Action star Scott Adkins collaborates with director Louis Manayaldor on the historical epic “Prisoner of War,” produced by Well Go USA. Adkins also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Mark Clebanoff.
Set during the final days of World War II, the film follows British SAS officer James Wright (played by Adkins), who is captured by the Japanese and imprisoned in a POW camp in the Philippines. Now on the radar of the meticulous Japanese leader of the camp, Lt. Colonel Ito (Peter Shinkoda), Wright’s fate is shifted when Ito discovers that Wright was trained to fight traditionally in Tokyo before the war.
On a power trip, Ito decides to break Wright’s spirit, forcing him to fight for his life against his most skilled warriors repeatedly. Ito grows frustrated as Wright’s spirit, or his back, cannot be broken, as he defies the odds against him, and stirs hope back into his fellow prisoners’ will to survive. Along the way, Wright finds allies in Sgt. Gabriel Villanueva (Michael Copon), Captain Collins (Cowboy Creone), and nurse Theresa (Gabbi Garcia).
On paper, “Prisoner Of War” has a simple enough plot. Actor-turned-director Louis Mandylor, who previously worked with Adkins in “The Debt Collector” films, knows what his audiences want to see when it comes to Adkins and delivers the goods in the first few minutes. However, there’s another layer to the film when it comes to delving into the complexities of war and what it does to a man.
Adkins and the creative team behind the scenes don’t attempt to make the film Oscar-worthy with tear-jerking flashbacks or passionate monologues from the lead character. However, they aimed to delve a bit deeper than the average beat ’em up flick.
There are some great scenes featuring Adkins and his fellow POWs, highlighting their efforts to make the best of their situation. Furthermore, the fight choreography is top-notch, and Manaylador does what he can with a limited budget.
As a fan of Adkins, I enjoyed the film, although it was a bit overlong. There was also an early aerial combat scene that appeared to be film school CGI, which was a distraction. Nevertheless, though fans of Adkins and the genre should find something enjoyable in “Prisoner of War”.
Final Grade: B
“Prisoner of War” will be released in theaters and on Video On Demand (VOD) on September 19th.
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