Welcome to Sudden Death

{{Infobox film

| name = Welcome to Sudden Death

| image = File:Welcome_to_Sudden_Death_key_art.jpg

| caption =

| director = Dallas Jackson

| producer = Griff Furst
Rhonda Baker

| screenplay = Dallas Jackson and Gene Quintano

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Howard Drossin

| cinematography = Mark Irwin

| editing = Eric Potter
Irit Raz

| studio = SD2 Films
Universal 1440 Entertainment

| distributor = Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

| released = {{Film date|2020|09|29}}

| runtime = 81 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Welcome to Sudden Death is a 2020 American sports action film directed by Dallas Jackson and starring Michael Jai White, Gary Owen, Michael Eklund and Marrese Crump.{{cite web | url =https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10804786/fullcredits/ | title =Welcome to Sudden Death: Full Cast & Crew | author = | work =Internet Movie Database | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =6 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221106162937/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10804786/fullcredits/ | url-status =live }}

It is a remake{{cite web | url =https://www.forbes.com/sites/russespinoza/2019/08/21/sudden-death-remake-coming-to-netflix-in-2020-with-new-spin/?sh=38daf4e28fa9 | title =Sudden Death Remake Coming To Netflix In 2020 With 'New Spin' | last =Espinoza | first =Russ | date =21 August 2019 | website =forbes.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =5 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221105175341/https://www.forbes.com/sites/russespinoza/2019/08/21/sudden-death-remake-coming-to-netflix-in-2020-with-new-spin/?sh=38daf4e28fa9 | url-status =live }} of the 1995 film Sudden Death, which starred Jean-Claude Van Damme as a former firefighter battling hostage takers during game seven of the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Finals.{{cite web | url =https://trailersfromhell.com/sudden-death/ | title =Sudden Death | last =Kirschenbaum | first =Alex | date =22 December 2020 | website =trailersfromhell.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =6 July 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220706062901/https://trailersfromhell.com/sudden-death/ | url-status =live }} Like the original, Welcome to Sudden Death is a single-location action film in the mold of Die Hard, with the conceit that the heist storyline runs parallel to, and sometimes intersects with, a sports contest. The new version transfers the action from an ice hockey to a basketball setting, and trims down the sports subplot significantly.{{cite web | url =https://outlawvern.com/2020/10/12/welcome-to-sudden-death/ | title =Welcome to Sudden Death | author =Vern | date =12 October 2020 | website =outlawvern.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =9 August 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220809194518/https://outlawvern.com/2020/10/12/welcome-to-sudden-death/ | url-status =live }}

The film was produced by Universal Studios under their Universal 1440 imprint, in partnership with Netflix.{{cite web | url =https://rogersmovienation.com/2020/10/03/netflixable-michael-jai-white-tries-to-save-an-arena-full-of-victims-in-welcome-to-sudden-death/ | title =Netflixable? Michael Jai White tries to save an arena full of victims in Welcome to Sudden Death | last =Moore | first =Roger | date =3 October 2020 | website =rogersmovienation.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =6 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221106165510/https://rogersmovienation.com/2020/10/03/netflixable-michael-jai-white-tries-to-save-an-arena-full-of-victims-in-welcome-to-sudden-death/ | url-status =live }} It premiered on 29 September 2020.{{cite web | url =https://action-flix.com/2020/07/30/michael-jai-white-drops-the-hammer-in-welcome-to-sudden-death-hitting-netflix-in-september/ | title =Michael Jai White Drops the Hammer in Welcome to Sudden Death Hitting Netflix, DVD & Digital in September! | last =Jerva | first =John M. | date =30 July 2020 | website =action-flix.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =1 October 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221001051647/https://action-flix.com/2020/07/30/michael-jai-white-drops-the-hammer-in-welcome-to-sudden-death-hitting-netflix-in-september/ | url-status =live }}

Plot

A commando unit led by Alpha (Michael Eklund) and his ruthless right-hand man Omega (Marrese Crump) takes control of a Phoenix, Arizona sports arena during the season opener of the fictional National Basketball League, pitting the hometown Falcons against the New York Knights. Alpha is a disgraced counterterrorist with a grudge towards arena owner and new media billionaire Diana Smart (Sabryn Rock), who funded an investigation into his unit's abuses of power.{{cite web | url =https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/welcome-to-sudden-death-movie-review-jai-hard.html/ | title =Welcome to Sudden Death Movie Review: Jai Hard | last =Topel | first =Fred | date =29 September 2020 | work =Showbiz CheatSheet | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =16 July 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220716125324/https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/welcome-to-sudden-death-movie-review-jai-hard.html/ | url-status =live }} Security guard and former US Army Special Forces veteran Jesse Freeman (Michael Jai White) teams with the arena's janitor Gus (Gary Owen) in an attempt to stop the assailants and rescue his daughter Mara (Nakai Takawira), who has been taken hostage alongside Smart and her entourage.

