User reviews

The new Unisol film is a surprisingly fresh take on an old franchise. The tone of the movie is completely different from the previous entries that it's hard to compare to its predecessors.

Our hero, john (Scott Adkins), awakes to find intruders in his home who kill his wife and daughter. After spending several months in a coma John awakes with a memory loss, only remembering the man who murdered his family, Luc Devreux (Van Damme). The storyline then becomes less comprehensive as we tag along John as he tries to piece everything. The main problem is that nothing is answered, the back story remains hidden and the characters motivations are left unexplained. The movie also suffers from bad pacing, the first half being painstakingly slow with no action happening for the first half of the movie.

The good news are that the second half features some badass action sequences and the R rating is used fully, it's a gory movie as it should be. Even though the frequent use of slo-mo is tiring, it doesn't ruin the experience. Too bad all of it is packed in the final scenes of the movie.

The movie draws inspiration from different places, from video games to horror movies to Apocalypse Now (you won't miss it), the unique style sets this movie apart from the others but it doesn't help the thin plot or anemic characters.

Universal Soldier 4: Day of Reckoning is unique and fresh and I applaud the director for taking a different approach. Adkins does a great job and proves his more than a stuntman. JVCD and Lundgren's roles are smaller than you would expect, but it's a treat to see them on screen again. The lack of a comprehensive plot and or continuity to other films of the series is what hinders this movie from getting a higher rating.

Final score: 6 out of 10

I'm just going to say that this movie seriously should come with a seizure warning because I almost passed out from the flashing at certain scenes.

DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE IF YOU ARE PRONE TO EPILEPTIC SEIZURES!!!!!! No joke.

Otherwise it's good to see these guys on the same screen again. The movie is a little slow in parts but picks up quickly. Story develops quickly then plateaus a bit then picks up again.

Nothing that's going to curl your toes.. but a good flick.

Cheers!

-Plot : Strange follow-up with three veteran but exceptional action men : Van Damme as Luc Deveraux , Lundgren as Andrew Scott and Scott Adkins as John . With top-secret technology, the undercover agency has created a next-generation Universal Soldier - an elite fighter genetically altered into a programmable killing machine , forming a tough army of genetically enhanced warriors . With this "UniSol" Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) leading the way, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei "The Pit Bull" Arlovski , and Dolph Lundgren , both of them are threatening to unleash a world rebellion . The only one who can stop them is John (Scott Adkins) , a UniSol who's been decommissioned for years and living an easy family life . John looks to take down Luc Deveraux after a home invasion claims his wife and daughter. The fight pits John against Andrew Scott and an army of genetically enhanced warriors ; meanwhile, he must contend with a UniSol in relentless pursuit . John must make a full-out assault on the heavily armed hideout . But inside, John'll discover these virtually indestructible warriors . Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren), Deveraux's (Luc Deveraux's codename in the UNISOL program is GR44) vicious UniSol enemy from the original Universal Soldier, have been secretly reanimated , upgraded and leading a riot . As Deveraux has emerged operating the Unisol Church of Eventualism, taking in wayward Unisols whom the government has been secretly operating as remote-controlled sleeper agents . Luc is preparing to government overthrow and build a new order ruled by Unisols without state control . Now, these elite fighters led by Deveraux are loaded and programmed to kill; and the fate of millions hinges on this high-action showdown . John carries out a dangerous travel until the fateful meeting with Luc Deveraux (in similar role to General Kurtz/Brando from Apocalypse now, about a boss turned crazy) who has gone murderer and nut .

