DVD Review: Split Second
Written by: Kage Alan

Film Rating: B
DVD Special Features: N/A

"We need bigger guns!" Dick Durkin (Neil Duncan)

Rutger Hauer has done some outstanding movies in his long career, but he's
not had many memorable ones as of late and seems to find work doing parts in
"B" films instead.  Well, I did actually enjoy "Bone Daddy" and I seem to
also be the only person I'm aware of who caught "Split Second" in the
theatre.  Now, that doesn't make me special, but I know what I like and I
really enjoyed "Split Second" despite all of its flaws.

The story takes place in London during the near future (2008) where ignored
global warming has caused massive flooding, heat and a rat infestation unlike
anything ever seen before.  Unfortunately, it also seems to have bread
something else as well.  There is a creature loose in the city, a creature
that kills with no remorse, with no discernable pattern and who pissed off
the wrong cop.  Harley Stone (Hauer) has worked in every hellhole in the
world and been fired by them all, yet he's the best at what he does or at
least he used to be.  When he lost his partner a few years back to a serial
killer and was then wounded by that same killer, Stone turned to alcohol.  
After cleaning up that part of his act, he switched to coffee and chocolate.  
I'm not sure it's any better, but at least he can hold his gun straight.

Anyhow, the story picks up as Stone arrives at a nightclub after having been
suspended.  He senses that the killer is there and he's right.  A woman has
her heart ripped out while in the bathroom, but nobody sees the killer.  It's
not long before Stone is off suspension and back trying and catch the
creature, only this time he's got a new partner, Dick Durkin (Neil Duncan).  
The bodies continue to pile up, internal organs go missing and strange
astrological symbols are written on ceilings in blood.  What does it all
mean?  What is the creature and why is it doing what it's doing?  How can
Stone sense it?  Some is revealed and all is resolved with it kidnaps Stone's
dead partner's wife Michelle (Kim Cattrall, "Sex and the City") and forces a
confrontation.

"Split Second" has its fair share of dialogue to cringe at, but director Tony
Maylam ("The Burning") is smart enough to give us plenty of action and one
liners along the way while keeping the creature shown a little bit at a time.
When Stone and Durkin finally get an idea of what they're really up against,
they decide to get bigger guns.  It's a classic scene and quite a bit of fun.
Several questions are never answered, though, and that may be problematic
for some viewers.  This is an action/sci-fi film, so don't set your
expectations higher than that.

Video quality on the disc is acceptable, but not fantastic.  It's also only a
Pan and Scan transfer, so HBO is going to receive a letter from me in the
near future since this is definitely a film that plays better when you can
see the entire picture in the letterbox format.  Audio on the film isn't bad,
yet isn't overly fantastic either.  As for extras, there's a small Cast and
Crew Biography section and that's it, not even a trailer.  $20 is too much
money to shell out for a Pan and Scan copy with no extras.  Give me a break.

If "Split Second" wasn't one of my guilty pleasures, I'd never have bought it
considering how little effort HBO put into this release.  However, I do like
it, did buy it and will continue to bring it out every once in a while when I
need to relax, sort of like I do with "Friday The 13th".  There's plenty of
action for those craving it and a bit of gore if you're a horror fan who
likes some Science Fiction added to the mix.  Not many people have seen the
film, but it's one of my favorites.  Rutger can still kick some ass!  Enjoy.

Comments
Date/Time of Posting:  May 15 2002 / 20:04:38
name = Bob Rodden
where = roddenii@yahoo.com
Subject = Why Not Letterbox?
comments = I'm super disappointed to Split Second is Pan and Scan only.  When I saw it was coming out, I was excited, because I really enjoyed this film on video.  However, not I'm not sure I'll buy the DVD version.  If HBO can release a movie like Stephen King's NightFlyer in widescreen, why not this film as well?  I actually enjoyed Split Second more than NightFlyer.  Anyway, thanks for the review on Split Second

Kage holds degrees in Creative Writing, as well as Film & Video. He has been featured in a Life Journey Tele-Course, published poems in several national anthologies, been a contributor to The Third Coast Magazine and written several novels. kage@modamag.com This site is a