The Vector File (2002 TV Movie) User Reviews

IT'S VAN DIEN, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

[nogodnomasters · 4/10 · 21 June 2019]

This could have been a made for TV film. The plot is extremely weak, but many odd plot points are tied up by the twist at the end. For some reason (explained at the end) Gerry Anderson (Casper) is sent a secret DNA code by Russians who dress in black/navy blue and walk to heavy bass music. However Gerry didn't get them. Instead his daughter got them by accidentally printing out a ream of printer paper in an effort to print out a drawing she did on a computer of a horse (dad kids her and calls it a giraffe). She hides the paper in her school bag unbeknown to Dad. He has her for the weekend while his wife (MILF Oxenberg) is ...? I'm not sure. The Russians show up and trash his place and try to get him, but he gets away. When the cops show up there is no sign of anyone being there, including the dead body. The movie steals bad lines from other movies in an attempt to be cute such as "Woman: Can't live with them. Can't shoot them."

Even the seduction scene was lame. No sex. No nudity. They could have at least teased us by having the woman run the shower and showing her drop a towel on the floor. If your going to steal from other films, take something good. The action was slow paced and not very exciting even during the action scenes. The movie suffered from a bad script. I though India Oxenberg did a good job as a child actor. Van Dien is her real life step-dad and her mother played her mother who once dated John Kerry. During his run for the President, Karl Rove started a muck campaign claiming she was his daughter.

Stupid

[jpintar · 1/10 · 19 September 2004]

This movie is incredibly stupid. We have a guy who picks up a note he shouldn't have. Then somebody breaks into his house to get the note back. Then the police think he faked the whole thing! This lacks credibility. Even his estranged wife believes he has gone nuts. This movie relies on idiot plot. The movie would be over immediately if every single character in this movie were not idiots. If somebody had compared notes, then they would be able to figure it out. Casper Van Dien and his real life wife Catherine Oxenburg and her real life daughter make a likable family, but the story has too many holes in it. We know who the bad guy is well in advance so the revelation surprises no one. Watch something else instead.

Must see for Van Dien fans, fun thriller for everyone else

[groucho3710 · 24 September 2004]

(The end of para. 2 contains a not very surprising spoiler, sort of.)

This movie is a must-have for Casper Van Dien fans and a nice little made-for-TV action-thriller for the rest of the world that is suffering through a nothing-good-on-TV night and looking for something to rent. There aren't a whole lot of surprises, except perhaps that India Oxenberg (Van Dien's daughter both in and out of the movie) is a good actress for her age, and his much-put-upon character, who runs the gamut of unknown assailants, suspicious cops, and a tottering marriage, is finally allowed to take revenge in a rather novel way involving a swimming pool and some brute force, and let's just leave it at that.

The Vector File, as we learn fairly soon, involves viruses, plagues, and possible apocalyptic chaos, and naturally is of interest to every nefarious SPECTRE type organization on the planet. But to a child who gets confused by all the keys and buttons on dad's computer, it's mainly useful as scrap paper to draw pictures on. And therein lies the reason for all the chasing, shooting, kidnapping, drowning, asphyxiating, car bombing, and battering with driftwood. There's quite a bit of mayhem, real and surreal, involving death, near death, and fear of death. But this isn't Quentin Tarantino, it's made for TV, so it's not incredibly bloody, and most of the people you'd expect to be left standing at the end of the movie actually are. And if you're careful about what your kids hear, hold their ears the 3 or 4 times somebody gets perturbed and uses four-letter words beginning with 's' and 'f'-at least in the unexpurgated version, or maybe TV down under is just different.

Periodically there is some beautiful New Zealand scenery to look at, and Van Dien fans will love seeing him looking scrumptiously scruffy in a beard and t-shirt throughout the movie (costumes were obviously not a big part of the budget this time around). Call me soft in the head, or just fascinated by the notion of show business 'dynasties,' but there's just something nice about watching the real daddy/daughter duo facing the bad guys together. And we kinda sorta suspect the estranged couple played by real-life husband and wife Van Dien and Catherine Oxenberg will probably wind up together again before the movie's over too. At least if they can settle the matter of the anchovies. As for what that's all about, you'll have to rent the movie and find out for yourselves.

Below average tv movie

[Zorroz · 2/10 · 11 October 2002]

This film must have been artificially 'pumped up'. A couple of people, probably with a stake in the movie, have been giving high notes. Which is totally undeserved. This film brings you nothing new. You've seen all the elements a hunderd times before. Yet some film makers succeed in creating a good movie anyway, but this film maker doesn't. The acting is poor, everything is poor and predictable. Spend your time on something else.

Boring

[hydroxybenzoate · 2/10 · 14 April 2006]

The acting in his movie was shocking. I've seen many movies and television shows produced, directed, funded and acted by New Zelanders and hey have been great.

This movie however was un-watchable.

It is pity too as some of the location shots were beautiful.

I was not aware of who Casper or Catherine were until i came onto IMDb to look them up to see who this ( Casper ) shocking actor was.

Catherines acting in this film completely shined compared to Casper.

Big budgets are not required to have actors with ability to act without appearing as though they are acting.

Casper Van Dien must save the world from smallpox.

[johnd-18 · 6/10 · 5 July 2003]

This is a good standard thriller. I saw it with a bunch of New Zealand theatre owners for a theatrical potential test screening and the reaction was mixed - some would show it, some not. It did very well on video and the women love Casper. I am connected to the movie, but I think an objective 6 to 7 out of 10 is fair as a video. Everyone likes the twist at the end!

Good family movie

[joette-67783 · 10/10 · 20 December 2022]

Not really sure why their is such low ratings because I really enjoyed it. I watched it on youtube not expecting much but I really enjoyed seeing the family act together. They did a great job and their daughter was precious and did a great job acting with her dad and mother. It had action and mystery. It's not a blockbuster but it did its job of keeping me entertained. It doesn't last very long but it's a good popcorn just chill movie to watch. They did such a sweet job acting together that I want to Google to see if they have anymore together. It's nice to see a movie that doesn't have half naked people and constant cursing in it for once.

Organized crime involved in developing biological weapons

[lodger16 · 6/10 · 14 July 2005]

This is not a bad movie. It has some interesting ideas, like the role of technology and organized crime in future terrorism. Being a New Zealand/German effort, it did not have the big budget of Hollyweed, but it has some pretty good acting and it moves along well. It has some inexcusable plot holes, but so do 80% of the Hollyweed efforts I see. The direction wavers between "personal relationships" and "good folks in peril" scenes, with the latter getting more attention. It could have been a lot better with about 20 more minutes to flesh out the plot and develop the characters and their relationships. It has the overall feel of a pretty good idea that ran out of money. Hollyw$$d, it ain't easy to compete with, but at least some competent folks are trying!

I found the Movie was interesting, they really did a great job.

[crazy2035 · 6/10 · 3 October 2002]

I think that the movie had its faults but it had its good things to do. the acting was superb but the camera angles needed some work. I found the story line had great meaning, but more attention is needed to be given to the main characters, in some parts of the film it is unknown as to how they are feeling.

I give this movie a 6/10 because it managed to keep me busy.