Jean-Claude Van Damme, in a change-of-pace role, plays an escaped convict who comes to the rescue of widow Rosanna Arquette and her two children when a ruthless contractor attempts to take over their land. There's action scenes aplenty, along with a surprising romantic angle. Kieran Culkin, Ted Levine, and Joss Ackland co-star. 94 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital stereo, French Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English, French; theatrical trailers.

Poor Rosanna Arquette ended up in this Van Damme potboiler about an escaped convict who moves onto the farm of a widow (Arquette) and her two kids. Stuff happens: a cop who likes her gets jealous and beats up the Muscles from Brussels (but only after handcuffing him), there's a fire in the barn, bad guys are trying to drive her away, etc. The story was first developed by screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (Basic Instinct) and the late director Richard Marquand (Eye of the Needle). Eszterhas wrote the script, but who knows what direction this story was originally going? Van Damme's best film is still Timecop, and this is a long way from the quality of that. --Tom Keogh