This typical, clichéd straight-to-video thriller has one of those standard conspiracy plots involving some army soldiers who also happen to be drug dealers in their spare time. Don't be fooled, as this isn't really an action film, with only a couple of real action sequences occurring during the running time. Instead, it's an average thriller, redeemed by some nice directorial touches from Mark Lester, a taut atmosphere and a truly menacing/sadistic psychopath as the main bad guy.
Things start off pretty poorly with a cheap-looking truck explosion and some really bad acting. Things continue this way for most of the film, but about halfway through I realised that I was actually enjoying it. It may not be the most original or intelligent of films, but the plot is passable and the low budget is used to maximum effect, with plenty of big explosions and stylised fight scenes. Mark Dacascos is, it has to be said, wooden in the lead role, but he's quite likable and charismatic too. Definitely an acquired taste though. Abell is actually very good in his villainous role, and he is put across as a real human being, sometimes likable, very human too. At other times he just likes banging people's heads into tables and breaking necks, but there you go. A particularly nasty piece of work. Coffin is hilarious as the base's general, complete with ranting dialogue and dodgy toupee.
The action, when it comes, is extremely violent, surprisingly so in fact. There's a brutal bout of martial arts fighting where skulls crack and bone-breaking blows are delivered home, extremely loudly. The finale slips into predictable territory as Dacascos takes on the four main bad guys, and in one notable moment shoots one at point-black range repeatedly through the stomach, ugh! Basically everybody gets what's coming to them, but not before the chief creep has gone mad with an axe and indulged in some misogynistic woman-beating. His death is fun and deserved, although ripped from both COMMANDO and DOUBLE IMPACT. Sure, this film isn't particularly great or inspired, but it's fun enough if you can't find anything else around.
Things start off pretty poorly with a cheap-looking truck explosion and some really bad acting. Things continue this way for most of the film, but about halfway through I realised that I was actually enjoying it. It may not be the most original or intelligent of films, but the plot is passable and the low budget is used to maximum effect, with plenty of big explosions and stylised fight scenes. Mark Dacascos is, it has to be said, wooden in the lead role, but he's quite likable and charismatic too. Definitely an acquired taste though. Abell is actually very good in his villainous role, and he is put across as a real human being, sometimes likable, very human too. At other times he just likes banging people's heads into tables and breaking necks, but there you go. A particularly nasty piece of work. Coffin is hilarious as the base's general, complete with ranting dialogue and dodgy toupee.
The action, when it comes, is extremely violent, surprisingly so in fact. There's a brutal bout of martial arts fighting where skulls crack and bone-breaking blows are delivered home, extremely loudly. The finale slips into predictable territory as Dacascos takes on the four main bad guys, and in one notable moment shoots one at point-black range repeatedly through the stomach, ugh! Basically everybody gets what's coming to them, but not before the chief creep has gone mad with an axe and indulged in some misogynistic woman-beating. His death is fun and deserved, although ripped from both COMMANDO and DOUBLE IMPACT. Sure, this film isn't particularly great or inspired, but it's fun enough if you can't find anything else around.