Blowback (2000) User Reviews

Predictable, but entertaining

[fiera121 · 5/10 · 10 September 2002]

I tend to agree with most other reviewers on this page that this movie's plot was predictable, but I stop short of calling it boring. Yes, there are lots of mediocre cop movies out there about good cops that get too personally involved in a homicide case and get kicked off the case by their superior, then continue to investigate on their own. But this one has a somewhat new twist in that the killer seems to be a man who's already been executed for similar crimes. Another new twist is that his latest choice of victims are the jurors who voted to execute him. These two new twists keep the movie from being overly predictable, and keep it entertaining. However, I think the script should have kept secret until the end whether or not the killer is actually the executed man or not; the answer is revealed early in the film, and I think they should have made use of the suspense they would've generated by not telling us so soon. All in all, this is not a great movie, but it's not a total waste of time.

Not a bad movie

[zibster · 6/10 · 14 July 2003]

If you liked Se7en or Resurrection, then i suggest you see this film. Its not as good as those 2, but its decent. Its got some gruesome deaths just like the other 2 flicks mentioned. But that sort of thing is expected in serial killer movies. 6/10

A movie you will want to miss.

[acearms · 5/10 · 28 September 2003]

Okay, if you fast forward through the chase scenes and the sex scenes you will have about 20 minutes to watch. The plot is there but it takes 70 extra minutes to complete it. The idea that you can revive a dead man executed by the state in a gas chamber is still sci-fi. Too many holes to be an enjoyable experience. Be glad you didn't rush out to the nearest video store to rent this one.

Wooden, cliched and dull – just a rip-off of better serial killer movies

[bob the moo · 18 May 2002]

A cop scarred by his last case begins to investigate murders that are very similar to the biblical serial killer he caught and killed years before. With a series of taunting notes and scriptures left beside death scenes made to look like the death of martyred saints, Morrell begins to suspect that this may be more than a copycat – but in fact the very killer back from the dead.

Stupid, stupid story! The setup is ok, but when we start talking about the killer being a serial killer who was trained by the FBI but then went nuts again – or the fact that he didn't really die originally – then you know the film's just looking for any excuse to make itself a serial killer movie and go to video! The plotting is so dumb that even the final reel's attempt to give the killer a motive is based on stupid logic. The dialogue is just as bad and could come from any dtv movie.

Mind you – it doesn't help that its delivered by actors who make planks look like they could do Shakespeare. Peebles once did a few OK movies – those days are gone! Here he is a cardboard cut out of a cop `haunted by past' although he just walks round and looks shocked by the murders. Remar is an OK killer – he's good at times and does well despite a poor character but the rest are just fodder for gory deaths.

Overall this is poor – watch Se7en or Silence of the Lambs. But direct-to-video serial killer movies like this are two-a-penny and should be avoided on the whole.

Really Lame

[Falcon-51 · 3/10 · 15 April 2000]

"Blowback" is like every other bad cop movie ever made. First you have a homicide detective searching for the truth behind some bizarre murders. Second the detective is kicked off the case by the Chief of Police. Third the cop breaks department rules and tries to solve the case on his own anyway. Fourth someone the cop loves becomes the final target for the psychotic killer. The only difference in this film is the type of psycho. In this case it is some religious lunatic. To truly experience "Blowback" you take all the above mentioned elements remove any trace of good acting and take away anything unsuspected and you have this movie.

Mario Van Peebles hasn't done anything halfway decent since "Posse" and it seems like such a waste. There is no reason for anyone to sit through this movie. If you are still not satisfied and want to see the film anyway make sure the kids are out of the room because there are two separate parts of the film which contain half naked women tied to crosses and being threatened with nail guns.

A cop/priest who knows every word of the bible.. Wow.

[PracticalMagic · 12 August 2002]

I am stumped... What can I say? Didn't we see this exact same role in the movie "The Prophecy". At least there was some good acting in that movie.. I can't say too many good things about this film. It looked like it was slapped together in a month. I did not buy the blonde girl's acting at all, and by the end.. I could have sworn I had just seen a porno. However, I was convinced by my friend that I shouldn't have expected much from a Mario Van Pebbles film. After all, he did do "Highlander 3". *shudders* However.. I must admit, it kept me watching, as most Mario Van Peebles movies tend to keep me doing. I think it has something to do with the cheeziness of the plots. The movie did not follow any police procedure. Three words: Witness Protection Program.

Had potential

[Alex-372 · 28 June 2001]

Blowback is a Mario van Peebles movie, so if you're a fan of him, you should be fine with it. This movie has relatively poor production values, and the shootouts are badly staged and edited, however, it does pour on the exploitation, with lots of naked chicks and gory murders. Also, it's been a long time since I've seen Stephen Caffrey (Tour Of Duty, Longtime Companion), and the first time I've seen him playing a bad guy. The main theme of Blowback is a serial killer who murders his victims and then cuts them up as martyred saints. Unfortunately, the production values don't allow for much special effects, but they're pretty grisly. 6 out of 10

Its crude!

[uds3 · 9 September 2002]

Hey all you sadists - here's the film you've been waiting for! Rare opportunity to catch a couple of pretty young girls stripped to the waist and roped up to a wooden cross under threat of extreme pain from a maniacal religious freako wielding a nail-gun!

Van Peebles steps down a rung with this "by the numbers" cop-after-the-mega-sicko tale that cannot possibly enrich the life of a solitary viewer. It's not even particularly interesting.

Low budget, cliche'd caper to test the patience of the most undiscerning viewer. Pretty much straight-to-video little number that is as underwhelming as it is tasteless.

Van Peebles and Remar were re-teamed in the equally unenthralling GUARDIAN.

very emotional

[dead_m_a_n_walking · 7 June 2001]

A very beautiful movie, with a villain who you truly feel remorse for. (even more so then for the hero.) James Remar was heartfelt and breathtakingly dramatic in this tale of a tragic lost soul. Maybe it's because I'm a girl, but I think the violence was just right (unlike some other slasher movies), and every thing turned out ok in the end.