Double Impact 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Double Impact 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 16, 2026

Sheldon Lettich's "Double Impact" (1991) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary by critics Kim Newman and Sean Hogan; multiple archival interviews with cast and crew members; archival documentaries; vintage promotional materials; and a lot more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Jean-Claude Van Damme became an international sensation because of films like Double Impact. No, Double Impact is not the most consequential film in Van Damme’s body of work, but it is one of several, and arguably the most well-polished, that legitimized his greatest strengths. What are they? At his prime, Van Damme was a strikingly athletic, very handsome young man, easy to like by everyone. He made R-Rated action material look legitimately cool and appropriate for all viewers, which now seems like something of a lost art. Also, his sense of humor more than made up for his at times unmissable struggle with the English language.

In Double Impact, Van Damme plays two characters with completely different personalities and philosophies of life. They are twin brothers, separated at birth and, initially, unaware of each other’s existence. Twenty-five years after the murder of their father, Chad Wagner, who lives in Los Angeles, uncovers crucial information about the identity of his father’s killer, Raymond Zhang (Philip Chan), a notorious triad boss, and tracks down his missing twin brother, Alex, both residing in Hong Kong. Shortly after, Chad, accompanied by Frank Avery (Geoffrey Lewis), his late father’s right-hand man and, after his tragic death, the most important figure in his life, lands in Hong Kong, determined to seek revenge.

Following an awkward reunion, during which Chad learns that Alex makes ends meet as a black marketeer and freelancing criminal, the twin brothers hatch a plan to take down Zhang and his entire organization. However, it is not long before the two realize that Zhang is surrounded by extremely dangerous professional killers-turned-bodyguards, who promptly neutralize anyone he deems a threat.

One of several films penned and directed by Sheldon Lettich, whose writings have been of tremendous importance for the evolution of Van Damme’s acting career, Double Impact visits a territory that is instantly recognizable. The territory is one giant, slightly exotic, playground, where good and bad men quickly engage in a deadly game that must produce an undisputed winner. While the deadly game is in progress, Van Damme, continuously juggling two contrasting personalities, does maximum damage.

The main reason Double Impact works as well as it does, or at least as far as action films are concerned, has virtually everything to do with Van Damme’s transitions between the two characters. He is attractive and funny, a legitimate action star, delivering exactly the type of thrills one would expect from a film like Double Impact. Realism is in short supply, but this is hardly a weakness.

The supporting cast is also good. Bolo Yeung goes against Van Damme yet again, playing the most vicious killer in the entire film. Corinna Everson is right behind him, playing another very dangerous but also kinky killer. Alonna Shaw is the scorching hot girlfriend whom both brothers desire.

Lettich’s director of photography was Richard H. Kline, who lensed Charles Bronson’s best film, The Mechanic.

Double Impact 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

88 Films' release of Double Impact is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-B "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc.

Screencaptures #1-30 are taken from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #34-39 are taken from the 4K Blu-ray.

The release introduces a new 4K restoration of Double Impact, sourced from the original camera negative. In native 4K, the 4K restoration can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I chose to view it with HDR. Later, I spent time with its 1080p presentation on the Blu-ray.

I found the 4K restoration enormously frustrating. It produces very healthy, tight visuals that can look pretty impressive on a large screen. In 1080p, the same visuals look very nice again, noticeably better than those older Blu-ray releases of the film have produced. However, now very large areas of the film are made to look unnaturally cool, and occasionally even flat. The opposite should be occurring, in native 4K and in 1080p, but in native 4K, in particular, where the dynamic range of the visuals should be dramatically superior. This anomaly appears to be happening for two reasons. First, it appears that an effort was made, and rightfully so, to remove the yellowish hue that had an overpowering presence on the old MGM master, used to produce this Blu-ray release. However, in the process, not all primaries were preset correctly. Primary blue, in particular, is toned down quite a lot and then shifted slightly toward turquoise. Primary red appears anemic as well. There are smaller shifts in various supporting nuances as well. When the impact of these adjustments is not big, some visuals look pretty good. However, elsewhere you would encounter very anemic and even flat visuals, like the ones seen here and here. This is not the type of visual material that Richard H. Kline would have lensed. In other words, while there are plenty of sharp and nicely detailed visuals, the film does not have a proper period appearance now. There are no traces of any problematic digital corrections. Also, I did not encounter any encoding anomalies to report in our review. My score is 3.75/5.00.