-Comment : This moving picture contains noisy action , thrills , shootouts and fierce combats in brutal, life-and-death style . This exciting story by the same director John Hyams& Doug Magnuson and Jon Greenhalgh and producer Moshe Diamant deals with a strange journey proceeded by John to investigate his origins and discover the family killing until find out the terrible truth . The starring's travel is narrated as a surrealist odyssey leading to the dreadful and violent final but when the protagonist find Luc Deveraux the scenarios are darkest and gloomiest . Thrilling screenplay dispenses absurd excitement as well as violence and lots of fights . Acceptable action movie full of struggles , crossfire and tension , this is a stylized action-suspense film , though there are some slow-moving scenes . The tension of this picture keeps snowballing as the clock ticks ever close for a groundbreaking as well as spectacular final . Jean-Claude Van Damme and Scott Adkins have some scenes together at an impressive fighting . Dolph Lundgren filmed his parts for the movie in just 5 days, whilst Jean-Claude Van Damme filmed for 20 days , though they have no scenes together. The director, John Hyams, is son of notorious cameraman and filmmaker Peter Hyams . However , P.J. Pesce was considered to direct the movie and Simon Fellows was originally signed to direct but he was replaced during pre-production . Released theatrically in a few countries and Direct-To-Video (DVD & Blu-ray) in the rest of the world . Filmmaker John Hyams quickly understood the freedom and malleability that direct to video presents and has gone about creating some incredibly interesting genre fare. According to director John Hyams, the fight between Scott Adkins and Jean-Claude Van Damme was designed to be much flashier and more acrobatic but had to be redesigned when Adkins tore a ligament in his knee prior to filming . Hyams made his feature length film in 1997 when wrote, directed, and produced the critically acclaimed "One Dog Day," , he subsequently filmed ¨Universal Soldier: Regeneration¨ , this ¨Day of reckoning¨ and ¨Dragon Eyes¨ , in which displayed an acute understanding of the action genre .

-Universal Soldier Series : being based on Christopher Leitch and Dean Devlin characters , they are the followings : The best film of the series was the original ¨Universal soldier¨ by Roland Emmerich with Jean-Claude Van Damme , Dolph Lundgren , Ally Walker , Ed O'Ross ; it was followed by ¨Universal soldier : the return¨ with Jean-Claude Van Damme , Michael Jai White , Heidi Schanz , Xander Berkeley and Justin Lazard as subsequent Universal Soldier films ignore the events of The Return and outright contradict it in a number of ways ; while still an official entry, it is no longer considered part of the series canon . ¨Universal Sodier : Regeneration¨ by John Hyams with Van Damme , Dolph Lundgren , Andrei Arlovski and ¨Universal soldier : day of reckoning¨(2012) by John Hyams with Scott Adkins , Andrei 'The Pit Bull' Arlovski , Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme , but here they have not scenes together . And two TV films : ¨Universal soldier : Brothers in arms¨ (1998) by Jeff Woolnough with Matt Battaglia , Gary Busey , Burt Reynolds , Richard McMillan and Chandra West and ¨Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business¨ (1999) by Jeff Woolnough with Burt Reynolds Juan Chioran , Claudette Roche and Matt Battaglia .

Led by Luc Devereaux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) a cloned UniSol Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren) are now wanted by the government who will do anything to find them a wipe out their UniSol army for good.

Universal Soldier fans maybe left scratching their heads, however, sci- fi action fans looking for slick, stylish direction with hard hitting violence and a Philip K. Dick tone - in the vain of Impostor (2001) maybe impressed by director John Hyams offering.

While not a fun hammy 90s hit like it's original this is smaller personal story adds another angle on UniSol. Reckoning may have benefited from being a stand alone low budget Dredd/Memento/Bourne-like film as it's so far removed to the original's feel.

This is actor/stuntman Scott Adkins film with very limited screen-time for Van Damme or Lundgren which isn't such a bad thing as their characters have become dismembered to those in the first outing. Nevertheless, Adkins as John carries it under Hyams games console shoot 'em up direction. While this film may not be Adkins Jason Statham 'star vehicle' it shows he's a convincing action man with some range of emotion to match as John goes on his hunt for Devereaux in some Apocalypse Now (1979) homage of sorts.

