Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning

Director: John Hyams John Hyams

Overview

Universal Soldier: Regeneration director John Hyams once again gives the long-running action franchise a rejuvenating adrenaline boost with this sequel centering on a haunted soldier who vows vengeance on Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) and his army of superpowered henchmen after seeing them kill his family in cold blood. Dolph Lundgren co-stars.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/22/2013
UPC:	0043396399686
Original Release:	2012
Rating:	R
Source:	SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMT
Region Code:	1
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:53:00
Sales rank:	59,447

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jean-Claude Van Damme	Luc Deveraux,Miles(as Kristopher Van Varenberg)
Dolph Lundgren	Andrew Scott
Scott Adkins	John
Mariah Bonner	Sarah
Tony Jarreau	Bouncer
Craig Walker	Earl
Andrew Sikking	Larry
James Dumont	Dr. Brady
David Jensen	Dr. Su
Audrey Scott	Emma
Rus Blackwell	Agent Gorman
Dane Rhodes	Ron Castellano
Susan Mansur	Madame
Sigal Diamant	Claudia
Juli Erickson	Woman
Michelle Jones	Kathryn
Roy Jones Jr.	Mess Hall Unisol
Mike Seal	Unisol
Casey Pieretti	Unisol
Esteban Cueto	Unisol
Woon Young Park	Unisol
Dennis Keiffer	Unisol
Luke Hawx	Unisol(as Oren Hawxhurst)
Jean Claude Leuyer	Unisol(as J.C. Leuyer)
David Anthony Buglione	Unisol(as David Anthony Bouglione)
Andre McCoy	Unisol(as Chyna McCoy)
Trace Cheramie	Unisol
Andrei Arlovski	Magnus
Robin Vining	Composer
Michael Krassner	Composer
Wil Hendricks	Composer

Technical Credits

Doug Magnuson

Jon Greenhalgh

John Hyams

Moshe Diamant

Richard Rothstein

Christopher Leitch

Dean Devlin

Doug Magnuson	Screenwriter
Jon Greenhalgh	Screenwriter
John Hyams	Screenwriter,Director
Moshe Diamant	Screenwriter,Producer
Richard Rothstein	Screenwriter
Christopher Leitch	Screenwriter
Dean Devlin	Screenwriter
Mark Damon	Executive Producer
Steven A. Frankel	Executive Producer
James Gibb	Executive Producer
Bobby Ranghelov	Executive Producer,Executive Producer
Allen Shapiro	Executive Producer
Courtney Solomon	Executive Producer
Gregory M. Walker	Executive Producer,Executive Producer
Craig Baumgarten	Producer
Brent Caballero	Casting

Editorial Reviews

Given the way properties are rehashed in Hollywood, it's not a stretch to have expected the Universal Soldier franchise to last this long, but no one could have guessed that it would have such a resurgence 20 years after the first film's release. The credit, no doubt, should go to director John Hyams (son of director/cinematographer Peter Hyams), who created one of the best direct-to-DVD action flicks of recent years with 2009's Universal Soldier: Regeneration. The helmer returns for Day of Reckoning, and while it's a step down from its predecessor, the film still features some knockout fights delivered with bravura in front of and behind the camera. Scott Adkins stars as John, a confused everyman who seeks vengeance after witnessing his family killed in cold blood by mysterious soldier Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme). As he strives to find this maniac, John is hunted by Magnus (played by MMA fighter-turned-actor Andrei Arlovski), who, in classic Terminator style, shows up to wreak havoc wherever the hero goes. The two battle in hotel rooms, on the highway, and most notably, in a sporting-goods store (delivering what is arguably the best moment in the movie). Eventually, John's eyes are opened to the secret military experiment that he's been unknowingly involved with, which in turn leads him directly to Deveraux. Although the film sees the return of both Van Damme and his original co-star Dolph Lundgren, the fight scenes should really get top billing. With extra care put towards punctuating moves through deft editing, Hyams, who served as the co-editor, establishes rhythm in a way that the stereotypical "shaky cam" doesn't come close to achieving. Sure, you might be confused by the plot -- why does JCVD have a two-toned painted head? The film might not have the skillful one-take shots that the previous movie did, but at least one viewing is still totally worth it for action fans. When Hyams will be given a real budget is anyone's guess -- in the meantime, it's fun to watch him hone his game through this franchise.