Twin brothers are separated when their parents are murdered, but 25 years later they reunite in order to avenge their parents’ deaths.
My introduction to “No Retreat, No Surrender” happened in 1986, thanks to a worn-out VHS tape. Despite its small budget, the movie stuck with me. The story revolves around Jason (Kurt McKinney), a teenager who relocates to Seattle with his family and soon becomes the target of persistent harassment from neighborhood bullies. What sets the film apart is its unusual plot twist: Jason receives guidance from the spirit of Bruce Lee, empowering him to confront a local criminal organization and its intimidating Russian henchman—a role that marks one of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s breakout performances.
Following this role, Van Damme’s career quickly took off, leading to memorable parts in “Bloodsport,” “Black Eagle,” “Cyborg,” and the cult classic “Kickboxer.” By 1991, Van Damme assumed more control over his projects with “Double Impact,” a movie he not only starred in but also helped produce and write. It’s still my top pick among his films. In it, Van Damme plays twin brothers, Alex and Chad, whose parents—Paul and Katherine Wagner (Andy Armstrong and Sarah-Jane Varley)—were key figures in building Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour Tunnel. After being betrayed and killed by their business partners, Nigel Griffith (Alan Scarfe) and Raymond Zhang (Philip Chan), the twins are separated: Chad is whisked away to America by the family’s faithful protector, Frank Avery (Geoffrey Lewis), while Alex grows up in a Hong Kong orphanage.
Twenty-five years later, Frank believes it’s finally time for the twins to reclaim their family legacy. He brings Chad to Hong Kong, but the brothers initially clash, uneasy about the past and their connection. Once Frank reveals the tragic story of their parents, they find common ground and unite in their quest to take down Griffith and Zhang.
For me, “Double Impact” is the definition of a guilty pleasure. Van Damme clearly enjoys the challenge of playing both leads, giving Alex and Chad distinct looks and personalities—Alex with his slicked-back hair, Chad with a more refined style. Geoffrey Lewis adds weight to every scene he’s in, and Bolo Yeung—famous for his appearance in Bruce Lee’s “Enter the Dragon”—makes a powerful adversary for Van Damme.
Shot entirely in Hong Kong, the film gains authenticity from its real-world locations, steering clear of artificial sets or digital backgrounds, so prominent in films today. The fight sequences are tightly staged, and the shootouts have the stylized flair reminiscent of John Woo, who would direct Van Damme in his first American film, “Hard Target,” just two years later.
“Double Impact” captures everything that made early 1990s action movies so entertaining: intense hand-to-hand combat, gunfights, humor, and even a touch of romance, all designed to highlight Van Damme’s range. While he’s unlikely to win an Academy Award, Van Damme understands what his fans want and consistently delivers. For anyone who hasn’t seen “Double Impact,” it’s a hidden gem that offers all the excitement and fun one expects from the era’s best action flicks.
Disc 1 Special Features:
- Director Approved 2025 4K Scan & Restoration (2160p – 16-Bit Scan of the Original Camera Negative) of the movie presented in 1.85: 1 Aspect Ratio in HDR
- Audio: LPCM 5.1 Surround, LPCM 2.0 Stereo
- Optional English SDH Subtitles, Spanish Subtitles, French Subtitles
- Collectible Double Impact “4K LaserVision” Mini-Poster
- Reversible Cover Art
- Limited Edition Slipcover (First Pressing Only)
Disc 2 Special Features:
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the main feature in 1.85:1 aspect ratio
- English 2.0 Stereo Sound (LPCM), Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0
- Optional English SDH Subtitles, Spanish Subtitles, French Subtitles
- The Making of Double Impact: Part 1 (HD, 53 mins) + The Making of Double Impact: Part 2 (59 mins) [A two part feature length retrospective documentary about the making of the film featuring interviews with star and co-writer Jean-Claude Van Damme, director and co-writer Sheldon Lettich, producer Ashok Amritraj, co-star Cory Everson-Donia, co-star and fight coordinator Peter Malota and “Chad” and “Alex” photo doubles Jeff Rector & Jerry Rector]
- Double Impact: Deleted / Extended Scenes (SD, 54 mins)
- Double Impact: Anatomy of a Scene [with Director Sheldon Lettich] (HD, 8 mins)
- Double Impact: 1991 Behind the Scenes Featurette [Rarely seen legacy featurette from 1991 featuring interviews with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Moshe Diamant, and Charles Layton] (6:58, SD)
- Double Impact: B-Roll Selections [Raw, behind-the-scenes footage from the set] (8:05, SD)
- Double Impact: Film Clips [Five full frame clips from the film for use in TV promos](4:52, SD)
- Cast & Crew Interview Clips [1991 EPK interview clips featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Moshe Diamant, and Charles Layton] (6:21, SD)
- Double Impact MVD Rewind Collection Promo (:24, HD)
- Original Theatrical Trailer (1:40, SD)
Special Features may not be rated, closed captioned, or in High Definition. The second disc (Blu-ray) with the supplemental material is the previously released 2019 Blu-ray.
Available on 4K Ultra HD™ February 17th
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