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Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning is a different film from what many viewers are anticipating. Although it features franchise mainstays, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren, it is a unique beast altogether, defying expectations to take the Universal Soldier series in unexpected and refreshing directions. Helmed by Universal Soldier: Regeneration director John Hyams, Day of Reckoning is wholly removed from the tone and intent of the original Universal Soldier, replacing light-hearted summertime escapism with Heart of Darkness-style madness carrying a sinister tone. Isn't it astonishing that Hyams managed to resurrect the once-tattered Universal Soldier franchise with panache after two made-for-television movies and a terrible theatrical sequel in the 1990s?
During a home invasion, family man John (Scott Adkins) is brutally beaten and forced to watch the execution of his wife and daughter at the hands of rogue UniSol, Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme). Awaking from a coma with limited memory after nine months, John sets out to put his life back together and perhaps track down and kill Luc. Teaming with a sympathetic stripper (Mariah Bonner) who knew him before the attack, John begins working through the clues as he is constantly pursued by hostiles, eventually stumbling upon a dark revelation that changes everything.
Something larger is at play at the centre of Day of Reckoning, but it takes more than an hour for the big picture to start coming into focus. If you stick with it for long enough, the story is ingenious. Critics trashed previous Universal Soldier movies for their formulaic and predictable story construction, but such complaints are irrelevant for Day of Reckoning, as the team of writers (Doug Magnuson, Jon Greenhalgh, Moshe Diamant and director Hyams) actually pay attention to developing an intricate plot. The long-winded build-up does deserve some criticism, though, and the movie does keep us in the dark for too long. The film runs too long at 115 minutes and will undoubtedly lose audiences without the patience to stick around and find out what is really happening.
Day of Reckoning sees Hyams returning to the director's chair after helming 2009's unexpectedly good Universal Soldier: Regeneration. Whereas the previous picture was a gritty actioner concerned with large-scale action, Day of Reckoning is a sinister thriller with nightmarish visions and clones. Hyams and his crew never let the restricted $8 million budget show through, lensing the movie in pristine 3D and convincingly executing numerous impressive action sequences. Most laudable are the climactic fights spotlighting an unhinged John, who goes on a vicious, violent rampage. Instead of relying on quick-cutting, Hyams and cinematographer Yaron Levy capture the sublime fight choreography with steady wide angles, and there are a handful of gorgeous extended tracking shots. Of particular note is the extended POV shot at the film's beginning that lets us see everything from John's perspective as he is attacked before Luc shoots his wife and daughter. Despite being a strange fit for 3D, the extra-dimensional effects are well executed here, as expected from a feature shot natively in the format. There is a strong sense of depth here, and the format enhances the immediacy during several scenes. Viewing Day of Reckoning in 3D is not essential, but the experience is magnificent.
Sensitive viewers should tread lightly, as Day of Reckoning is an astonishingly violent feature. The frequent fisticuffs bring about extremely bloody consequences, and limbs are both hacked off and blown apart. Hyams and his team embrace an old-fashioned approach, relying on gory makeup, prosthetics and squibs rather than digital bloodshed. And for good measure, the film also serves up some nudity in its first thirty minutes. Believe me, this is an extremely graphic, vicious and, at times, sadistic flick that confidently earns its R rating. Hyams' only misfire from a technical perspective is the use of strobe lighting, which is irritating and may be harmful to those prone to epilepsy.
Although Van Damme and Lundgren show up on the cover, Day of Reckoning makes limited use of the two muscular behemoths. The pair only pop in for a few scenes, receiving glorified cameos rather than central roles and never facing off against one another. It is a shame that their screen time is limited, especially since the performers are terrific: Lundgren hams it up beautifully, while Van Damme goes the Colonel Kurtz route, delivering his most nuanced performance in years. The protagonist here is rising star Scott Adkins, showing again why he's such an underrated performer. Star of the outstanding Undisputed sequels, Adkins is a charismatic and muscular presence with genuine acting chops, but he can also kick ass with the best of them.
Action movie enthusiasts will find Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning an utter godsend, and it stands alongside The Raid as one of 2012's finest action offerings. Gloriously violent and often exciting, it is a competent showcase for the martial arts skills of its main stars. It's a different kind of Universal Soldier picture, and it's admirable that the filmmakers had the audacity to try something out of the box.
7.2/10
