Jeri Jacquin
Coming to Bluray and DVD from directors Johnny Strong, William Kaufman and Well Go USA comes the story of survival from WARHORSE ONE.
During an ordered rescue in Afghanistan, Navy SEAL Master Chief Richard Mirko’s (Johnny Strong) helicopter is shot down and he is thrown clear. The only survivor, he is sent to the location where the civilians they were to pick up are located. Once there, he finds one survivor, the young Zoe Waters (Athena Durner).
Not far away is the enemy and their goal is to capture the American and young girl and finish what they had started. Determined to not let them escape is leader Radam (Raj Kala) directing his men where to go to find them. Tarad (Siya Rostami) leads the chase and it is on completely.
Attempting to get to the spot where the military could rescue them, Mirko and young Zoe begin to form a bond. Zoe quickly understands that those who are responsible are the same people that Mirko must save them both from. Mirko is straight forward with the young girl as to what they are up against and what they must do to make it to the top of the mountain.
Their fight for survival is on!
Strong as Mirko immediately gives the character a strong military sense of what the mission is even after the crash. Even when survival becomes the mission, he is focused, straight forward and knows what must be done. Adding a young child to the mix could have gone wrong in the storytelling but Strong guides the story to its heart-pounding conclusion with more than a job well done.
Durner as Zoe is a little girl who gives her character such range of emotion. She could easily have been just a kid carried around but no, Durner gives us a very young girl who has seen what she shouldn’t ever have had to. In that, she comes quickly to understand that Mirko is her protector and that means, once again, doing things that he tries to protect her from.
Kala as Radam is a man on his own mission and it is heinous and terrifying. It is hard to play the role of the villain and Kala doesn’t hide behind anything to give it his all. Rostami as Tarad follows Radam as the leader and is equally dedicated to the destruction of the Navy Seal.
Well Go USA Entertainment is a theatrical and home entertainment company specializing in bringing the best Action, Genre and Independent films from around the world to North American markets. As a leader in independent film distribution, Well Go USA Entertainment’s titles can be seen across a variety of platforms including theatrical, digital, subscription and cable VOD, packaged media and broadcast television. Well Go USA Entertainment currently releases three to five films per month. To see more please visit www.wellgousa.com.
Other cast include Todd Jenkins as Youssef, Danny Augustus as Jarrah, Michael Sauers as Chief Petty Officer Mike Miller, Xander Gomez as Lewa, David Ibrahim as Abu Bakar, Steve Mokate as Commander Johns, E.K. Spila as Assistant Director Dave Mattis, Adam Dietrich as Mike, Jay Moses as Rev. Matthew Walters, Damian Turner as Petty Officer Darnell Reece, Nash Bland as Rahmi and Chris Calvert as Petty Officer Chris Martin.
Bonus Features include Director’s Commentary Featurette and Trailer.
WARHORSE ONE is the first-time film for actor Johnny Strong as co-director and he has done an awesome job. The story is straight-forward and action packed but doesn’t forget the emotional side with a young girl who deserves as much protecting and anyone else. What I truly enjoyed is that Strong’s character Mirko stays focused and even though his emotions are being tested, it doesn’t change the mission. If anything, he remains focused and lets Zoe know what the rules of survival are.
Keeping the location mainly out in the open, the chase is on and that is what keeps the story flowing. Of course, Mirko knows his job but that is made difficult when those trying to kill him are everywhere. I have always enjoyed films of this type that keep moving because only the directors know what is behind every rock, building and corner.
The film is well done with cinematography that covers the action and a cast that brings the story being told by Strong and Kaufman a strength without glorification and a finish to cheer for.
In the end – worth living for and worth dying for!
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