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Red Serpent
Directed by Gino Tanesescu
Released: 2002
Starring: Michael Paré, Roy Scheider, Oleg Taktarov, Irina Apeksimova
Running Time: 90 minutes
DVD Released by MTI Video: July 2005
After his family is killed by Hassan (Roy Scheider) AKA The Red Serpent and his minions, Sergei Popov (played by Oleg Taktarov) retires his “Alpha Team”, who fought drug dealers in Russia. When American businessman, Steve Nichols (Michael Paré), runs afoul of his Russian partner, who is in cahoots with The Red Serpent, his daughter is kidnapped and held until he will agree to allow his shipping company to be used for importing drugs into the United States. Sergei agrees to help Steve get his daughter back and reassembles his team to launch an all out assault on Hassan.
Technically, the film looks fine for a smaller production with big budget aspirations. The cameraman is no slouch as there are some interesting camera angles and even the lighting is very good. The editing leaves no room for complaint and the digital effects are passable. I think the fault lies in the uninspired performances and a dull script.
Michael Paré (Streets Of Fire) as the naïve American businessman, Steve, isn’t a terrible portrayal but (at the risk of recommending that he be typecast) I think that Paré is much better when his characters are tough. Steve never really seems that upset that his daughter has been kidnapped. I wanted the character to be exploding with rage and tearing people to pieces. There are a few surprising moments though such as when Steve is cornered by goons while trying to purchase a gun and later, when he displays some very skilled marksmanship (which is odd for a novice, hmm).
Oleg Taktarov is good and believable as Sergei, a man who lost everything and sees a chance to redeem himself by helping someone in a similar situation. Irina Apeksimova is also very good as Hassan’s sexy and deadly chief assassin. Sadly, her grisly fate is cut much too short by the editor. Roy Scheider doesn’t really get enough screen time in
Red Serpent to develop his character or come across as very involved in the production. It’s hard to complain about on my favorite actors but it seems as though there wasn’t much for him to work with here.
The action scenes are competently directed and staged but very tame. In fact, the whole film feels restrained despite it being made for video. With the freedom which a theatrical release typically robs a creative venture, the filmmakers could really have tightened the screws on this potboiler. The mere mention of an international drug ring and the Russian mafia isn’t enough to make a film trashy. Even with its other flaws, if this film was only grittier and more brutal, we would have an accidental classic on our hands here. A decent enough time waster,
Red Serpent won’t knock anyone’s socks off. Beware the pointless twist at the end of the film guaranteed to cause mild depression or cackling madness.
For more info, head on over to MTI Home
Video.
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