With the rise in action films to accommodate that video market numerous low budget companies began churning out merchandise for the marketplace. As Chuck Norris began heating up the big screen with films like MISSING IN ACTION and Stallone took us back to Vietnam as well with FIRST BLOOD, those companies decided that making films in the Philippines could save them money and present the perfect location.
Italian director Bruno Mattei, who seemingly could handle any type of film, was brought in to direct STRIKE COMMANDO. The movie made enough to warrant a sequel and make decent return on investment but in the US had a token theatrical release before being sent straight to video.
And elite team of commandos known as Strike Commandos led by Sgt. Michael Ransom (Reb Brown) is sent in on a special mission. Their latest mission is to blow up a Vietnamese encampment. While setting the explosives in place one of his men is wounded and the alarm is triggered in the camp. As Ransom and his men attempt an escape, Colonel Radek (Christopher Connelly) triggers the explosives early to insure the mission is accomplished, killing the Strike Commandos in the process.
Unknown to Radek is that Ransom survived the explosion, blown into the water of a nearby river and pulled downstream. When he wakes he is met by a young boy who nurses him back to health in his village. Living there is a retired French soldier named Le Due (Luciano Pigozzi) who gives him some background on the village they are in as well as letting him know there are Russians helping the Viet Cong.
In return for their help Ransom tells the villagers that he will help them escape from the village. Trekking through the jungle they come across the decomposing body of a solider carrying a radio. Ransom reports back to his command and they set up a helicopter extraction for him the next day at a particular site. Along their way Ransom and the villagers are attacked by the Viet Cong. As the helicopter lands they only take Ransom and the villagers scamper back into the jungle.
Once returned Ransom tells Radek that he’s going back to save the villagers and get evidence of the Russian involvement. When he returns what he finds sets him on a path of revenges, not only for the villagers but for the Strike Commando team as well. Double crosses and betrayals set the stage and now it’s not just a war for country but a new war for Ransom as well.
The basic story here isn’t all that bad and Mattei always had a great eye for action. The problem here is the problem is they attempt to flush out the story into a far too complicated one. In addition to that Reb Brown has never been an actor that one should put in a lead role. He’s a great supporting actor but any film that has had him in the lead has always been way down on the list of good movies. I have no doubt that he’s a nice guy from all I’ve seen and read but here, he feels completely out of place. It’s as if they looked at him and decided he had a physique close enough to Stallone and they could afford him. Acting ability didn’t matter.
While not the worst movie ever made I found it difficult to get through all of this and yet I did. I know there is a fan base out there for the film and it’s developed a cult following over time. Those fans will be ecstatic to find that Severin has brought the film out in the cleanest version ever seen mastered in 2k from the original film negative for the first time. In addition to that the extras include both the theatrical and extended cuts of the film, “War Machine” an interview with co-director Claudio Fragasso, “All Quiet on the Philippine Front” an interview with screenwriter Rossella Drudi, a STRIKE COMMANDO in-production promo and the trailer for the film.
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