PRISONER OF WAR

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres and VOD from director Louis Mandylor and Well Go USA in a story by Scott Adkins is the story of war and those who fight being the PRISONER OF WAR.

Wing Commander James Wright (Scott Adkins) is in the British Airforce during the Battle of Battan in 1942. He is shot down, captured and taken to a prison camp where he is marked for death. Wright is not about to let that happen and makes a daring escape but is recaptured and brought before Lt. Col. Benjiro Ito (Peter Shinkoda). Believing he has plans for Wright, to his surprise, he never anticipated anyone like this soldier.

Wright meets the other prisoners of war along with Beardy (Michael Walton), Jonesy (Gary Cairns), and Sgt. Gabrielle Villanueva (Michael Copon) who introduce their leader Captain Collins (Cowboy Cerrone). They fill him in on what is happening at the camp and how there are other camps much worse. Yet Wright is about to find out how Ito deals with punishments in the camp but, the rules are about to change. Ito sees that this soldier has been heavily trained and puts that training to the test.

Not waiting around to see what Ito has planned for the prisoners; Wright comes up with a plan that needs the help of everyone in the camp. One person he did not expect is Teresa (Gabbi Garcia), a nurse who is kept in the camp by Ito. The problem is the watchful eye of Captain Endo (Masanori Mimoto) who wants desperately to be the one to put Wright down. As the plan gets put into place, they group will only have a short window of time to get away before Ito and his men shoot to kill.

Adkins as Wright is a soldier who is sure of himself and doesn’t let anything rattle him, at least he doesn’t show it. Always watchful, it helps him stay one step ahead of anything coming after him, even Ito. The other prisoners quickly trust him and believe that his plan, although put together quickly, will work because they are doing it together! Adkins gives us a pilot who doesn’t fight to end life but fights to avoid it at all costs. I enjoyed his performance mainly because it was more brains over brawn and the martial arts was a bonus.

Shinkoda as Ito is a ruthless man who has no issue with punishments or pitting man against man. Once he experiences Wright’s abilities, he uses it for two purposes and neither of them are worthy of humanity. Trying to keep his emotions in checks, he slips occasionally and Wright is there to take note. Mimoto as Endo is an angry soldier who sees nothing redeeming about any of the prisoners but especially Wright. Trying to convince Ito to let him handle it, his frustration grows in intensity.

Copon as Villenueva takes to Wright immediately and believes that he can make an escape possible. Cerrone as Collins also sees what the pilot can do and how it has an effect on Ito but believes in an escape is possible. Walton and Cairns will follow strength and that includes newcomer Wright. Garcia as Teresa is a captive as well as Ito uses people for his own purposes. She sees that Wright can be the way out and I love that there is a woman in the mix.

Shout out to Asano as Shunsuke as he brings the past and present together.

Other cast include Shane Kosugi as Corporal Hirano, Fitim Krasiqi as The Greek, Pauline Lopez as Ana, Xin Wuku as The Monster, Andrei Kasushkin as Edgar and Kansuke Asano as Shunsuke Ito.

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.

Director Mandylor is known on screen for such roles as Marcus in THE PROMETHEUS PROJECT, Ethan Hill in DAYLIGHT’S END, John Caputo in 3 DAYS IN MALAY and as Nick Portokalos in the hit film MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING and the sequels that followed. 

Adkins history in film makes PRISONER OF WAR a perfect fit. Trained in the styles of taekwondo, judo, kickboxing, capoeira, Krav Maga, Jeet Kune Do and Wushu, it offered roles in actions films such as THE EXPENDABLES 2 (2012), ZERO DARK THIRTY (2012) up to DAY SHIFT (2022) and JOHN WICK: Chapter 4 (2023). His other film in 2025 is SKYLINE: Warpath. About his martial arts beginnings, Adkins says, “I started when I was ten years old. I did judo because my brother and dad took part in it. They eventually stopped but I kept going. I got into taekwondo for many years and was a fan of martial arts films from the start.”, so it only makes sense he would use his skills in film.

PRISONER OF WAR is a war film yes, but there is so much more to it. It is a story of survival and camaraderie in the grip of that survival. Wright comes in not to be a supersized hero who wants to take out everyone, but instead focuses on saving as many as he can with the help of fellow prisoners. Even when coming up against an aggressor like Ito, Wright/Adkins refuses to capitulate. The cast adds a layer of complexity that comes with any story of war and an ending that is unexpected!

In the end - captured in war and unleashed in battle!