Strike Commando 2
Encyclopedia
Strike Commando 2 is a 1988
action film
, starring Brent Huff
, Richard Harris
and Mary Stavin
. It follows Bruno Mattei's
(who also directed this film) Strike Commando
(1987
), where Reb Brown
play the lead character (Huff replaced him in this one).
Internationally, the movie has gained a cult following
because of its kitsch
, cliched, formulaic plot and low level of execution, as well as memorable, unusual dialogues.
Interrogation sequences including branding sessions with hot rocks, and water torture
. Ransom is
also brutally electrocuted for a long hours by sadistic Kramet (Davidson). His agony is finally ended, when he manages to escape from the torture chamber. Ransom's earlier ally, local girl Rosanna Boom, who has a strong attraction to masculine hero, helps him in escape and get revenge.
and his wife Rossella Drudi, and was directed by Bruno Mattei
, the film was shot in the Philippines
for low budget
reasons. Many of filmmakers and cast members who worked on Strike Commando
in 1986, appeared on the films set but not Reb Brown
, the original performer of the role of Seargant Michael Ransom, who was replaced by another American actor, Brent Huff
. Strike Commando 2 began a collaboration between Mattei and Huff who then starred in two consecutive action films of the Italian director − Cop Game (1988
) and Born to Fight
(1989
).
The film was shot deep in the Filipino jungle, in a little village called Los Baños. Brent Huff has stated that during the filming he was in the best shape of his life because of all the physical action on the set (Huff did his own stunts) and the food − during filming, he was eating nothing but fruit and fish.
Fragasso and Drudi were highly inspired by Rambo: First Blood Part II
(1985
) when they created their screenplay. There are several references to George Pan Cosmatos'
film, including the betrayal subject and the notorious interrogation torture scenes.
in Germany. German version of Strike Commando 2, entitled Heroin Force, met with heavy censorship; torture scenes of main protagonist as well as some of the scenes of his battle with opponents were censored.
Strike Commando 2 was never released on DVD, in contrast to its prequel
.
1988 in film
-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:* Act of Piracy* Action Jackson, starring Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, Vanity, Sharon Stone* The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* Akira* Alice...
action film
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
, starring Brent Huff
Brent Huff
Brent Huff is a former male model and actor, writer and film director.- Career :He studied on University of Missouri.Brent begin his career as a model after signing with Ford Models in New York and Nina Blanchard in Los Angeles...
, Richard Harris
Richard Harris
Richard St John Harris was an Irish actor, singer-songwriter, theatrical producer, film director and writer....
and Mary Stavin
Mary Stavin
Mary Ann-Catrin Stävin is a Swedish actress, model, and a former Miss World. She was born in Örebro, Sweden. She returned to judge the Miss World contest in 1980 and 2010.-Acting career:...
. It follows Bruno Mattei's
Bruno Mattei
Bruno Mattei was an Italian film director, screenwriter and editor who gained a cult following for a wide variety of exploitation films that covered many genres, ranging from women in prison to zombie films...
(who also directed this film) Strike Commando
Strike Commando
Strike Commando is a 1987 action film, starring Reb Brown, Christopher Connelly and Alex Vitale. The film, directed by Bruno Mattei, was shot on the Philippines due to low budget. The sequel, Strike Commando 2, was released in 1988. The movie is often called a rip off of Rambo: First Blood Part II,...
(1987
1987 in film
-Events:*January 31 - The Cure for Insomnia premieres at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois, to officially become the world's longest film according to Guinness World Records....
), where Reb Brown
Reb Brown
Reb Brown is an American actor.Known as superhero Captain America in the TV pilot/movies, he's also known for the 1983 cult classic, Yor, the Hunter from the Future, as well as the scifi film, Space Mutiny, and for the collaborations with director Bruno Mattei in films Strike Commando and Robowar ...
play the lead character (Huff replaced him in this one).
Internationally, the movie has gained a cult following
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
because of its kitsch
Kitsch
Kitsch is a form of art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an extant style of art or a worthless imitation of art of recognized value. The concept is associated with the deliberate use of elements that may be thought of as cultural icons while making cheap mass-produced objects that...
, cliched, formulaic plot and low level of execution, as well as memorable, unusual dialogues.
Plot
Seargant Michael Ransom (Huff) is a tormented war veteran. When his commander, Vic Jenkins (Harris), is kidnapped by Vietnamese drug smugglers, the CIA dispatches him to their camp and all hell breaks loose. Ransom try to saved Jenkins, who also save his life during the Vietnam war, unfortunately, Jenkins is find out to cooperate with the villains. Ransom is captured and is subjected to various of painful tortures.Interrogation sequences including branding sessions with hot rocks, and water torture
Water torture
-Forced ingestion:In this form of water torture, water is forced down the throat and into the stomach. It was used as a legal torture and execution method by the courts in France in the 17th and 18th century, was employed against Americans and Chinese during World War II by the Japanese, and was...
. Ransom is
also brutally electrocuted for a long hours by sadistic Kramet (Davidson). His agony is finally ended, when he manages to escape from the torture chamber. Ransom's earlier ally, local girl Rosanna Boom, who has a strong attraction to masculine hero, helps him in escape and get revenge.
