchon finds out that the girl is investigating the murder of her father, he arranges for she and Chance to be ambushed, but they manage to escape into the backwoods of Louisiana -- his stomping grounds. Realizing he needs to regroup, Fouchon assembles a private army to invade the bayous. They track the pair to the rustic cabin of Chance's Uncle Douvee (Wilford Brimley), and the real fireworks begin. ~ Michael Costello, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: John Woo
Genres: Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1993 Wide
On DVD: Jun 30, 1998
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, Variety
A disappointing American debut of the Hong Kong cult director John Woo is a decent action vehicle by standards of its star Jean-Claude Van Damme but, hampered by a B script and flat characters, it doesn't bear Woo's auteurist signature and unique vision
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Presenting Mr. Van Damme as reverentially as Sergio Leone did the young Clint Eastwood, Mr. Woo displays a real aptitude for malignant mischief, which is this story's stock in trade.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Even when the acting is hammy, notably Wilford Brimley's turn as Chance's Cajun uncle, Woo stages every fight with hypnotic grace.
Richard Harrington, Washington Post
Woo, a master of stylized violence and explosive action, has had to buy into America's fascination with explosive effects and reaction. Something gets lost in the transition.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Its characters are poorly-developed, the plot is the pinnacle of absurdity, and the acting, at best, is well over-the-top. Nevertheless, on the most basic, visceral level, the film succeeds.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Essentially, Hard Target is a risk-averse Van Damme vehicle, steered by many hands, and set on tracks leading directly to the delivery entrances of the country's video stores.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Though working on a Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle can be seen as a comedown for Woo, he rises to the occasion to create an often rousing entertainment that is almost inarguably Van Damme's best film to date.
Derek Adams, Time Out
It's what Hollywood wanted Woo for: bigger, brighter explosions.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
One of my greatest guilty pleasures.
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
Hysterically inept attempt at action filmmaking
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A combo of American Honk Kong actioners that fails to show John Woo's distinctive talent
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Should have been so much better.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Click to read review
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
It may once have been a second-rate "B" picture, but John Woo turns it into something better.
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
Van Damme's kicks and flips never looked so cool.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Al S

Director, John Woo's first American film is an action masterpiece. A fun, explosive and adrenaline-charged edge of your seat action-packed thriller. It's loaded with dark humor, bone-crunching fights and enough explosive gun-battles to keep any action fan entertained. Van… More
Director, John Woo's first American film is an action masterpiece. A fun, explosive and adrenaline-charged edge of your seat action-packed thriller. It's loaded with dark humor, bone-crunching fights and enough explosive gun-battles to keep any action fan entertained. Van Damme and Woo are a stellar team together, bringing exactly what we want. Easily one of Jean-Claude Van Damme's best films. Lance Henriksen gives a thrilling and intense performance. This is one wickedly cool and wildly entertaining action movie.
Phil H

Haha this is really silly and really tacky but again the over the top violence and ultra cool gun fights really rock ass LOL! Henriksen gives it a touch of class and really hams it up beautiully haha and Woo really loves his slow mo leaps n gun pan shots LOL!. Predictable but great… More
Haha this is really silly and really tacky but again the over the top violence and ultra cool gun fights really rock ass LOL! Henriksen gives it a touch of class and really hams it up beautiully haha and Woo really loves his slow mo leaps n gun pan shots LOL!. Predictable but great fun, and a dodgy Jean Claude hair style.
Martin S

Van Damme has one Badass haircut...but otherwise...a pretty average movie
Conner R

Cheesy and an odd way to incorporate the western genre with Jean-Claude's style, but it's certainly memorable and fun. The way John Woo shoots the movie is completely crazy, I don't know what he was thinking. The Most Dangerous Game remake aspect is by far the most… More
Cheesy and an odd way to incorporate the western genre with Jean-Claude's style, but it's certainly memorable and fun. The way John Woo shoots the movie is completely crazy, I don't know what he was thinking. The Most Dangerous Game remake aspect is by far the most deranged aspect though, especially when they're hunting down Nam Vets.
Tsubaki S

Van Damme's legendary mullet, Woo in full over-the-top mode, Lance Henriksen as the bad guy. This should be a lot better, but the script, the ham-fisted acting and other crap going on relegates it to the late-night cable arena.
KJ P

