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Crank: High Voltage (2009) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Crank: High Voltage (2009) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2009 · 96 min · English
JustWatch #13,027 11
Directed by
Brian Taylor, Mark Neveldine
Starring
Jason Statham, Clifton Collins Jr., Amy Smart

After surviving a deadly fall, Chev is kidnapped and revived with a battery-powered heart, forcing him to fight for his survival. He must evade both the Chinese Triads and the Mexican gang boss El Huron while desperately searching for his original heartbeat. Guided by Doc Miles, aided by Venus, and with Eve at his side, Chev embarks on a relentless and electrifying quest for vengeance across Los Angeles.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Crank: High Voltage
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Crank: High Voltage (2009)

Where can you watch Crank: High Voltage? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Fawesome, Hoopla and Kanopy: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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3 main characters · contains spoilers

Crank: High Voltage Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Crank: High Voltage (2009), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Chev Chelios (Jason Statham)

    Chev Chelios is a fierce and determined protagonist, constantly battling against overwhelming odds to reclaim his life. His character is marked by audacity and resourcefulness, showcasing a relentless spirit in the face of dire circumstances. Driven by survival instincts, he navigates through chaotic environments and dangerous adversaries.

    • 🦸‍♂️ Hero
    • ⚔️ Fighter
    • 🔋 Determined
  • Eve Lydon (Amy Smart)

    Eve Lydon is Chev's adventurous ex-girlfriend who re-enters his life amidst chaos. Her character is bold and dynamic, showing growth and resilience since their last encounter. Throughout the film, she provides both a sense of connection and tension as she joins Chev on his chaotic journey.

    • ❤️ Love
    • 🌪️ Adventurous
    • 💪 Resilient
  • Ria (Bai Ling)

    Ria is a captivating yet troubled character who becomes infatuated with Chev. Her character embodies vulnerability intertwined with a fierce desire for connection. As her life intertwines with Chev's, she showcases the complexities of survival within a harsh environment.

    • 💋 Infatuation
    • 🚨 Vulnerable
    • 🔥 Complex

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:58

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Setting

Where and When Does Crank: High Voltage Take Place?

The setting of Crank: High Voltage (2009): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The movie portrays a fast-paced, modern setting filled with high stakes and immediate consequences. It unfolds in an uncertain timeframe where technology and chaos intersect, reflecting contemporary issues of survival and medical ethics.

Location

Cypress Social Club, horse racetrack, makeshift hospital

The Cypress Social Club is a seedy establishment known for its association with criminal activities and gangsters. The horse racetrack serves as a vibrant backdrop where fortunes can be made and lost, making it a hotspot for dramatic encounters. A makeshift hospital signifies a place of desperation and emergency, where Chev finds himself in a critical situation battling for his life.

  • 🏬 Club
  • 🏇 Racetrack
  • 🏥 Hospital

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:58

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3 major themes

Crank: High Voltage Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Crank: High Voltage (2009) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Survival

    Survival is the central theme as Chev battles against time and adversaries to reclaim his life. The race against the countdown of his artificial heart's battery exemplifies his struggle to live. Each encounter showcases his relentless determination and the lengths he will go to in order to survive amidst chaos.

  • Love and Betrayal

    The film highlights complex relationships, particularly Chev's with Eve, showcasing how love can be both a motivating force and a source of conflict. Their reunion is marked by tension as their past collides with the present, revealing deeper layers of betrayal and unexpected alliances amid the chaos.

  • Action

    Crank: High Voltage is laden with high-octane action and frenetic energy. The explosive confrontations and intense fight sequences reflect the constantly escalating stakes that Chev faces. This relentless pacing keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, mirroring Chev's desperate struggle for survival.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:58

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Character & theme questions

Crank: High Voltage Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Crank: High Voltage (2009): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Crank: High Voltage set?

The film takes place primarily in Los Angeles, featuring locations like the Cypress Social Club (a seedy establishment tied to criminal activities), the horse racetrack (a high-stakes gambling environment), and a makeshift hospital where Chev faces life-threatening situations.

  • los angeles
  • cypress social club
  • locations
  • setting
Q2

What time period is the movie set in?

Crank: High Voltage is set in a modern, contemporary timeframe. The story unfolds quickly with immediate consequences, reflecting current technology and the fast-paced nature of urban life.

  • modern setting
  • timeframe
  • contemporary
Q3

What is the main theme of the movie?

Survival is the central theme of Crank: High Voltage. Chev Chelios must race against the countdown of his artificial heart's battery to stay alive, with every encounter showcasing his relentless determination to reclaim his life amidst overwhelming chaos.

