Cyborg (1989) – Jean-Claude Van Damme (Reel Action)

Last Updated on August 10, 2021

In 1989, Jean-Claude Van Damme was riding high off the unexpected success of Bloodsport. At the same time, The Cannon Group saw their fortunes declining fast after losing a ton of money on would-be blockbusters Lifeforce, Masters of the Universe, and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. Enter director Albert Pyun, who Cannon Films hired to direct both the hoped-for Spider-Man movie and a low-budget Masters of the Universe 2, which would have starred surfer Laird Hamilton. Eventually, Cannon decided to ditch both projects, opting to take the 2 million dollars worth of sets for Masters of the Universe 2 and return to their tried-and-true low-budget action movie formula, making a post-apocalyptic action flick.

Originally Chuck Norris was meant to star in Cyborg, but given how big Bloodsport was, the decision was made to hire the now red-hot JCVD in what would turn out to be his last film for the company. It turned out to be a fraught production, with the MPAA threatening the film with an X-rating for violence. JCVD himself apparently re-edited the film to get in an R-rating, although Pyun’s original, darker version of the film, Slinger, has since turned up in work print form via Pyun’s own official website. Whatever the case, Cyborg became a VHS favorite, especially once Van Damme’s fame skyrocketed in the early nineties. The result is one of Cannon’s last action flicks and one that still has a cult following to this day – Cyborg – and we dig into it on this latest instalment of REEL ACTION!