VFX artists tear apart scenes fromTorque, an infamousFast & Furiousmotorcycle ripoff. Directed by Joseph Kahn,Torquetells the story of Ford (Martin Henderson), a biker who returns from Thailand to find himself the target of two dangerous street gangs. The film, which was written by Matt Johnson and also stars Ice Cube, Monet Mazur, Dane Cook, and Max Beesley, came out three years afterThe Fast and the Furious(2001), and was clearly heavily inspired by the film in terms of its characters, storylines, and over-the-top action sequences.
Looking next at a key bike racing/ fight scene as two characters race through a city, seemingly at supersonic speeds, co-host Sam Gorski remarks “This part is very crazy,” with Allen, bewildered, asking, “What am I even watching?” As for how most of the sequence was captured, Gorski sums up the filmmaking methods by saying: “Obviously, they’re doing a ton of green screens, a lot of 3D models, and that’s basically about it.”
What Torque’s Ridiculousness Meant For The Film
The Fast & Furious Knock-Off Wasn’t A Success
The Fast and the Furiouswould end up spawning a successful franchise that continues to this day, withFast & Furious 11now in the works.Torque, however, wouldn’t end up experiencing this same level of success. The action flick currently sports a lackluster 22% onRotten Tomatoes, with the audience score an improvement – though still disappointing – at 41%.The film was largely criticized for its sheer absurdity and lack of any strong storytellingor characters.
This 20-Year-Old Movie With 22% On Rotten Tomatoes Was Supposed To Be Fast & Furious For Motorcycles
Torque was supposed to be Fast & Furious for motorcycles but was let down by its box office and Rotten Tomatoes rating due to studio disagreements.
The over-the-top action sequences didn’t help to saveTorqueat the box office either. Made on an estimated budget of $40 million,the film ended up grossing only $46.5 million at the worldwide box office, making it a failure. Using the standard Hollywood rule of thumb, the movie could have been looking at a break-even point as high as $100 million, a goal it clearly fell far short of. With such a poor result, no sequel was put into the works.
Kahn was and continues to be a prominent music video director and has directed videos for figures like Backstreet Boys, Kelly Clarkson, Blink 182, Britney Spears, and Taylor Swift.
Our Take On Torque
Why Fast & Furious Succeeded Where Torque Failed
Torqueand the earlierFast & Furiousmoviesdo have a lot in common stylistically, and both are bold, loud, and kind of silly. While the latter franchise does arguably feature more compelling and coherent action sequences, which gives it an edge, it’s not the action alone that helped it succeed overTorque.
22%
41%
41/100
4.8/10
$46.5 million
One key reason whyFast & Furioushas become a massive franchise is because of its memorable characters, which include the likes ofDom (Vin Diesel), Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), and Brian (Paul Walker). These characters and others, and the actors who portrayed them, are the backbone of the franchise, and the movies know this, featuring a sense of sentimentality and earnestness that, though often mocked, helps to differentiateFast & Furiousfrom other forgettable action fare likeTorque.
Torque
Cast
Torque is a high-octane action film directed by Joseph Kahn, which centers around the thrilling world of motorcycle gangs. The story follows Cary Ford, who returns to his hometown to reunite with his girlfriend but finds himself framed by an old rival and biker gang leader for a murder he didn’t commit. With the FBI and rival bikers on his tail, Ford must clear his name and outrun his enemies in adrenaline-pumping chases. The film is a fast-paced ride that showcases spectacular bike stunts and race sequences, capturing the fierce culture of underground bike gangs.