  • survival theme
  • heart battery
  • race against time
Q4

How does love and betrayal play into the story?

Love and betrayal is a major theme, particularly through Chev's relationship with his ex-girlfriend Eve Lydon. Their reunion is marked by tension as past conflicts collide with the present crisis, revealing deeper layers of betrayal and unexpected alliances amid the chaos.

  • eve lydon
  • love
  • betrayal
  • relationships
Q5

Who is Chev Chelios?

Chev Chelios is the protagonist of Crank: High Voltage, played by Jason Statham. He is a fierce and audacious character known for his resourcefulness and relentless spirit. After being revived with a battery-powered heart, he must fight to survive while searching for his original heartbeat.

  • chev chelios
  • jason statham
  • protagonist
Q6

Who is Eve Lydon?

Eve Lydon is Chev Chelios's ex-girlfriend, played by Amy Smart. She is a bold and dynamic character who re-enters Chev's life amidst the chaos. Throughout the film, she provides both a sense of connection and tension as she joins him on his dangerous journey.

  • eve lydon
  • amy smart
  • character role
Q7

Who is Ria and what is her role?

Ria is a troubled character portrayed by Bai Ling who becomes infatuated with Chev Chelios. Her character embodies vulnerability intertwined with a fierce desire for connection, showcasing the complexities of survival and human relationships within the film's harsh environment.

  • ria
  • bai ling
  • character role
Q8

What kind of world does the movie portray?

The film portrays a gritty, fast-paced urban world filled with criminal elements, high stakes, and immediate consequences. It features settings like underground clubs, race tracks, and improvised medical facilities, creating an environment where survival instincts constantly drive the action.

  • criminal world
  • urban setting
  • high stakes environment
Q9

Why is the movie so fast-paced?

The frantic pacing reflects Chev's desperate race against time to stay alive. With his artificial heart requiring constant recharging, the film maintains relentless momentum through continuous escapes, fights, and chases, mirroring the character's constant state of urgency and survival mode.

  • fast pacing
  • action
  • frantic energy
Q10

What genre does Crank: High Voltage belong to?

Crank: High Voltage is an action-thriller-crime film. It combines intense fight sequences, high-stakes chases, and criminal underworld elements with thriller conventions like race-against-time plotting and constant danger.

  • action
  • thriller
  • crime
  • genre

Movie threads

More Movies Like Crank: High Voltage, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Crank: High Voltage tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Frantic Race Against Time Movies Like Crank: High Voltage

High-stakes action where the protagonist's life literally depends on their speed. If you enjoyed the frantic, life-or-death energy of Crank: High Voltage, you'll find similar movies here. These films feature protagonists in a desperate, non-stop fight for survival against a literal ticking clock. They deliver fast-paced action, chaotic sequences, and a tense, high-intensity viewing experience.

  • frantic
  • desperate
  • urgent
  • chaotic
  • relentless
  • high-stakes
  • Tone: tense, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a straightforward survival mission, often triggered by a sudden, catastrophic event like a poisoning, a failing device, or a terminal diagnosis. The plot structure is a linear sequence of escalating obstacles the hero must overcome before time runs out, with minimal subplots or character development taking precedence over the core chase.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their core mechanic: a literal and urgent countdown to death. They share a desperate, high-voltage mood, breakneck pacing, and a central theme of survival against overwhelming odds, creating a uniquely frantic and adrenaline-fueled cinematic experience.

Over-the-Top Urban Action Chaos Movies Like Crank: High Voltage

Stylized, cartoonish violence and chaotic energy in a gritty urban landscape. Fans of the chaotic, stylized, and absurdly violent action in Crank: High Voltage will appreciate the movies in this group. These films feature exaggerated set pieces, cartoonish logic, and a breakneck pace set in gritty city environments. They blend high-intensity thrills with a self-aware, over-the-top execution.

  • over-the-top
  • chaotic
  • stylized
  • electric
  • absurd
  • violent
  • Tone: tense, darkly humorous
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative often serves as a thin pretext to launch into a series of increasingly outrageous and inventive action sequences. Character motivations are simple—revenge, survival—allowing the focus to remain on the spectacle. The world operates by its own rules, where consequences are exaggerated and the action frequently leans into the ridiculous for maximum entertainment value.

Why they belong together: This thread unites films based on their shared aesthetic of stylized chaos and exaggerated action. They have a similar high-energy, electric mood, a fast and frantic pace, and a tone that balances intense violence with a layer of dark, absurdist humor, creating a uniquely exhilarating and unseriously serious vibe.

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Every angle

Crank: High Voltage (2009) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Crank: High Voltage in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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