I first saw the start of this on TV as an 11 year old in 1995 and unfortunately did not get the chance to finish it. I didn't see it again on TV nor was I able to locate it on home video. Fast forward 13 years later to 2008, I managed to locate a rare copy of this on DVD and was very eager to watch this movie. By the end, I was extremely disappointed at how atrocious the movie was. The entire movie resembled something that was aimed towards children under 13 years. The film looked very promising, but the end result was really bad. The film felt very derivative and plot ideas thrown in were extremely lame. Rutger Hauer of Blade Runner and The Hitcher fame deserved a lot better, as does Mimi Rogers (Tom Cruise's ex-wife), Joan Chen (On Deadly Ground) and James Remar (48 Hrs.). Stephen Tobolowsky (Ned Ryerson from Groundhog Day) was very unconvincing as the hard nosed prison warden.The whole movie resembled a live action cartoon filled with very lame ideas. A total waste of a movie.1/10.

Rutger Hauer can't carry a film as a leading man, he just can't; and he gets found out and looks utterly ridiculous at times. That he was doing films of this type only bears fruit to my statement, but that is not to say he hasn't been in fun action films, because he has, and this one has its moments......just.An interesting premise is what holds the film together, it is pure sci-fi hokum, and it is the kind of plot that keeps you interested even tho you really know what the outcome is going to be. A series of decent set pieces entertain, and there are little slices of humour to cement the daftness unfolding. The supporting cast fare no better than Hauer with Mimi Rogers hopelessly miscast as the tough Female lead, tho for the red blooded Male it has to be said she has one of the finest bottoms in cinema!! Surprisingly wasted is the talent of Stephen Tobolowsky, whilst James Remar is playing to his type as the grizzly baddie.All in all it just about rates average, but Blade Runner and The Hitcher seem a million miles away now. 5/10

DEADLOCK (1992 - MADE FOR CABLE TV) **1/2 Rutger Hauer, Mimi Rogers, Joan Chen, James Remar, Stephen Tobolosky.Pretty good futuristic action/crime story with prisoners (Hauer and Rogers, make a fine couple) fitted with collars that can cause their heads to be blown off (a la Schwarzenegger's "The Running Man") as they pursue their double-partners in crime. Best scene : after days of solitude the greedy warden, wanting to know where Hauer has hidden some stolen loot, opens a door where Hauser - up to his neck in water - tells him: "North Pole...ask for Santa" and laughs maniacally.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I thought it was a clever premise with interesting, off-beat characters. An "A" B-movie. The pacing is relentless; the action set-pieces are uniquely thrilling; the dialogue crisp and witty; and Richard Gibbs score is perfectly haunting. Joan Chen is a great villainess and has all the best lines. All in all: a small gem, a rousing thrill-ride with lots of surprises.