With excellent camera-work, lighting, stunts, ambiguous script, perfect moody atmosphere it's not a normal action film - and with nudity, blood and horror like gore it's not for the faint hearted either.

Don't expect a rehash or even the Universal Soldier you fell in love with and you may be surprised by this basic, dark, testosterone injected ride.

Now somebody needs to remake 1987's cheese-fest Dead Prey with Adkins as the lead.

The Universal Soldier franchise as terrible as they've been must have been profitable otherwise they wouldn't have lasted. So with that in mind it begs the question, why would they overhaul the entire formula?

The Universal Soldier films have been brainless action flicks about the genetically modified undead soldiers but here it goes in a totally different direction and is no better for it.

It tells the story of a man who witnesses his wife and daughter murdered by home invaders. He wakes up from a coma and begins to investigate what happened to him, why he was targetted and the man who was responsible Luc Deveraux!

Yes thats right, Van Dammes character and the main protagonist throughout the franchise. So with Van Damme reprising and Lungren along for the ride yet again we see a brand new type of Universal Soldier movie.

Sadly it just doesn't work, though it starts strong it quickly becomes apparent that the writers had no idea where they were going with this new approach and it all falls apart. The plot is a jumbled mess and the only redeeming factor is the action which is more on point than usual.

Sadly its impossible to get past just how much of a baffling mess Day of Reckonings story is, what they've done to the two recurring characters and makes me very much hope this is the last addition to the franchise.

The Good:

Interesting opening scene

SFX are actually on point

The Bad:

Makes absolutely no sense

Major shift will not have please fans of the franchise

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Upon seeing a gun mens penis's shrivel up

This movie is NOT for epileptics

Losing half of your foot won't affect your ability to walk

In my mind there are only two Universal Soldier movies, and if you watch Universal Soldier (1992) and Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2009) you will have a complete, unspoiled Universal Soldier experience. Give everything else with the UniSol name attached to it a miss, it just spoils it!

Universal Soldier (1992) is a classic of its time and genre. It was destroyed with two "unofficial" sequels that I have never seen and never care to.

Then came the official sequel, Universal Soldier: The Return (1999). JCVD was back, which gave the movie some cred, but it deviated too far from what made Universal Soldier (1992) good. "The Return" was didn't have the same "feel". It was too "shiny", too "clean", just too "Hollywood".

When I got word of another Universal Soldier sequel I avoided it like the plague! I wasn't going to fall into temptation, but it was the reviews here on IMDb that finally turned me. I finally buckled due to the overwhelming praise of Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2009).

"Regeneration" really is SO good for its budget. It took the UniSol series from the "classic for its time" bracket and thrust it into gritty reality. A worthy and brilliant sequel (that thankfully ignores the events of "The Return" and still doesn't get the praise it deserves. WATCH THIS FILM!

"Regeneration" leaves room for a direct sequel, which if made in the same tone would have been brilliant! But "Day of Reckoning" ignores the lot of it and goes in a completely different direction again! I have no idea why or what they were thinking after the acclaim of "Regeneration". Everyone involved should be fired and never be allowed to work again!

This film does not star JCVD or DL. They are extras at most. This film follows a new character and his story which intertwines into a re- imagined UniSol universe almost completely unrelated to anything before it.

JCVD and DL look extremely old, even more so than in "Regeneration" where they just got away with it!

This film shouldn't have been made. They had all the ingredients to run with a better sequel after the events of "Regeneration".

I am in fact a little angry that I have seen "DOR". It has left a foul taste in my mouth again just like I felt after I watched "The Return".

In a way I hope they still do another one because their track record suggests their next one will be good again. On the other hand JCVD and DL are far too old.

It will take several sittings of the original and "Regeneration" to erase this movie from memory. And just like how I believe there are only three Star Wars films, only three Indiana Jones films and Joel Schumacher never made a Batman film - there are only two UniSol film: the original and "Regeneration". Watch these two films again and again if you have to, just give this one (and any others) a miss.