I didn't find it that great. I've seen much better action films!
Khris N

John Woo's first venture into the American market was actually tame in comparison to his Hong Kong Movies which is stuff of legends. But then again, American movie makers did sit up and take notice... and their jaws dropped when this gem got released. Hardcore, over the top and… More
John Woo's first venture into the American market was actually tame in comparison to his Hong Kong Movies which is stuff of legends. But then again, American movie makers did sit up and take notice... and their jaws dropped when this gem got released. Hardcore, over the top and even maybe a little ridiculous at times, but still enjoyable for the action junkie. If its John Woo you want, this is gonna provide. Van Damme plays a retired Marine Recon Soldier (aka Special Forces) who is hired by a young woman looking for her missing father. What they uncover is a dark and sinister group who provides the ultimate hunt - man hunting of retired combat soldiers at half a million dollars per head. Led by the egotistical and smooth Lance Henriksen, and aided by his second, the ultra violent Arnold Vosloo (whose name is Van Cleef btw, XD) they decide Van Damme and his new friend have butted their nose in where it doesnt belong. But of course, who is hunting who, as Van Damme takes it up a few notches. Its the early 90's people want kick ass and things that go BOOOM. So be happy. XD I guess the standout scene is the intro fight, the drawling western showdown music, the gunslinger routine and lightning fast draw.... if its one thing this film does better than most, its the style of the action. Smooth, strong and effective, making use of Van Damme's awesome martial arts and beautifully caught in slow motion in some places. There's nothing really more to say, just action, action and more action. Thats what I loved about the 90's. Action. XD
Emily A

I hate to quote Peter Griffin of all people, but this movie is stupid... awesome! Apparently, everything in Jean-Calude Van Damme's world is flammable. Not just flammable, explosive. Hit anything against anything and it would probably create a fireball. He could use an orange as… More
I hate to quote Peter Griffin of all people, but this movie is stupid... awesome! Apparently, everything in Jean-Calude Van Damme's world is flammable. Not just flammable, explosive. Hit anything against anything and it would probably create a fireball. He could use an orange as a grenade. The plot of this film is essentially what The Pest would have been if it had been an action film instead of a comedy. As stories go, this one is pretty formulaic: the villains are pure evil and their blunders drive the film - and are mistaken for thier target being especially adept. Yancy Butler is terrible in this, and Van Damme serves his purpose. This movie is really not that special. If John Woo hadn't used so much slow motion, it's probably only be about an hour long.
Lenny M

John Woo, Van Damme, doesn't work.
David L

'Hard Target' is not as bad of a film as most make it out to be, a joint production between Sam Raimi and John Woo, written by Chuck Pfarrer, and starring Jean-Claude Van Dame and Lance Henriksen, and so it has a very mainstream quality to it. When first viewing this film… More
'Hard Target' is not as bad of a film as most make it out to be, a joint production between Sam Raimi and John Woo, written by Chuck Pfarrer, and starring Jean-Claude Van Dame and Lance Henriksen, and so it has a very mainstream quality to it. When first viewing this film anyone who is a John Woo fan can tell almost straight away that it is a John Woo film, featuring a ballet of guns and violence, slow-motion action captures, and breath-taking stunts This film is notable for being John Woo's first American production, and he does well. I personally prefer his Hong Kong movies but this is a good film for him. This film lacks all the great filmic qualities of his Hong Kong films, so I guess you can call this 'mainstream' John Woo . The film tells the story of a woman searching for her vagrant father in the streets of New Orleans. She is attacked by a group of thugs but then rescued by a man named Chance Boudreaux (Van Damme), a bum, a bum who knows the streets of New Orleans. Natasha, the woman who Chance has rescued, asks Chance if he will help her find her father. In the process, they uncover information as to the existence of a game where rich businessmen hunt vagrants for sport, where they offer the homeless people $10,000 if they can get away, and if they can't, they die. The two find out that Natasha's father was a victim of this, but as they uncover this, they suddenly work out that they are now part of the game. 'Hard Target' may lack certain things, especially for a John Woo film, but it still features enough of Woo's trademarks to make it a worthwhile addition to his list of films. From the start, you can tell that Hollywood had a big say in what happened, and this is one of the crippling factors behind this film. The writing isn't particularly good ( not bad but not great either) and it gives the impression that they wrote the script with Van Damme in mind, granted his limitations as a dramatic actor. Rumor is that Kurt Russell was up for the lead in this film, would Russell have been a better choice? I myself have no doubts, because his roles are dramatic (Back Draft) as well as action-packed (Escape from New York), but Van Damme manages to pull it off in a way. One of the major saving grace's of this film is, as always, Lance Henriksen, who plays the typical ice-faced sociopath with glee, he has made such a career out of playing these small 'crazy person' roles that it has become almost a typecast, but because of this typecast, you just know that he will manage to pull it off, and he does. Overall, 'Hard Target' is a decent enough film but if you are going to watch a John Woo film, try something like 'The Killer' or 'Hard Boiled'. If you wish to watch this just for Van Damme, however, then you should be in luck, because he is in the hands of a director who know what he is doing.
Dean !

