Death Warrant

Canadian police officer Louis Burke is assigned to a high security jail to investigate a spate of killings that target both inmates and the guards who watch over them. The case unfolds inside a claustrophobic world of metal bars, clanging doors, and whispered threats, where everyone has something to hide. Burke relies on his training and martial arts prowess to survive the daily hazards and to read the room when standard procedures break down. As he digs deeper, he finds a web of favoritism, loyalties, and dirty deals that complicate the pursuit of a killer. The more he uncovers, the more dangerous the assignment becomes, forcing him to question who he should trust while trying to prevent further bloodshed. Burke walks the line between law and survival. Conflict surfaces as he tangles with a powerful inmate and a corrupt guard, ensuring the stakes stay high.

Released in 1990, the action thriller was directed by Deran Sarafian and credited to David S. Goyer for the story; it slots into Van Damme's early American shoot-em-up phase. Its chase sequences and warehouse brawls reflect the era's appetite for blunt, crowd-pleasing set pieces.

With a budget of four million dollars, Death Warrant earned roughly 46.7 million worldwide, giving the film a solid return that helped pave JCVD's path toward larger American action releases.

Critics treated Death Warrant as a lean, practical exercise in fists and footwork rather than a character study. It foregrounds justice under pressure, institutional corruption, and the toll of violence on those tasked with enforcing order in a closed environment.

Death Warrant contributed to the early 90s action cinema climate surrounding Jean-Claude Van Damme, showcasing his martial arts stamina and star charisma. The film's practical fight sequences and brisk pace typified the era's pragmatic approach to genre cinema, influencing similar jailhouse thrillers of the time.