FUGITIVE MIND. B-grade science fiction, but with decent action

I lost faith in director Fred Olen Ray a long time ago. The Bikini series, Rattlesnakes, Erotic Car Wash, and many, many other films are weak productions, even when viewed as lighthearted cinematic experiments. Ironically, Olen Ray is an incredibly prolific director—he shoots quickly and often, never stepping beyond the boundaries of B-movies. However, once in a while, something decent comes out, and Fugitive Mind — though cheaply made — is still worth some attention. Not because of any unique artistic value, but for its pure entertainment factor within the realm of lower-tier action films with sci-fi elements. It’s a rather niche movie, but it stars a once-iconic actor who completely squandered his career on B-grade VHS films—Michael Dudikoff. By the late ‘90s, he could still throw a solid punch, trying to relive the glory days of American Ninja.

Unfortunately, he didn’t fully succeed. A bit of a belly and general sluggishness prevented him from recapturing his former agility. Still, Fugitive Mind gave Dudikoff plenty to do—he plays a former commando discharged for insubordination. His skills, however, prove useful to a certain group seeking political influence. Acting-wise, he does fairly well—only occasionally stiff as wood, which is already a huge success. But this film isn’t about deep dramatic moments; it’s all about the action. Aside from a drawn-out motel scene where the characters pointlessly analyze distant memories and a painfully naive moment where someone peers out a window directly at assassins waiting outside (who, as always, fail to notice anything), the action moves at a decent pace. The plot itself could even hold up in an A-list production today—with some adjustments. The beginning, where the protagonist starts having nightmares, only to discover that his wife isn’t his wife and that he himself is someone completely different, has echoes of Total Recall. However, at its core, the film revolves around genetic experiments conducted by a sinister medical corporation attempting to clone humans, effectively creating a mindless army programmed to commit crimes. There’s also the usual political backdrop, featuring a power-hungry senator as the central figure. It’s all very American, and for hardcore sci-fi fans, likely dull and insignificant. They would probably prefer less political action and crime intrigue and more exploration of how memory implantation, personality replacement, and even memory transfers work.

But there’s no room for deeper sci-fi elements here. Instead, the futuristic aspects have a retro feel. Budget constraints likely played a role—there are practically no special effects, despite this being the late ‘90s, when digital enhancements were possible. They didn’t even attempt a visual representation of memory replacement. The lab’s design is outdated, straight out of a low-budget medical horror film. The equipment looks grimy, the monitors seem like they’re from the ‘60s, and the only modern-looking piece is the pod where “patients” are stored—futuristic enough to stand out from the rest of the set. More sensitive viewers might notice the unsettling medical specimens meant to evoke unease, but that’s about it. The rest is pure B-movie fare, though the ending does keep you watching, just to see how the assassination plot against the senator plays out. I have to admit, the screenwriters went to great lengths to construct the story without completely breaking logic. Of course, logic is bent at every turn, but in a way that doesn’t leave the audience cringing.

As is often the case in B-movies, the weakest element here is the music. It completely kills the atmosphere in many scenes—especially during fights between the protagonist and the corporate security goons, who, by the way, are so incompetent that it’s hard to believe anyone would hire them to protect a company with political ambitions. But that’s just the convention of B-action films. The hero must be unquestionably good, surrounded by antagonists who are supposedly brilliant but are, in reality, completely oblivious to the way the world works. That way, the hero has no trouble defeating them. Unfortunately, Fugitive Mind also falls into the classic B-movie trap where an incredibly complex process—like implanting a new identity in a laboratory setting—can be undone by a dramatic declaration of love. In this case, a simple “I love you” from the protagonist’s beloved magically breaks all scientific barriers, like an ancient spell.

I’ll overlook that flaw, though, because the journey to the finale is genuinely engaging—provided you accept that you won’t see anything that strays from the usual B-movie action formula.