THE CIVIC ARENA, WHERE MUCH OF “SUDDEN DEATH” TAKES PLACE. | PHOTO FROM THE ROBERT G. PFLAUM PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

The 1995 action thriller “Sudden Death” was shot in large part at the Civic Arena — and that’s no accident. The unique architecture of the former arena inspired the film, which was pitched by Karen Baldwin, wife of then-Penguins owner Howard Baldwin.

The film follows Darren McCord, played by the legendary Jean-Claude Van Damme, a fire marshal for the city of Pittsburgh. The setting is a terrorist attack during the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks — a fictionalized rematch of the 1992 championship series. The conflict kicks off when a group of terrorists take the Vice President and several other VIPs hostage during the game. Darren fights to defeat the terrorists and save the city — and his family, who are in attendance.

“Sudden Death” also features a number of faces familiar to longtime Penguins fans, including a prominent appearance by mascot Iceburgh and former superstar Luc Robitaille, who scores the game-tying goal for the Penguins, sending the game to sudden-death overtime.

As someone who is not a Pittsburgh native but has been sightseeing in the city, it was nice to identify spots like Mount Washington, Station Square and the Fort Duquesne Bridge. Director Peter Hyams succeeds in capturing the heart of Pittsburgh by using iconic locations for the film that capture the beauty of the Steel City.

Unfortunately, “Sudden Death” came out at a time when “Die Hard” was a staple for American action cinema, sticking close enough to that film to feel like a ripoff. The lack of originality dampens the enjoyment. Darren McCord is an obvious rip-off of John McClane; it’s too blatant to ignore. The action certainly keeps the viewer engaged, but for me to really enjoy a film, I need the story and characters to be as interesting as the spectacle. Darren McCord is a one-dimensional character, a traditional stoic badass. I never doubted his ability to defeat the terrorists, so there was a lack of tension.

Many contemporary reviews did praise the film, especially for its action sequences; Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle hailed it as “one of the best action thrillers of 1995.” “Sudden Death” could be a fine pick for movie night; its outrageous action scenes and fast pacing will appeal to many audiences, and Pittsburghers will enjoy watching the camera scale Mount Washington and track through the Fort Duquesne Bridge. While it has its flaws, “Sudden Death” will please action fans.