Blast (1997)

Blast (1997) is the kind of lean, scrappy ’90s action thriller that thrives on a simple, high-pressure setup: one enclosed location, a ticking-clock hostage crisis, and a regular guy forced to become the wrench in a terrorist machine. Director Albert Pyun keeps the vibe brisk and gritty, letting the swimming complex turn into a surprisingly tense arena of echoing corridors, sudden violence, and improvised heroics rather than overproduced spectacle. Linden Ashby gives the janitor-turned-survivor a grounded, blue-collar presence, while Andrew Divoff brings a cool, sharp-edged menace that makes the standoff feel personal. It’s not for viewers hunting for prestige filmmaking or deep character studies, but if you want a straightforward, R-rated “trapped in the building” action ride with a pulpy, late-night-cable energy, it delivers exactly that.

Blast (1997) is clearly aiming for a lean, Die Hard-style hostage thriller in a contained location, with Albert Pyun trying to squeeze maximum tension out of a simple setup: terrorists, a ticking-clock demand, and an everyman trapped inside. The problem is it often feels like the movie is going through the motions rather than generating real momentum, with action that can come off flat and staging that doesn’t always sell the “precision attack” premise. If you need slick choreography, sharp dialogue, or a villain plan that feels genuinely clever, this probably isn’t your swim meet. Still, if you’re in the mood for scrappy, low-budget ‘90s action with a straightforward plot and tolerable violence, it can work as undemanding background entertainment.