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Chain Reaction
Chain Reaction
1996 ·107 min ·United States of America ·PG-13 18+
5.2
IMDb 5.7 КП 6.3 RT 18% MC 43
Thriller, Action, Science Fiction
Director: Andrew Davis
Trailers Chain Reaction
Trailer EN
Trailer EN

At the University of Chicago, a research team that includes brilliant student machinist Eddie Kasalivich experiences a breakthrough: a stable form of fusion that may lead to a waste-free energy source. However, a private company wants to exploit the technology, so Kasalivich and physicist Dr. Lily Sinclair are framed for murder, and the fusion device is stolen. On the run from the FBI, they must recover the technology and exonerate themselves.

Budget: $50M
US Gross: $21.23M
Worldwide: $60.21M
Keanu Reeves
Actor
Morgan Freeman
Actor
Rachel Weisz
Actor
🎬 Razzie Awards 1997 — Worst Actor

Chain Reaction is generally regarded as an unremarkable, formulaic thriller that relies heavily on the tropes established by director Andrew Davis’s previous hit, The Fugitive. While some viewers appreciate its competent cinematography, stunt work, and eco-thriller premise, others find the film sluggish, underwritten, and ultimately inferior to superior genre efforts.

Originality The film functions as a redundant imitation of The Fugitive, recycling its structure and themes to diminishing returns.
Production The production features high-quality technical elements, specifically effective location shooting and memorable set pieces like the bridge and frozen-lake sequences.
Acting The acting is polarized, with some critics viewing the cast as wasted in hollow roles, while others find the ensemble performance by Reeves, Freeman, and Weisz to be a solid anchor for the plot.
Pacing The pacing is a point of contention; some find the thriller momentum effective and suspenseful, while others describe it as tedious, sluggish, and lacking in necessary tension.
Screenplay The script is widely criticized for being filled with thin character development and unnecessary dialogue that fails to elevate the simple, derivative plot.
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