A British SAS officer is captured during WWII and held in a camp for prisoners of war, where he’s forced to partake in brutal death matches for the entertainment of his captors, while also devising a plan to escape.
Scott Adkins is the best. Yes, I’m a bit biased. But that doesn’t mean I can’t tell when the movie he’s in is worthy of his caliber of talent. And Prisoner of War is definitely deserving. A fantastic showcase of not only his prowess as an actor and a martial artist, but everyone involved in the production, Prisoner of War is a solid actioner that’ll scratch that itch for martial arts movies and a war film, though it might leave a little to be desired. Certain bits come up short and the film has a few flaws from a production standpoint, but all in all it’s just a really entertaining and enjoyable movie that’ll give you just the right dose of anxiety and triumph you need from a film of this genre.
Directed by the always talented and reliable Louis Mandylor from a script by Adkins himself and Marc Clebanoff, Prisoner of War may not be the most original or the most expansive film you’ll ever see, but it’s certainly a fun way to spend two hours. With unique stylization and a phenomenal blend of genres that feels like an untapped well of interesting stories to be told, the movie never suffers from pacing issues and keeps chugging along at a steady and enjoyable pace from the very first frame until it ends in a circular fashion. It’s taut, full of action, and it’ll keep you hooked to find out how things are going to end.
And as I’ve mentioned, Adkins is absolutely phenomenal. Not only is his acting performance on point, but his action skills and martial arts mastery are superb, as well. This film is his vehicle all the way, and every scene feels dedicated to the all around powerhouse of his multifaceted talents. Backed up by a cast that’s fairly unnoteworthy, but still good enough to not detract from the story, everything feels polished and thought out. Additionally, Michael Rene Walton is a standout amongst the supporting roles, as well as Peter Shinkoda. Their characters give the cast depth and nuance and make everything feel all that more real.
The film really shines in its choreography, though. And that’s to be expected, as anything that Adkins touches is always put together masterfully from a choreography standpoint. Stunts and effects are fantastic, as well, and the score by Tasos Eliopoulos is moving and subtle. Cinematography from Niccolo De La Fere is really outstanding here, too, with everything feeling authentically “war like,” from griminess and grain to the warmer color palette. I only wish the CGI would’ve been better, as there are several sequences of it that are so poorly rendered, especially in the beginning, that it’s almost enough to break the immersion.
Prisoner of War might seem like a rather generic martial arts style action film on top, but it certainly has its own story to tell, and those who decide to give it a chance will be pleasantly surprised by how well executed it is, and how fun it is to watch.