Cast
- Brent HuffBrent HuffBrent Huff is a former male model and actor, writer and film director.- Career :He studied on University of Missouri.Brent begin his career as a model after signing with Ford Models in New York and Nina Blanchard in Los Angeles...
as Seargant Michael Ransom - Richard HarrisRichard HarrisRichard St John Harris was an Irish actor, singer-songwriter, theatrical producer, film director and writer....
as Mayor Vic Jenkins - Mary StavinMary StavinMary Ann-Catrin Stävin is a Swedish actress, model, and a former Miss World. She was born in Örebro, Sweden. She returned to judge the Miss World contest in 1980 and 2010.-Acting career:...
as Rosanna Boom - Mel Davidson as Kramet
- Vic DiazVic DíazVic Díaz is a Filipino former character actor who mostly portrayed villains. He is also the father of Teddy Diaz, the founding guitarist of the Filipino Rock band The Dawn. He appeared in Jack Hill's women in prison exploitation film "The Big Bird Cage," shot in the Philippines...
as Huan To - Ottaviano Dell'Acqua (as Richard Raymond) as Jimmy
- Massimo Vanni (as Alex McBride) as Kelly Sellers
- Luciano PigozziLuciano PigozziLuciano Pigozzi is an Italian film actor. He appeared in 105 films between 1954 and 1989. He was often credited under the pseudonym Alan Collins and occasionally Alan Collin....
as smuggler leader (scenes deleted)
Production
The film was written by Claudio FragassoClaudio Fragasso
Claudio Fragasso is an Italian screenwriter and film director of mostly low-budget exploitation films.- Filmmaking history :...
and his wife Rossella Drudi, and was directed by Bruno Mattei
Bruno Mattei
Bruno Mattei was an Italian film director, screenwriter and editor who gained a cult following for a wide variety of exploitation films that covered many genres, ranging from women in prison to zombie films...
, the film was shot in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
for low budget
Low budget film
A low-budget film is a motion picture shot with little or no funding from a major film studio or private investor. Many Independent films are made on low budgets but films made on the mainstream circuit with unexperienced or unknown filmmakers can also have low budgets. Many young or first time...
reasons. Many of filmmakers and cast members who worked on Strike Commando
Strike Commando
Strike Commando is a 1987 action film, starring Reb Brown, Christopher Connelly and Alex Vitale. The film, directed by Bruno Mattei, was shot on the Philippines due to low budget. The sequel, Strike Commando 2, was released in 1988. The movie is often called a rip off of Rambo: First Blood Part II,...
in 1986, appeared on the films set but not Reb Brown
Reb Brown
Reb Brown is an American actor.Known as superhero Captain America in the TV pilot/movies, he's also known for the 1983 cult classic, Yor, the Hunter from the Future, as well as the scifi film, Space Mutiny, and for the collaborations with director Bruno Mattei in films Strike Commando and Robowar ...
, the original performer of the role of Seargant Michael Ransom, who was replaced by another American actor, Brent Huff
Brent Huff
Brent Huff is a former male model and actor, writer and film director.- Career :He studied on University of Missouri.Brent begin his career as a model after signing with Ford Models in New York and Nina Blanchard in Los Angeles...
. Strike Commando 2 began a collaboration between Mattei and Huff who then starred in two consecutive action films of the Italian director − Cop Game (1988
1988 in film
-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:* Act of Piracy* Action Jackson, starring Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, Vanity, Sharon Stone* The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* Akira* Alice...
) and Born to Fight
Born to Fight (1989 film)
Born to Fight is a 1989 action film, starring Brent Huff, John van Dreelen and Mary Stavin. The film was shot on Philippines due to low budget in 1988 and is the third time − after Strike Commando 2 and Cop Game − when Brent Huff worked with director Bruno Mattei.-Plot:Super tough Vietnam...
(1989
1989 in film
-Events:* Batman is released on June 23, and goes on to gross over $410 million worldwide.* Actress Kim Basinger and her brother Mick purchase Braselton, Georgia, for $20 million...
).
The film was shot deep in the Filipino jungle, in a little village called Los Baños. Brent Huff has stated that during the filming he was in the best shape of his life because of all the physical action on the set (Huff did his own stunts) and the food − during filming, he was eating nothing but fruit and fish.
Fragasso and Drudi were highly inspired by Rambo: First Blood Part II
Rambo: First Blood Part II
Rambo: First Blood Part II is a 1985 action film. A sequel to 1982's First Blood, it is the second installment in the Rambo series starring Sylvester Stallone, who reprises his role as Vietnam veteran John Rambo...
(1985
1985 in film
-Events:* 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.* The Academy Award for Best Picture was won by Out Of Africa, while the highest grossing film was Back to the Future.* Bliss wins AFI Award for best Movie...
) when they created their screenplay. There are several references to George Pan Cosmatos'
George Pan Cosmatos
George Pan Cosmatos was a Greek/Italian film director. After studying film in London, he became assistant director to Otto Preminger on Exodus , Leon Uris's epic about the birth of Israel. Thereafter he worked on Zorba the Greek , in which Cosmatos had a small part as Boy with Acne...
film, including the betrayal subject and the notorious interrogation torture scenes.
Release
The film was released on August 17, 1988 in Italy as Trappola diabolica (The Diabolical Trap), then under commonly known title Strike Commando 2 in the rest parts of the world, including the United States. On October 1988 Video Statt distributed film on VHS tapesDirect-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
in Germany. German version of Strike Commando 2, entitled Heroin Force, met with heavy censorship; torture scenes of main protagonist as well as some of the scenes of his battle with opponents were censored.
Strike Commando 2 was never released on DVD, in contrast to its prequel
Strike Commando
Strike Commando is a 1987 action film, starring Reb Brown, Christopher Connelly and Alex Vitale. The film, directed by Bruno Mattei, was shot on the Philippines due to low budget. The sequel, Strike Commando 2, was released in 1988. The movie is often called a rip off of Rambo: First Blood Part II,...
.