Saban Film’s Black Water marks the fifth time that Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren have shared the screen for an action-packed outing. Wheeler (Van Damme) is a deep cover operative who has been double crossed and detained in a government run black ops submarine that doesn’t exist on paper. Someone has it out for Wheeler and the information that he has knowledge of, and they will stop at nothing to get it. With very few resources available, Wheeler hopes to rely on some unlikely resources, including a fellow detainee (Dolph Lundgren), if he is to live another day. His only hope is to figure out this puzzle of treachery while bringing to justice those that have wronged him.

Black Water is your typical “espionage with a twist” film where nothing is what it seems. First-time director Pasha Patriki has spent the better part of his almost-two decade career as a cinematographer but has now been elevated to the one calling the shots. Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren have been around long enough to where they don’t need hand holding. They may need stunt doubles more readily available at this point in their careers, but they can each still bring a little pizazz to the screen. Joining them are Patrick Kilpatrick, Courtney B Turk, Jasmine Waltz, Al Sapienza and JCVD’s son, Kris Van Damme.

The plot is passable and has just enough going for it that audiences won’t be completely put off. There are some plot holes but that’s to be expected. The action is okay in a second-tier sort of way. There is no mistaking Black Water for a big budget theatrical release. Still though, what is being done does contain some entertainment value. Jean-Claude Van Damme is, as expected, the best part of this film. Everyone else just along for the ride.

Jean-Claude Van Damme has clearly passed his prime in the quality of films he’s been invited to participate as well as his physical prowess. That being said, I’m sure he could still kick most of our asses on any given day so I’m going to dwell on that fact. As for his less-than-A-list roles he’s been accustomed to taking over the last couple of decades, well at least keeping himself in the public’s eye. Black Water is to be taken with a grain of salt and graded on the “direct to video” curve. There’s no way anyone should expect top-notch acting, action or plot. This latest work falls well within the aforementioned parameters, and justly deserves its middle of the road marks. You can check this one out in a very limited theatrical release, the AMC Star Gratiot 15 in the Metro Detroit area, and also On Demand.