Double Impact (1991)

Double Impact is a 1991 American action film written and directed by Sheldon Lettich, and written, produced by and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Chad and Alex Wagner. The film marks Van Damme’s third collaboration with director Sheldon Lettich (who wrote Bloodsport and directed Lionheart) and second collaboration with Bolo Yeung (the first being Bloodsport in 1988). Double Impact was released in the United States on August 9, 1991.

Plot.

In Hong Kong during the year 1966, business partners Paul Wagner and Nigel Griffith open the Victoria Harbour Tunnel. Paul attends with his wife Katherine and their identical twin infant sons, Chad and Alex. After the celebration, the family is followed home by their bodyguard, Frank Avery, whom they dismiss. Once he leaves, a Triad hit squad follows them. A shootout ensues, in which Paul is killed. Katherine begs the Triads to spare the twins but is killed by Moon, the top henchman.

Their maid is able to escape with Alex and Frank eventually saves Chad; the maid leaves Alex at a Hong Kong orphanage and Frank raises Chad in France. 25 years later in 1991, Chad and Frank are running a successful martial arts dojo in Los Angeles when Frank tells a surprised Chad about a new “business” in Hong Kong. The two go to a mahjong parlor and a woman, mistaking Chad for Alex, takes him back to Alex’s room. When Alex arrives, he knocks out Chad for being with his girlfriend, Danielle Wilde.

Casting:

Van Damme was reportedly paid $600,000 for the movie. Wanting to breakaway from the martial arts movie genre he had become so popularly known for, he hoped playing the dual role of Chad/Alex would change his image and help him do just that. “[Alex] is violent and [Chad] is not, so audiences [will] see the contrast in my work.” Prior to the film’s release, he had told the Los Angeles Times: “If I stay in martial arts pictures people will get tired of my films.” Van Damme felt Double Impact’s love scene would appeal to a wider audience. Seeing Jeremy Irons portray a dual role in Dead Ringers allegedly influenced Van Damme’s decision. v

Filming:

Filming of the movie took place in Los Angeles, Santa Clarita (Dojo scene) and most of the scenes in Hong Kong. Most of the Hong Kong scenes were filmed at the Lippo centre (Nigel Griffith’s headquarters), Tsing Yi Container Processing Terminal (Raymond Zhang & Triad scene) and the Star Ferry port (escape scene). The hideout used by Alex & Chad was filmed at Mong Tung Wan at the Chi Ma Wan trail on Lantau Island.

Box office:

Double Impact opened at No. 2 at the US box office and grossed $7.5 million in its opening weekend. By August 20, 1991, 11 days after the initial release, this increased to $15.3 million. According to Box Office Mojo, US receipts totaled $30.1 million by the end of the film’s theatrical run.