Holiday Rip-Off Flix: Resurrection (1999)

There are least Se7en reasons that this Film exists.  

Today's Film is Resurrection, a 1999 Thriller in the vein of that 1990s Classic.  David Fincher is indirectly related to the look of a lot of Films post-1995.  In this case, it is a pretty direct connection.  This is basically to Se7en what Die Hard is to Action Films post-1988.  Just like how there are many Die Hard, but... Films out there- even being made to this day! -, there are quite a few 'Se7en, but... Films too.  

This one is pretty shameless.  Throw in a Music Video Director and a man who made a few odd choices in 1999 (Beowulf) and you have this Movie.  

The Director- Russell Mulcahy.  

The Star- Christopher Lambert.  It is a very Lambert Easter!  

As a bonus irony, they aped the Style of the Director of Aliens 3, while naming the Film after the subtitle from Aliens 4!  I don't think it was intentional, but I find it funny all the same.  

The Story involves a mysterious killer committing a bunch of crimes related to Jesus Christ and Easter.  I'm going to Hell for this Review, aren't I?  

As the gore escalates (apparently cut down to avoid an NC-17!) and the tension rises, can Officer Lambert save the day?  To Find out, read on...

In Chicago (actually Toronto), a mysterious murder occurs involving a rich guy found dead and missing an arm!

 I guess in this Version the Morgan Freeman part is Lambert.

Seriously, just look at some of these shots without thinking about Se7en- I dare you!

 As we later learn, the killer wrote this in Lamb's blood.  

So, while this is ominous and all, we also have to imagine him going to a Farm to buy a lamb, don't we?!?

As the victims wrack up and the limbs go missing, Lambert is super-serious, yo!

Incidentally, did they ever catch that guy from Pieces?  

It may be him!

Right out of you-know-what, they nearly catch the killer at one Scene and chase him through an alley.

Unlike that Film, one of the Cops gets shot and loses a leg!

This FBI guy seems to be trying to help, but anyone who's watched Scooby-Doo knows not to trust him!

Plus, the Actor, much like a Billy Drago or Bill Oberst Jr, seems to always play bad guys, so...

The killer tries to get personal by targeting Lambert's wife, but he ends up killing someone else.

Incidentally, we get 2 Scenes of a Priest.  

He's played by David Cronenberg, moving down in the world from running that Prison in Jason X.

Just like John Doe, they catch him.  The hook here: trying to get evidence to stick.

Sorry, but you're not quite Kevin Spacey. (2023 Update- That's kind of a compliment now)

After the killer is free again, he appears to be done with his masterpiece- a Pieces-style sculpture of Jesus.

Of course, he also somehow made the Partner's missing left leg into a right one!

Lambert eventually confronts the killer one last time (a la Last Action Hero) and has to save a baby.  Somehow John Doe's final revenge seems more dark and ironic.

Either way, he gets shot and the baby lives.  Happy Easter!

Not your usual Holiday fare!  The Film has some really good points, but so many are just straight-out lifted from Se7en.  I know I've mentioned the comparison a few dozen times, but it is hard not to.  This is by no means The Asylum's Se7en- which would probably be Ei8ht- though.  

The people involved do their parts pretty well.  The Director throws in some of his favorite camera tricks to distract you from how much this looks like Fincher.  Lambert does his usual routine here- nothing more, nothing less.  He seems to be pretty invested here and doesn't appear to be high like he was in Absolon.  The Film doesn't allow him *too* many opportunities to do his trademark smirk, but he works it in still. 

 

The Film's two roadblocks: the Religious Theme and the Gore.  

The former is laid on pretty thick, but filtered through the idea that this guy is just plain crazy too.  There is a half-hearted subplot about Lambert losing his faith, but it mostly just moves him to the next piece of evidence.  

The Gore is pretty prevalent, even in her Version- which is apparently shorter.  If you don't like the stuff, you will have some hard times with this Film.  To be fair, it isn't played off as commonplace by the Characters, so it does have dramatic impact.  

Resurrection is a pretty blatant Se7en knock-off, but it's still alright.  It just isn't mind-blowing though...

Considering it is a copy of a more famous Film, the Movie still does alright.  It is about as subtle as, well, a sculpture of Jesus made out of body parts though.