Freejack (1992) – Nostalgia Central

Loosely based on the 1959 novel Immortality, Inc. by Robert Sheckley, this dystopian science fiction action film stars Emilio Estevez as Formula One racing driver Alex Furlong, who is snatched a split-second before a fatal crash in 1991 and transported through time to a bleak future New York City.

Decades of extreme environmental pollution have left most citizens’ bodies ruined, but the ultra-wealthy now achieve immortality through mind transplantation, employing mercenary time-travellers called “bonejackers” to kidnap healthy people from the past right before they die.

Furlong’s body has been bought by dying billionaire tycoon Ian McCandless (Anthony Hopkins, phoning in his performance), but Alex manages to break free from his captors before his mind is erased and becomes a “freejack” – a fugitive with no legal rights whose body is considered stolen corporate property.

He is pursued by ruthless mercenary bounty hunter Victor Vacendak (played by Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones).

Desperate for help, Alex tracks down his former fiancée, Julie Redlund (Rene Russo), but while the crash happened minutes ago for Alex, 18 years have passed for Julie, and she has rebuilt her life and is now a powerful, hardened corporate attorney working for McCandless Corporation, the all-powerful mega-conglomerate that rules the city.

Initially shocked and sceptical, Julie realises it is truly Alex and agrees to hide him from Vacendak’s heavily armed tactical teams.

Meanwhile, a corrupt corporate executive named Mark Michelette (Jonathan Banks) seeks to take over the McCandless Corporation and actively sabotages McCandless’s plans, hoping Alex will be killed so McCandless’s consciousness – temporarily housed inside a digital mainframe called the “Switchboard – will permanently fade away.

Alex is eventually captured by Vacendak and strapped back into the machine alongside McCandless’s digital consciousness to finalise the body transplant.

The transfer completes, and the body wakes up. McCandless (now acting through Alex’s body) tricks Michelette into confessing to corporate treason and assassination attempts. Security forces promptly execute Michelette.

Once safe, “McCandless” smiles at Julie and Vacendak, revealing that the transfer actually failed. Alex is still completely in control of his own mind, and McCandless’s digital consciousness has dissolved forever.

Having grown to respect Alex’s resilience and survival skills during the chase, Vacendak decides to protect the secret. He validates Alex’s identity as the corporate billionaire, allowing Alex and Julie to drive away together into a new life of wealth and safety.

This movie could have benefited from the casting of an action star like Van Damme or Sly. Never has a professional actor looked as uninterested in a role as Estevez does here.

The film was a major commercial failure, grossing roughly $17 million domestically against an estimated $30 million budget. It also received overwhelmingly negative reviews, with critics lambasting its cheesy dialogue, dated practical special effects, and underutilised premise.

Anthony Hopkins subsequently referred to it as “a terrible film”, and Mick Jagger publicly expressed regret over taking the part.

Alex Furlong
Emilio Estevez
Victor Vacendak
Mick Jagger
Julie Redlund
Rene Russo
Ian McCandless
Anthony Hopkins
Mark Michelette
Jonathan Banks
Brad Carter
David Johansen
Nun
Amanda Plummer
Boone
Grand L. Bush
Eagle Man
Frankie Faison
Morgan
John Shea
Ripper
Esai Morales
Earnhart
Wilbur Fitzgerald

Director
Geoff Murphy