To survive this assassin's poison, he must keep his adrenaline pumping at all times.
In short: In the 2006 action film Crank, hitman Chev Chelios is injected with a synthetic drug that slows his heart. To stay alive, he must maintain a constant state of high adrenaline through reckless stunts, fights, and chaos while hunting down the men who poisoned him in a race against death.
Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor in their debut, Crank stars Jason Statham as Chev Chelios, an LA-based assassin. After being injected with the Beijing Cocktail—a synthetic drug designed to inhibit adrenaline and stop the heart—Chelios learns from his contact, Doc Miles, that survival requires keeping his heart rate elevated. This premise drives the film's frantic pace, as Chelios engages in reckless driving, illegal drug use, and public confrontations to stave off his own demise.
The film is notable for its production choices, opting for digital videotape over traditional 35mm film. Neveldine and Taylor operated the cameras themselves, often capturing wide shots and close-ups simultaneously to maintain the film's kinetic energy. Statham performed his own stunts, including a climactic fight sequence filmed 3,000 feet above Los Angeles. Notably, the production team claimed that no wires or CGI were used for these high-stakes scenes, relying instead on practical effects and on-location shooting.
Upon its September 1, 2006 release, Lionsgate famously chose not to screen the film for critics beforehand. While it received mixed reviews—holding a 62% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a C+ from CinemaScore audiences—it found a dedicated following among filmmakers and actors like Edgar Wright and Seth Rogen. Despite a modest $12 million production budget, the film grossed over $42 million worldwide, eventually spawning a 2009 sequel, Crank: High Voltage.
The film's marketing was equally unconventional, leveraging early YouTube partnerships and a heavy web presence to reach its audience. The DVD release featured a unique 'Crank'd Out Mode,' allowing viewers to access behind-the-scenes content without interrupting the film. This blend of aggressive style and technical innovation cemented Crank as a distinct entry in the action genre, prioritizing raw, visceral momentum over traditional narrative structure.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Crank (film)
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