The Demolitionist is a 1995 American superhero film directed by Robert Kurtzman in his directorial debut. The film stars Nicole Eggert, Richard Grieco, Bruce Abbott, Heather Langenkamp, Susan Tyrrell, and Tom Savini.
Plot
A murdered female police officer is brought back to life by a cold-hearted scientist to serve as "The Demolitionist", the ultimate crime-fighting weapon in a city overrun by criminals and internal corruption.
Cast
- Nicole Eggert as Alyssa Lloyd
- Richard Grieco as "Mad Dog" Burne
- Bruce Abbott as Professor Jack Crowley
- Heather Langenkamp as Christy Carruthers
- Susan Tyrrell as Mayor Eleanor Grimbaum
- Peter Jason as Chief Higgins
- Sarah Douglas as The Surgeon
- Tom Savini as Roland
- Jack Nance as Father McKenzie
- Bruce Campbell as Raffle Winner (uncredited)
Production
The screenplay was co-written by Robert Kurtzman and his wife Anne Kurtzman, with additional writing by Brian DiMuccio and Dino Vindeni. The film was produced by Donald P. Borchers under Border Planet Productions and A-Pix Entertainment, with a budget of approximately $1 million. To stretch the low budget, the producers made a deal with Coca-Cola, which provided funds and unlimited drinks for the cast and crew in exchange for prominent product placement.
Release
The film premiered in Los Angeles on March 10, 1995. It received a limited theatrical release in May 1996 and debuted on video in July 1996.
Reception
The film holds a 17% approval rating based on 6 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics were divided: Glenn Kenny of Entertainment Weekly praised the film's "low budget charm," while TV Guide panned it as being inspired by RoboCop but lacking that film's satiric viewpoint or budget for memorable action scenes. Ray Mark Rinaldi of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch highlighted the film's camp aesthetics, describing the performances as a "cartoon brought to life."