Thank me later.

(2 stars for some pretty reasonable and gritty action and fight scenes for its budget - only good part of the film).

I fast forwarded from 10 minutes in, this film lacks the basics, such as extras, and possibly a director.

There is a 30 second scene which involves a man deciding whether or not to answer his phone, then zooms in slowly and pointlessly as he says hello.

The acting is deadpan, pathetic, and monotone.

The film is violent in a tasteless way.

Don't waste your time or money.

JCVD has done far superior films than this, choose one of the others!

1/10

OK this is a very odd film. It does not feel right, its hard to explain but on this film Hyams has nailed it (with help) the direction/editing/cinematography/music....its all too good for this type of film. Not long in to the film I was shocked at how good it all looked from a film structure point, its not a Alien or Godfarther standard but its far above straight to DVD movies, its far better than most big screen films. The only thing that reminds you that this is a small screen film is the cast and their acting ability's (Scott does a good job where he can), but then again if you rented this film you would not be expecting any Oscars, but when it comes to the action side they do a very good job, its very upfront and bloody. The film sits around the 7/10 area, most of these films would normally hit a 5/10 but this one picks up points for the effort that has gone in to making something more than a cheap straight to DVD film. I hope that the same guys who put this together get a bigger film with a upgrade in actors, if they can make a film that looks this good with a low budget I would like to see what happens with a few more million thrown in.

Well Universal Soldier Day of Reckoning was brutal to say the least. Dark from start to end. Fight scenes were played out well, it didn't feel rushed to get the fight over like a lot of movies seem to do, it took its time and gave you the feeling like you were just standing there watching the thing happen, thanks to a wide pulled back viewing angle and steady cam. Even tho they were super human this made the combat feel realistic and solid in a visceral and disturbing way, As someone who hasn't seen a Universal Soldier movie since i was a kid i found the plot a little slow yet slightly confusing like i was missing some important information which actually kept me interested enough to care about what was going on even tho it ended up the only way it could have. No one goes into a movie like this expecting to have there mind blown away by the story anyway so it cant be faulted here. I believe this movie is a success because it does what it was trying to do so well.

Acting - 7 Story - 5 Pacing - 7 Action - 9 Overall Feel - 7

The first Universal Soldiers movie was a straight up 80-style fun action movie with a bit of humor, the sequels to it were however crap. Going in to this I had some hope for this movie as both Van Damme and Lundgren where returning to the franchise.

My hopes were soon dashed by a beginning that looked like a crappy horror movie (think paranormal activityesque). What followed was more or less a splatter horror movie with guns and without the jump scares. And to make things worse Van Damme and Lundgren are hardly in it. Don't waste your time on this one, if you're feeling nostalgic you're better of giving the first one a re-watch.

I would like to state I am a fan of JCVD and Dolph; I have watched the universal soldier series as they came out and have no clue why either actor agreed to be part of this.

I actually made an account just to try to help anyone out there who may read this, hopefully before they read too many positive reviews about this film.

The fact that some people have stated how realistic the action is shows that the reviewer is either 11 years old, senile or just plainly deluded. One reviewer even likened this to 'the raid', an action film where the actor can actually perform the martial arts shown rather than rely on bad effects.

As some other reviewers with sense have pointed out, this is nothing like the rest of the universal soldier series. It is in fact a terrible action movie in its own right that relies on flashing lights, dark imagery, the tiniest shred of plot and an audience who love watching power rangers.

Do not waste your time watching this drivel. If you do not heed this warning, you too, could be left wondering how you will get that portion of your life back.

This one is a very good trash movie. And I'm serious.

It has story, a good one if you come to think about it seriously. It even has nice twist in the end. But it also has so many obviously stupid things that we heartily laughed about. It is just impossible to take it seriously.

It has very good combat scenes. Enough of blood and gore for my liking. But every single thing contradicts laws of nature so bluntly that it is just impossible to take it seriously.

