К 20-летию фильма «Crank»: почему безумный триллер Джона Стэтхэма остается культовым шедевром

Some films are released and change the course of cinema forever, the absolute pinnacle of film-making. Crank was not one of them. However, the 2006 thriller remains a bona fide contender for the title of most ridiculous film ever committed to the big screen and, as such, in its 20th-anniversary year, warrants an immediate rewatch. As a little memory-jogger, we’ve got Jason Statham doing his best Jason Statham as hitman Chev Chelios, as he so delightfully introduces himself in the trailer. He’s an assassin whose rivals have injected him with a drug that will kill him if his adrenaline drops too low. When he wakes up and discovers what’s happened, he sets off on a non-stop mission to keep his cortisol levels jacked by any means necessary. It’s like Speed, but the bus is Chev’s body and the bomb is his heart. The next 90-odd minutes see Chev putting himself in a series of increasingly wild and bizarre situations to keep the high-octane vibes pumping. There’s hoofing up a load of drugs and downing energy drinks, obviously. But how boring! Next up: deliberately driving recklessly around LA; provoking strangers into rumbles; shagging his girlfriend Eve (Amy Smart) in public in Chinatown while screaming, “I’m alive, motherfuckers!”; jumping out of a helicopter; and running into a hospital to demand that a doctor “juice” him with a defibrillator. Evidently, no idea was a bad idea in the writers’ room. Here’s looking at you, creators Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. As one commentator noted on YouTube: “This is the closest we’ll ever get to having a Grand Theft Auto movie.” Therein lies its success: this is the GTA film that never was. No other production could feasibly string together a plot built on a succession of brutal, random acts of violence, meted out for no discernible reason. Crank made it happen, and dialled up the chaos as it went. Would it get made today? Absolutely not. Is it a problematic watch in 2026? Yes, sir! But as a project that appears to have benefited from a “perfect, no notes!” mentality from on high, the creative licence it was given is… impressive, if nothing else. Crank should be remembered as one of the most batshit films of all time. Nothing else has come remotely close in 20 years, and for that it should be celebrated. What to Read Next What does Statham think about Crank now? Speaking to Collider in 2011 about filming Crank and its 2009 follow-up, Crank 2: High Voltage, Statham said: “It was absolutely nuts, which reflects exactly who those two [directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor] are. Whether we’ll do another one… Who knows? Working with those guys is not like working with anybody else. They are absolutely mad as hatters.” Are there any other Crank apologists in Hollywood? Now you mention it, yes. It’s become something of a cult hit among people in the industry, including Seth Rogen, Rupert Grint, Simon Pegg, James McAvoy and Edgar Wright. You could argue that its sheer wildness simply made it the first film to spring to mind when Den of Geek polled a load of actors and directors on their favourite Jason Statham film. But that does Crank a disservice: this is the quintessential Jason Statham movie, and you know it. Where can I rewatch the madness? Crank is available to rent now on Apple TV and Prime Video.