Cult Classic Corner: Sudden Death

By Matt Wenner

Synopsis:
During game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals (hockey), the vice president, attending the game, is taken hostage in his club box. The lead terrorist wants a certain amount of money deposited into various accounts by the end of each period, or he will blow up the building. Jean Claude Van Damme is a fire marshal attending the game with his kids. He catches wind of the evil plan and intervenes as only the “Muscles from Brussels” can.

Why it’s great:
This film is your typical action movie, but it takes place in a hockey arena while a game is being played. Being a hockey fan, this idea obviously appealed to me. It features actual teams, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins and even has a few real players, such as Ken Wregget, Luc Robitaille and Jaromir Jagr. It also features a number of scenes that can be considered “interesting,” for lack of a better term.

Favorite Scene(s): (for this column, I must name a few different scenes)
-Van Damme fights one of the terrorists in the kitchen. Now, I know what your thinking, “Hey thats not too exciting.” And to that I would have to inform you that the terrorist was dressed as the Penguins mascot. That’s right; Van Damme fights an 8 foot penguin.
-Van Damme is being chased by one of the thugs, and to hide from him, Van Damme puts on the pads and uniform of the injured Penguins goalie and goes onto the ice and proceeds to stop a breakaway. Also of note, Van Damme can put on and take off all of the goalie equipment in a matter of seconds, which I know from experience is a physical impossibility.
-The lead terrorist is trying to escape the arena in a helicopter, and Van Damme is able to shoot the pilot, which helps to plunge the helicopter through the open roof of the arena, crashing spectacularly onto the ice.

Trivia:
-This film was shot on location at Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena, and yes they actually did crash a helicopter onto the arena’s ice.

Great Quotes:
-Random Thug: “What are you going to do? Drown me?” (Van Damme pulls a water gun on him)
-Van Damme: “No.” (Van Damme lights thug on fire using water gun (filled with lighter fluid and lighter)

-Negotiator: “Have you made any contact with the agressors?”
-Van Damme: “I killed two. Does that qualify as contact?”