Wake of Death (2004)

47% of users liked it
(4,863 ratings)

Action star and goofball extraordinaire Jean-Claude Van Damme returns in this gritty tale of revenge between the Los Angeles mob and an invading Chinese Triad. The "Muscles From Brussels" stars as Ben Archer, an ex-mob tough guy whose wife is savagely murdered after she brings home an orphaned child… More Action star and goofball extraordinaire Jean-Claude Van Damme returns in this gritty tale of revenge between the Los Angeles mob and an invading Chinese Triad. The "Muscles From Brussels" stars as Ben Archer, an ex-mob tough guy whose wife is savagely murdered after she brings home an orphaned child who happens to be a Chinese kingpin's daughter. Racked with grief, Archer is forced back into the mob life as Van Damme stacks up the dead bodies until he finally comes face to face with his wife's killer in an explosive match to the death. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Philippe Martinez
Genres: Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Dec 28, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Dec 28, 2004
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Uma fotografia surpreendentemente boa em um filme previsivelmente ruim.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...Jean-Claude Van Damme's most enjoyable movie in almost ten years.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tsubaki S

Wait, what? Simon Yam? Headshots everywhere? Absurdly over-the-top use of quick jumps and flashbacks? Shit, Van Damme might be starring in really awful movies these days, but i wouldn't guess they were that insane. Either that or the director was doing 8 ball after 8 ball while… More
Wait, what? Simon Yam? Headshots everywhere? Absurdly over-the-top use of quick jumps and flashbacks? Shit, Van Damme might be starring in really awful movies these days, but i wouldn't guess they were that insane. Either that or the director was doing 8 ball after 8 ball while shooting this.
Dean M

I have never seen Van Damme in this punishing thriller before his latest movies.
Patrick D

It's good! I liked it! Somewhat of a surprise. Yah, it's an action film and it does mostly follow the numbers. It uses that cool/artful direction and editing that is common in modern action, but it's effective. The director and/or the editor do go into some interesting… More
It's good! I liked it! Somewhat of a surprise. Yah, it's an action film and it does mostly follow the numbers. It uses that cool/artful direction and editing that is common in modern action, but it's effective. The director and/or the editor do go into some interesting flairs in some of the sequences which look, well... cool. It also develops (yah, actually develops, if only somewhat) some interesting characters that go a bit beyond your stock fare. Jean-Claude's character is even a little different that your average stock hero and, you know, he shows a bit of his acting chops through the character. Basically if you want an actioner that hit all the popcorn notes but still deviates enough to be interesting, see it.