Chuck Russellis one of Hollywood’s great underutilized directors. However, that could perhaps change with 2024’sWitchboard, a remake of the 1986 horror film of the same name. It would make sense, considering Russell’s best films have thus far been mostly of the scary genre, with one of them even standing as a top-tier remake to this day.
Russell has directed a total of eight films (Nine includingJunglee, his Indian Hindi-language debut) and they’re of very mixed quality. But even his worst show a proficiency behind the camera that few others possess, not to mention an expert-level attention to pacing. These are Chuck Russell’s eight English language films, ranked.
8Paradise City (2022)
While not one ofBruce Willis' best moviesnor one of John Travolta’s,Paradise Citystill has the curiosity factor of aPulp Fictionreunion working or it. ButParadise Cityis noPulp Fiction, consistently earning its titles “Direct-to-video” and “Straight-to-streaming.” Willis only made three films afterParadise City(Detective Knight: Demption,Detective Knight: Independence, andAssassin) before retiring, and like many of his final films it pales in comparison to his studio projects, and it’s sad not even Russell could find a way to send the legend out on a high note.
To be fair, there are much worse movies that have gone to VOD, some includingParadise City’s two big name stars. The cast all take the material seriously, with Willis as gunned down bounty hunter Ian Swan, Blake Jenner as his vengeful—but estranged—son, Stephen Dorff as Swan’s ex-partner, and Travolta as the power broker likely responsible for Swan’s assumed death. The film’s problems are primarily script-based; Much of the dialogue is clunky and the pacing is all over the place, with action sequences that are well-shot but all too rare.
7The Scorpion King (2002)
One year after Stephen Sommers' blockbuster sequelThe Mummy Returnscame the somewhat inevitable prequel spinoff/star vehicle for Dwayne Johnson:The Scorpion King. In hindsight, it was smart to make Johnson’s leading man debut part of an established IP, much less one introduced as a side character the prior year. It was a role that didn’t require much of Johnson in the acting chop department which, at that point in time, was for the best. Of course, Johnson has grown significantly as an actor since 2002, and it’s hard to fault a wooden performance when the actor’s only other film swapped them out with a CGI scorpion monstrosity for much of their limited screentime.
Regardless,The Scorpion Kingshowed that Johnson was a bankable star. But, alas, it didn’t make it to the first twoMummyfilms' $400 million worldwide totals, instead ending at $180 million (still a respectable tripling of its production budget). Like the films that originated it,The Scorpion Kingis a self-aware action-adventure movie that’s just trying to let the audience have some fun. Unfortunately, it sticks the ending more likeThe Mummy ReturnsthanThe Mummy. At least it has game supporting work from Michael Clarke Duncan and Kelly Hu.
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6Bless the Child (2000)
Based on Cathy Cash Spellman’s 1993 novel,Bless the Childfeatures Kim Basinger as Maggie O’Connor, a woman who adopts her niece after her homeless, heroin addicted sister leaves the child at her doorstep. But soon O’Connor discovers the child has telekinetic powers, and these powers have attracted the attention of a Satanic cult.
Like Roman Polanski’sThe Ninth Gate(1999),Bless the Childis an end-of-days scenario narrative that is neither involving nor exciting. Just because William Peter Blatty’sThe Exorcisttranslated well to the cinematic format doesn’t mean every well-liked horror novel will. And watchingBless the Childwill merely make the viewer want to switch over to William Friedkin’s film. Russell’s supernatural thriller isn’t quite as poor as its 3% Rotten Tomatoes score might denote, and it has some committed work from Basinger, Christina Ricci, Rufus Sewell, and Ian Holm, but it shows none of the flair for pacing or compelling visuals seen in Russell’s better films.
5I Am Wrath (2016)
I Am Wrathwas Russell’s first movie sinceThe Scorpion King, and maybe it’s the fact it initially appeared to just be one in a line of straight-to-DVD John Travolta movies, but it defies expectations nonetheless. Not enough to make it a great movie, but enough to make it a fine choice to have on in the background.
The plot isn’t anything special: Travolta plays a man whose wife is murdered in a hold-up, and he takes matters into his own hands when the law fails. So it comes down to the action sequences and the supporting cast, and it’s in these areas whereI Am Wrathdoes quite well (particularly Christopher Meloni as the Special Forces friend of Travolta’s character). It’s a film where most of its threadbare budget went to the talent, and it looks as such, but Russell, Travolta, Meloni, and crew do the best with what they’ve got.
4Eraser (1996)
One ofArnold Schwarzenegger’s last big budget star vehiclesbefore his temporary career change to politics,Eraserwas a solid if not exactly mind-blowing success at the box office. To be fair, it would be hard to become a blockbuster as an action film with a $100 million budget (in the mid ’90s, much less).
Schwarzenegger portrays John Kruger, a U.S. Marshal with WITSEC who specializes in “erasing” the witness. In other words, he fakes a death and gives them a new path forward. Now he’s in charge of protecting a woman who has some dirt on a few company executives, and considering that dirt involves them creating electromagnetic rifles, they’re pretty anxious to silence whoever carries it.Eraseris a movie that lives or dies on its action sequences, and for the most part it doesn’t even disappoint. For instance, besides the regrettableBird on a Wirewith Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn, how many actioners feature a set piece in a zoo (including alligators)?
3The Mask (1994)
If any actor ever had one really,reallysuccessful year,it’s Jim Carrey. His first year on the cinematic stage, after a few years onIn Living Color, containedAce Ventura: Pet Detective,Dumb and Dumber, and Russell’s comedic comics adaptationThe Mask. All three were major box office successes and scored (to varying degrees) solid critical marks as well. And, as far asThe Maskgoes, it wouldn’t be long before Carrey was bringing his rubber faced shtick to another comic book property: 1995’sBatman Forever.
A staple on cable channels throughout the early aughts,The Maskis about as good a showcase for Carrey’s particular talents as there can be. And with Russell’s proficiency with practical effects (which the film relies on more than CGI) the film disappoints neither as a comedy or as a wacky action film. Not to mention,The Maskwas the film to introduce audiences to Cameron Diaz, and she’s been an audience favorite ever since.
2The Blob (1988)
The Blobis Russell’s second-best film, but it’s an incredibly close second. The first two thirds of the remake are sublime, with an authentic small town vibe that quickly goes to hell. However, to an extent, the movie loses some of its focus once the shady government organization rolls up in their hazmat suits. But, even still, a dip in quality from the first two acts still results in a superb horror film all the way through.
On top of truly impressive and grotesque practical effects the movie is also bolstered by an utter lack of predictability, makingThe Blobone of the very few movies where not one character feels safe. It has just the right amount of reverence for the Steve McQueen led 1958 original, even going so far as to capture that classic’s Mayberry-like vibe. To do that after 30 years must not have been easy, but it results in a feeling of the remake being a true variation of the original, as if from a multiverse. Same small town, same characters (at least character types),wayhigher stakes.
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1A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
Whilenot quite on parwith Wes Craven’s masterful original film,A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriorscomes very close. And thanks to material like the excellent documentaryNever Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy, there are multiple sources one can utilize to learn about it. And there is a lot.
For instance, afterA Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, the franchise was in crisis, and it was essentially Russell who rescued it. There’s a reason New Line Cinema has been coined ‘The House That Freddy Built,’ andDream Warriorsalone (which grossed more than the first two movies combined) played a big part in that.Dream Warriorswas the movie where Freddy’s personality was established, and unlike most of the sequels his sadistic quips actually work this go-round.