Double Impact 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I revisited the entire film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. It is an outstanding lossless track. Admittedly, the very active sound design is responsible for the numerous great dynamic contrasts that emerge during the action content. However, stability is outstanding, and the upper register is impeccably clean, so dynamic nuances are easy to appreciate. All exchanges are very clear, sharp, and easy to follow.

Double Impact 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this audio commentary was recorded by critics Kim Newman and Sean Hogan. The commentators cover a lot of ground, from the production and reception of Double Impact -- as well as other Jean-Claude Van Damme films that now enjoy something of a cult reputation -- to some trends in action cinema during the 1980s and 1990s, as well as the evolution of Van Damme's international career.

• Trailer - presented here is a remastered vintage trailer for Double Impact. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this audio commentary was recorded by critics Kim Newman and Sean Hogan. The commentators cover a lot of ground, from the production and reception of Double Impact -- as well as other Jean-Claude Van Damme films that now enjoy something of a cult reputation -- to some trends in action cinema during the 1980s and 1990s, as well as the evolution of Van Damme's international career.

• Seeing Double - in this recent program, second unit director and stunt coordinator Vic Armstrong recalls how he was approached with an offer to work on Double Impact and what it was like to be around Jean-Claude Van Damme and cinematographer Richard H. Kline. Armstrong also addresses Sheldon Lettich's directing methods and the type of environment he liked to create while shooting at different locations. In English, not subtitled. (22 min).

• Double Entendre - in this recent program, Sheldon Lettich explains how his and Jean-Claude Van Damme's admiration for Charles Bronson and Steve McQueen's films brought them closer and discusses the genesis of Double Impact. Lettich also discusses his relationship with the Cannon Group and its bosses' take on Van Damme's potential as an action star. In English, not subtitled. (32 min).

• The Making of Double Impact: Part One - this archival program takes a closer look at the conception and production of Double Impact. Included in it are clips from interviews with Sheldon Lettich, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Corinna Everson, Pjeter Malota, and producer Ashok Amritraj, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (53 min).

• The Making of Double Impact: Part Two - presented here is additional content from the same interviews that are included in the previous part of the documentary. The more interesting information here is about the evolution of the screenplay that was used to make Double Impact and specifically the unique qualities of the twin brothers. In English, not subtitled. (59 min).

• Deleted Extended Scenes - presented here is a large collection of deleted and extended scenes. In English, not subtitled. (54 min).

• Anatomy of a Scene - Sheldon Lettich deconstruct the crucial chase scene where Jean-Claude Van Damme and Alonna Shaw are trying to get away from several bad guys. Apparently, this scene is one of Lettich's favorite in Double Impact. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• Behind the Scenes Featurette - presented here is an archival EPK with raw footage from the filming of Double Impact. Clips from archival interviews with cast and crew members are featured as well. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• B-Roll Selections - sourced from archival materials. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Film Clips - presented here are several short clips with action footage from Double Impact. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

• Cast and Crew Interviews Clips - presented here are several short clips from archival interviews with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Charles Layton, and Moshe Diamant. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Stills Gallery - presented here is a large collection of original promotional and production stills. Silent. (11 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a remastered vintage trailer for Double Impact. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Cover - a revesible cover with new art by Sean Longmore.

Double Impact 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Several of the action films Jean-Claude Van Damme made during the late 1980s and 1990s will never drift into oblivion, like multiple recent and future Oscar winners undoubtedly will, because they sell action to their audience the classic old-fashioned way. Double Impact is one of the best amongst these films. I wanted its new 4K restoration to look as convincing as the recent 4K restoration of The Mechanic because I enjoy both films a lot. Parts of Double Impact now look pretty decent, but the 4K restoration should have been much more convincing. 88 Films' combo pack presents it with a fantastic selection of bonus features.