Cast

Michael Jai White as Jesse Freeman
Gary Owen as Gus
Michael Eklund as Jobe Davis/Alpha
Marrese Crump as Omega
Sabryn Rock as Diana Smart
Anthony Grant as Milli
Nakai Takawira as Mara Freeman
Lyric Justice as Ryan Freeman
Anthony "Mif" Mifsud as Devlin Montez
Gillian White as Gamma
Sagine Sémajuste as Alisha Freeman

Kristen Harris and Paul Essiembre appear as the mayor and governor, respectively. Sean Skene, Stephanie Sy, Jeff Strome, B.J. Verot and Adam Hurtig appear as the remaining members of Alpha's commando.

Production

=Development=

Following informal mentions of the impending remake by director Dallas Jackson, including in a June 2019 interview with the Los Angeles Sentinel,{{cite web | url =https://lasentinel.net/a-look-into-the-creative-mind-of-writer-director-producer-dallas-jackson-2.html | title =A look into the creative mind of writer-director-producer Dallas Jackson | last =Sandoval | first =Lopacazo | date =20 June 2019 | work =Los Angeles Sentinel | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =10 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221110175226/https://lasentinel.net/a-look-into-the-creative-mind-of-writer-director-producer-dallas-jackson-2.html | url-status =live }} Netflix officially announced the project in August of that year, promising a humorous take on its 1995 inspiration. Kim Todd was listed as one of the producers, however Rhonda Baker is credited in the finished film.{{cite web | url =https://moviehole.net/white-crump-owen-star-in-sudden-death-2/ | title =White, Crump, Owen star in Sudden Death 2 | last =Lowery | first =Mike | date =2019 | website =moviehole.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =10 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221110164805/https://moviehole.net/white-crump-owen-star-in-sudden-death-2/ | url-status =live }}

A new sidekick character, Gus, was added to the story by Jackson. The role was given to comedian Gary Owen, who had previously supported Michael Jai White in Universal's Undercover Brother 2. White recommended Michael Eklund for the role of main villain Alpha, based on his performance in 2011's Tactical Force, which co-starred himself and Steve Austin.{{cite web | url =https://comicbookmovie.com/action/welcome-to-sudden-death-exclusive-michael-eklund-praises-co-star-michael-jai-white-as-a-martial-arts-master-a182105 | title =Michael Eklund Praises Co-Star Michael Jai White As A 'Martial Arts Master' | author = | date =31 January 2021 | website =comicbookmovie.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =9 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221109162424/https://comicbookmovie.com/action/welcome-to-sudden-death-exclusive-michael-eklund-praises-co-star-michael-jai-white-as-a-martial-arts-master-a182105 | url-status =live }} The star's spouse and frequent on-screen partner Gillian White also joined the project, as did his go-to fight choreographer Larnell Stovall.

Several contributors to the picture, such as Jackson,{{cite web | url =https://movieweb.com/ghost-dog-2-tv-show-rza-forest-whitaker-jim-jarmusch/ | title =Ghost Dog 2 Happening with RZA, Forest Whitaker & Jim Jarmusch | last =Orange | first =B. Alan | date =21 November 2017 | website =movieweb.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =8 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221108162021/https://movieweb.com/ghost-dog-2-tv-show-rza-forest-whitaker-jim-jarmusch/ | url-status =live }} Crump and musician Howard Drossin,{{cite web | url =https://filmmusicreporter.com/2020/09/28/welcome-to-sudden-death-soundtrack-released/ | title =Welcome to Sudden Death Soundtrack Released | author = | date =28 September 2020 | website =filmmusicreporter.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =8 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221108162919/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2020/09/28/welcome-to-sudden-death-soundtrack-released/ | url-status =live }} are part of Robert "RZA" Diggs' extended artistic circle, and Diggs' record company provided most of the songs heard on its soundtrack.{{cite web | url =https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10804786/soundtrack?ref_=tt_ql_sm | title =Welcome to Sudden Death: Soundtracks | author = | website =imdb.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =8 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221108162432/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10804786/soundtrack?ref_=tt_ql_sm | url-status =live }}

Irit Raz, an Undisputed franchise alumn with some familiarity for Stovall and White's style, was the original choice to edit the film.{{Citation | title=Welcome to Sudden Death (pre-release poster) | url=https://imdb.com/name/nm1638316/mediaviewer/rm2497630721 | type=film poster | publisher=Netflix | quote=Edited by Irit Raz | access-date=2022-11-20 | archive-date=2023-10-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018222346/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1638316/mediaviewer/rm2497630721 | url-status=live }} Eric Potter was later brought in at Universal's behest. This resulted in some interference with White's vision, as the studio-appointed editor relied on an abundance of quick cuts, which are often used to enhance the performances of non-martial artists in mainstream action cinema.{{cite serial |title=Michael Jai White Interview on Blood and Bone 2, Welcome to Sudden Death and Jaigantic Studios! |series=Viking Samurai |last1=Kurzhal |first1=David (host) |last2=White |first2=Michael Jai (guest) |author-link2=Michael Jai White |date=6 February 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxKBS2idmHw |access-date=11 November 2022 |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111132131/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxKBS2idmHw&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}

Welcome to Sudden Death was originally slated for a June 2020 release, then delayed to late September of that year.

