A truly unexpected jolt to the system, Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning manages to be one of the year’s most visceral, intense and gripping thrillers while still delivering the kick-ass action you expect from a series that has spanned two decades.
Part neo-noir, part Euro art horror, part homage to Apocalypse Now, John Hyams’s new chapter in the Universal Soldier series pays tribute to the mythology while spinning off into entirely new directions. The result is a mind-blowing new midnight flick that can be enjoyed by both avid followers of the series and first-timers alike. John (Scott Adkins) is a family man with a beautiful wife and adorable daughter. But all that is taken away from him when his home is invaded by Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme). Left for dead after his family is murdered in front of his eyes, John is awoken in a hospital with no memory of anything before the attack. He vows to hunt down the man responsible. But with Deveraux building a new army of universal soldiers (including Dolph Lundgren), things won’t be easy. Combining several of the best action scenes this year with an eye-popping, endlessly inventive use of 3D and unique art house flourishes, Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning is a genre bending mix of high art and trashy ultra-violence that is never less than thrilling. PFF is proud to show the film in its uncut, 3D format, which won’t be released in theaters anywhere.