The struggle between characters portrayed by Van Damme and Adkins is well shown. And you can even sympathize both to great extent. But every single bit of lighting and makeup will turn it to comics. And already sitting with a silly grin at your face you just can not take it seriously.

This is very good trash movie! And I really mean it! If you like to watch one do go for this. I haven't seen like this for several years now.

Once again I considered Universal Soldier the poor man's Terminator and this one is no different.

Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning is a failed attempt to giving new life into the Universal Soldier series.

This is a series that should have just been retired years ago and this film should be enough to proof my case right.

I try to watch this movie on TV and later on Netflix it was unbearable.I mean the focus too much on gore and graphic fights pretty much ruins the film for me.

The acting in the film is simply put: Awful it's clear that no one here cared about acting or even putting forth the effort to make the story or characters interesting.

Perhaps it would have been better to have retired the series before even making this film because it was clearly a failed try at bringing back a film series that was never interesting to begin with

I give Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning an 1 out of 10

Honestly, it's pretty astonishing that this movie exists; it's the sort of project that could only have been brought into being via complete studio indifference to a franchise that probably should have died almost two decades ago. It's almost comically brutal, frequently surreal, and far, far more pretentious and high-minded than a movie called Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning has any right being. It's an art-horror movie hiding underneath the skin of action trash, and thinking of all the meathead bros who got tricked into watching what can best be described as what would happen if Gaspar Noe remade Apocalypse Now warms the cockles of my withered heart.

Maybe I'm overselling this. Universial Soldier: Day of Reckoning isn't quite as deep or clever as it thinks it is, but it WORKS. It's hypnotic and frequently mesmerizing in spite of its flaws, and the action scenes contain some of the best fight choreography you'll see in a modern American action movie. It's not a great movie, but it's damn good, and worth watching if just for what a gutsy move it was to make a late-in- the-game DTV sequel to a trashy movie no one really cares about as genuinely affecting and ambitious as this.

I have read quite few reviews of this movie - to my surprise, there were mostly good. So, I'm the odd one out - I hated this movie, it disappointed me to the fullest. Having seen all previous "Universal Soldier" movies, I was hoping for well written, action packed, full of stunt work and SFX movie, which would be going back to 1992 original(the only good U/Soldier movie out of six so far). Not so, JVC was ridiculous in white/black bald head make-up, the plot was confusing at the best,add bad sequencing and some below average acting - this was 102 minutes wasted. And this bloody strobe -effects, it was driving me nuts (same goes for antiquated psychedelic sound effects which remind me of early sci-fi flix like "Barbarella". For JVC's fans - this is a rather bad effort, see "Expendables 2" or even "6 Bullets" to get your JVC fix.

this movie really tested my nerves, and stamina to sit and patiently wait till the end. the first 2/3rds of the movie is hard to bear with.. its slow, boring, cheap, foggy and dull and the producer confuses an action movie with paranormal activity VIII.. later on, a tiny bit of action comes in, some relatively good fight scenes kinda give you the hope that they might actually stitch everything up a bit.. but no, not really.

they really saved all the penny they can on film musics, as mostly it sounds like whhoooonns and whheeens.. like a 4 year old mocking around with a keyboard.

every now and then, there is a tiny piece of scene where you kinda like, but overall, the acting, plot and scene quality is so poor, that you cannot get over the impression that you get from a cheap-midnight movie on TV.

there are some unique and interesting aspects about it.. but what good is a piece of good thread if the sawing machine is crap and you cant get a straight line out of it...

some of the fighting scenes were above average, but overall its far from impressive, as most of action movie fans, can come up with similar scenes merely copying from past movies.. nothing to praise the director here. (honestly mate.. don't shoot another movie, not that i think you can unless you pay for the movie and for your salary)

if you rent or buy it cheap.. fine.. worth fast forwarding around to see the once loved actors. but don't expect the good old days..