=Filming=

Welcome to Sudden Death was shot in Winnipeg and Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada.{{cite web | url =http://madlibcasting.com/projects | title =Welcome to Sudden Death – SD2 Films Inc. | author = | website =madlibcasting.com | publisher =MadLib Casting & Film Services | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =22 October 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221022163625/http://madlibcasting.com/projects | url-status =live }} Principal photography was scheduled to begin on 6 August and wrap up on 4 September 2019. Cinematography was handled by Canadian Mark Irwin, who earlier in his career lensed another film in the same genre, Passenger 57.{{cite web | url =https://www.allmovie.com/artist/mark-irwin-p95522 | title =Mark Irwin | author = | website =allmovie.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =10 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221110193927/https://www.allmovie.com/artist/mark-irwin-p95522 | url-status =live }}

The film used Winnipeg's Bell MTS Place as stand-in for Phoenix's fictional Odyssey Center. Some backgrounds hint at the film's actual shooting location, such as a food stand named the Aviators' Grill—after the Winnipeg Jets—and selling poutine, a traditional Canadian dish that is seldom offered in basketball arenas of the Southwestern United States.{{cite web | url =https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-welcome-to-sudden-death-filmed/ | title =Where Was Welcome to Sudden Death Filmed? | last =Malhotra | first =Noor | date =3 August 2022 | website =thecinemaholic.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =19 September 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220919110407/https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-welcome-to-sudden-death-filmed/ | url-status =live }}

The production relied on local talent for its basketball sequences. Fort Richmond's Dan Becker, a former NCAA player with the Colorado Buffaloes, appears as the New York Knights' head coach and helped stage the on-court action. He previously served as an actor and consultant for the ESPN college basketball drama A Season on the Brink: The Bobby Knight Story, which was also shot in Winnipeg.{{cite web | url =http://www.espn.com/seasonbrink/dan_Becker.html | title =A Season on the Brink: Dan Becker (Dan Dakich) | author = | website =espn.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =6 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221106191154/http://www.espn.com/seasonbrink/dan_Becker.html | url-status =live }}

Release

In the United States, Welcome to Sudden Death premiered on 29 September 2020 on DVD, and on VOD via Netflix and FandangoNow.{{cite web | url =https://www.indiewire.com/2020/10/ava-top-vod-thriller-alone-1234590623/ | title =Ava Takes Over as the Top VOD Choice, with Thriller Alone Still Strong | last1 =Brueggemann | first1 =Tom | date =5 October 2020 | website =indiewire.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =18 October 2020 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20201018131752/https://www.indiewire.com/2020/10/ava-top-vod-thriller-alone-1234590623/ | url-status =live }}

On Netflix, the film peaked at number 4 among feature films during the weekend following its release.{{cite web | url =https://www.the-numbers.com/home-market/netflix-daily-chart/2020/10/02 | title =Netflix Top 10 in the United States for October 3, 2020 | author = | date =3 October 2020 | website =the-numbers.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =26 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221126143619/https://www.the-numbers.com/home-market/netflix-daily-chart/2020/10/02 | url-status =live }} On FandangoNow, which operates on a pay-per-view model and ranks programs by revenue, the film was priced at the standard $5.99 and ranked 7th for the week ending 4 October 2020.

Flix-Patrol.com, which uses a proprietary point system, ranked Welcome to Sudden Death as the 18th most popular feature film on Netflix USA for the month of October 2020.{{cite web | url =https://flixpatrol.com/top10/netflix/united-states/2020-10/full/#netflix-1 | title =Top Movies on Netflix in October 2020 | author = | website =flixpatrol.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =6 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221106141544/https://flixpatrol.com/top10/netflix/united-states/2020-10/full/#netflix-1 | url-status =live }}

