Strike Commando

Strike Commando
Directed byBruno Mattei
Written byRosella Drudi
Claudio Fragasso
Bruno Mattei
Screenplay byClaudio Fragasso
Story by
  • Bruno Mattei
  • Claudio Fragasso
Produced byOscar Faradyne
Starring
CinematographyRiccardo Grassetti
Edited byBruno Mattei
Music byLuigi Ceccarelli
Production
company
Flora Film
Distributed byVariety Distribution
Release date
  • October 1987 (1987-10) (United States)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryItaly
LanguageEnglish

Strike Commando is a 1987 Vietnam war action film directed by Bruno Mattei and starring Reb Brown, Christopher Connelly and Alex Vitale.

A sequel, Strike Commando II (Trappola diabolica), was released in 1988 and stars Brent Huff as Sgt. Michael Ransom.

Plot

Sergeant Michael Ransom leads a covert operation into a Vietnamese military base to plant explosives. The mission fails after a sentry raises the alarm, and Colonel Radek orders the explosives detonated while the team is still retreating, resulting in casualties and Ransom being swept into a river. He is rescued by villagers, learns of a covert Soviet presence in Vietnam, and vows revenge while escorting the villagers to safety. During the journey, he faces multiple encounters with Viet Cong and Soviet forces. After discovering evidence of Soviet involvement, Ransom is captured and tortured but eventually escapes, killing his captors, including the Soviet officer Jakoda.

Upon returning to base, Ransom attempts to confront Radek for his role in the failed mission. When Radek disappears, Ransom tracks him to Manila, where he infiltrates his office building and kills him. In a final confrontation, Ransom defeats Jakoda, with only his metal teeth remaining.

Cast

Release

Strike Commando was distributed in October 1987 in the United States with a 102 minute running time. The film received a token theatrical release in Kansas City ahead of its home video release in the United States.

In 2021, the film was released on Blu-ray in the United States, along with its sequel, Strike Commando 2. It was distributed by Severin Films.

Reception

The film was reviewed by a critic credited as "Lor." in Variety who reviewed the International Video Entertainment video cassette. "Lor." described the film as a "run-of-the-mill Italian war picture imitating Rambo." "Lor." went on to discuss "dumb dialog" and that the film was "at least a reel or two overlong, film has an idiotic, padded coda set about 15 years later in Manila." The review went on to note that "Some okay minor action scenes do not disguise the fact the film lacks the large-scale set pieces that have become de rigueur for Vietnam war pics."

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Strike Commando (1986)". Archiviodelcinemaitaliano.it (in Italian). Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  2. ↑ Klain, Jane, ed. (1989). International Motion Picture Almanac for 1989 (60 ed.). Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. p. 404. ISBN 0-900610-40-9.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Lor. 1991.
  4. 1 2 "'Strike Commando' and 'Strike Commando 2' available on YouTube in a restored version". PrimeMovies.pl. October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.

Sources