Another cool John Woo action film, one of Van Damme's best!
xGary X

John Woo's class as an action director and Lance Henricksen make this a cut above Jean Claude Van Damme's usual rubbish, but it still has one massive drawback. Jean Claude Van Damme is still in it.
Dean M

Most thrilling action I ever see on what director John Woo makes Van Damme's amazing fight and shooting sequences in slow and fast motions.
Steven V

Good thriller from John Woo. The best Van Damme film ever made with great direction and the dangerous type of story and a great performance by Lance Henrikson.
Fascade F

In credible high octane action flick by one of the most respected stunt directors out there named Jon Woo. Worth the watch...get it!
Deb S

John Woo's first American movie featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Chance, a sailor who takes on a group of wealthy hunters lead by Lance Henriksen who hunt and kill the homeless for sport. The climactic battle between Van Damme and Henrickson's gang is the stuff that… More
John Woo's first American movie featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Chance, a sailor who takes on a group of wealthy hunters lead by Lance Henriksen who hunt and kill the homeless for sport. The climactic battle between Van Damme and Henrickson's gang is the stuff that action lovers' dreams are made of with lots of explosions and incredible, stylish action scenes. Van Damme gaves an amazing performance and Henrickson and Arnold Vosloo make for a terrific villainous duo, menacing and cold. An action movie for fans of action movies with plenty of stunts, martial arts, and explosive shootouts!
Lee K

Once again caught this on movie time today as i was having a couch potatoe day. My favorite of Van Dammes directed by the great John Woo. Great villian cast Lance Henrikson and Arnold Vosloo king of the death stare lol. Van Damme's acting skills are highly excuseable in this and… More
Once again caught this on movie time today as i was having a couch potatoe day. My favorite of Van Dammes directed by the great John Woo. Great villian cast Lance Henrikson and Arnold Vosloo king of the death stare lol. Van Damme's acting skills are highly excuseable in this and his charector is cooler then the other side of my pillow Watch for the great rubber snake trap scene, i remember laughing my ass off at that part when i saw this at the theatre back in the day.
Jim W

Hard Target is one of the better Van Damme action pictures. John Woo's direction is the star though. While I also liked Lance Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo as the villains.
alan j

entertaining Jean Claude actioneer..the hunters become the hunted...holds your interest and some nice fighting
Patrick D

I'm rating this as high as I am because I loved it and Jean-Claude as a kid.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Jean-Claude Van Damme as Chance Boudreaux

            Lance Henriksen as Emil Fouchon

            Arnold Vosloo as Pick Van Cleaf

            Yancy Butler as Natasha "Nat" Binder

            Kasi Lemmons as Carmine Mitchell

            Wilford Brimley as Uncle Douvee

            Bob Apisa as Mr. Lopacki

            Chuck Pfarrer as Douglas Binder

            Michael D. Leinert as Frack

            Willie C. Carpenter as Elijah Roper

            Lenore Banks as Marie

            Dave Efron as Billy Bob

            Eliott Keener as Randal Poe

            Jeanette Kontomitras as Madam

            Sven Ole Thorsen as Stephan

            Theodore Raimi as Man on the Street

            Marco St. John as Dr. Morton

            Joe Warfield as Ismal Zenan

            Nancy Nayor
            
            Valerie McCaffrey
            
            Robert Pavlovich as Police Detective

            Jules Sylvester as Peterson

            Douglas Forsythe Rye
            
            Mike Leinert
            
            Robert Apisa
            
See full cast