In the UK, the film premiered on Sky Cinema/Now TV on 13 March 2021.{{cite web |url =https://www.avforums.com/news/what-s-new-on-sky-and-now-tv-uk-for-march-2021.18462/ |title =What's new on Sky and Now TV UK for March 2021 |last1 =Bassett |first1 =Andy |date =17 February 2021 |website =avforums.com |access-date =6 September 2022 |archive-date =30 December 2022 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221230175715/https://www.avforums.com/news/what-s-new-on-sky-and-now-tv-uk-for-march-2021.18462/ |url-status =live }} The physical version followed on 22 March,{{cite web | url =https://filmcombatsyndicate.com/welcome-to-sudden-death-heads-to-the-uk-on-dvd-from-dazzler/ | title =Welcome to Sudden Death Heads to the UK on DVD from Dazzler | last1 =Golden | first1 =Lee | date =4 February 2021 | website =filmcombatsyndicate.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =3 July 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220703121104/https://filmcombatsyndicate.com/welcome-to-sudden-death-heads-to-the-uk-on-dvd-from-dazzler/ | url-status =live }} and reached 11th place in the national DVD sales chart.{{cite web | url =https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/dvd-chart/20210328/141/ | title =Official DVD Chart Top 100 (28 March 2021 – 3 April 2021) | author = | website =officialcharts.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =30 December 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221230175715/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/dvd-chart/20210328/141/ | url-status =live }}

Reception

The film's critical reception was generally unfavorable,{{cite web | url =https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/welcome_to_sudden_death | title =Welcome to Sudden Death | author = | website =Rotten Tomatoes | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =22 September 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220922061632/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/welcome_to_sudden_death | url-status =live }} with most reviewers bemoaning its generic look and sound.{{cite web | url =https://www.nerdly.co.uk/2020/12/16/welcome-to-sudden-death-vod-review/ | title =Welcome to Sudden Death VOD Review | last =Wheat | first =Phil | date =16 December 2020 | website =nerdly.co.uk | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =6 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221106212842/https://www.nerdly.co.uk/2020/12/16/welcome-to-sudden-death-vod-review/ | url-status =live }}{{cite web | url =https://theactionelite.com/welcome-to-sudden-death-2020-review/ | title =Welcome to Sudden Death (2020) Review | last =Friel | first =Eoin | website =theactionelite.com | date =29 September 2020 | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =4 October 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221004195523/https://theactionelite.com/welcome-to-sudden-death-2020-review/ | url-status =live }} Some felt that the sports/crime crossover was not as smoothly executed as in the original, in part due to some narrative twists, such as the titular sudden death, not translating well to professional basketball.{{cite web | url =https://www.bulletproofaction.com/2020/09/30/bullet-points-welcome-to-sudden-death/ | title =Bullet Points: Welcome to Sudden Death | last =Cruise | first =Chad | date =30 September 2020 | website =bulletproofaction.com | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =8 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221108190735/https://www.bulletproofaction.com/2020/09/30/bullet-points-welcome-to-sudden-death/ | url-status =live }}{{cite web | url =https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/welcome-to-sudden-death | title =Welcome to Sudden Death | last =Costello | first =Brian | website =commonsensemedia.org | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =6 November 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221106171011/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/welcome-to-sudden-death | url-status =live }}
Opinions were divided on the film's humor, and most praise was directed at its dynamic martial arts sequences, which made good use of White and Crump's natural charisma.

Veteran critic Roger Moore summed up his thoughts by stating, "This slow-footed, jokey, half-assed remake of Jean-Claude Van Damme's Sudden Death is better than it has any right to be, mostly thanks to White. That's still not very good, alas."

{{Infobox album

| name = Welcome to Sudden Death: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

| type = soundtrack

| artist = various artists

| cover =

| released = {{Start date|2020|9|25}}

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| length = 38:46

| label = Back Lot Records

| misc = {{Singles

| type = soundtrack

| single1 = Action Jaxon

| single1date = 28 August 2020

| single2 = Hands Up (Outlaws)

| single2date = 18 September 2020

}}

Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack album has been released digitally by Back Lot Records, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal that has issued soundtracks for many of their properties. It was preceded by two digital singles.{{cite web | url =https://www.soundtrack.net/album/welcome-to-sudden-death/ | title =Welcome to Sudden Death (Back Lot Music) | author = | date =25 September 2020 | website =soundtrack.net | access-date =6 September 2022 | archive-date =6 October 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221006041603/https://www.soundtrack.net/album/welcome-to-sudden-death/ | url-status =live }} The album features two tracks from the original score by composer/arranger Howard Drossin, one song by Anthony Grant (who plays rapper Milli in the film), and a further nine songs under licence from 36 Chambers Records.

The song "How I Could Just Kill A Man" by Cypress Hill also features in one of the film's climactic scenes, although it does not appear on the soundtrack album.

{{track listing

| extra_column = Performed by

| total_length = 38:46

| title1 = Glide Like A Laker (T.R.O.N.)

| extra1 = Cory Ironside, Weather Park & Core Masson

| length1 = 4:02

| title2 = Hands Up (Outlaws)

| extra2 = Crooked I feat. Joell Ortiz

| length2 = 3:08

| title3 = Wu Battle Beat

| extra3 = Hue Hef

| length3 = 3:29