Nowhere to Run is a surprisingly earnest action-drama that stands out in Jean-Claude Van Damme‘s filmography.
The film stars Van Damme as Sam Gillen, an escaped convict on the run after a botched bank robbery. He seeks refuge in a small California town, where he befriends Clydie Anderson (Rosanna Arquette), a young widow struggling to raise her two children, Mookie (Kieran Culkin) and Bree (Tiffany Taubman).
Sam forms a protective bond with the family, but his past catches up to him in the form of a ruthless land developer, Franklin Hale (Joss Ackland), and his menacing enforcer, Mr. Dunston (Ted Levine).
Sam must fight to protect the family he has come to love and finally find a place to belong.
What sets Nowhere to Run apart is its focus on character and emotion.
While it features Van Damme’s signature high-kicks and martial arts prowess, the film spends a good deal of time developing the relationships between Sam and Clydie’s family.
Arquette brings a quiet strength to her role, and Culkin is a standout as the protective and curious Mookie.
Levine delivers a chilling performance as the unhinged villain and Ackland makes for a perfectly despicable antagonist.
John Finn (Cold Case) has a brief appearance as one of the police officers chasing Sam.
Directed by Robert Harmon (The Hitcher), the film’s action sequences are well-staged and gritty, but they never overshadow the central narrative.
The story was by legendary Hollywood screenwriter Joe Eszterhas and director Richard Marquand, who reunited after their previous work on 1985’s classic Jagged Edge. When Marquand unexpectedly passed away on Sept. 4, 1987, the script was shelved for years before being recalled by producer Craig Baumgarten, who was seeking a project for Van Damme.
Jean Claude Van Damme in Nowhere to Run (Photo/Columbia Pictures)
Reception for Nowhere to Run
Nowhere to Run grossed $8.2 million on its opening weekend, finishing fourth at the box office.
The film would gross $64 million worldwide.
Legacy
Nowhere to Run‘s legacy is that of a “B” action movie with an “A” heart and is often cited by fans as one of Van Damme’s more underrated and a showcase for his range as an actor, proving he could be more than just a martial arts star.
It’s a solid 90s thriller with a touch of humanity that makes it more than just a forgettable action flick.
