Film

Strike Commando

Name: Strike Commando
Genre: Action, Adventure, War
Released: 1987
Cast: Reb Brown, Christopher Connelly, Louise Kamsteeg, Luciano Pigozzi, Alex Vitale

Action

Strike Commando is a scrappy 1987 Italian action film where Reb Brown's indestructible soldier survives a botched Vietnam mission only to get sent back for one last impossible job. It's all muscle-bound determination, sprawling set pieces, and that particular pleasure of low-budget action cinema—maximum effort colliding with modest means. If you love action movies that mean business but aren't afraid to be a little ragged around the edges, this is your movie.

TMDb rating

2.4

If you liked this

Rambo: First Blood Part II1985

The obvious template: a hardened operative sent back into a war zone for a mission that's really about proving himself and surviving the wilderness. Same energy, same defiant one-man-army spirit.

But Far more polished and expensive than Strike Commando, so it lacks that raw, almost improvised urgency. The earnestness can feel a bit dated now.

Commando1985

Schwarzenegger on a solo rampage to rescue his daughter, relying on wits and firepower. Pure momentum, ridiculous stakes, and the same gleeful disregard for physics that makes Strike Commando so fun.

But Schwarzenegger's stardom and the film's bigger budget give it a different flavor—more comedic, more calculated. Less gritty, more glossy.

Navy Seals1990

Charlie Sheen and Michael Biehn in a military action film with Middle East intrigue, camaraderie under fire, and that same serviceable-but-earnest vibe. Direct engagement with espionage and high stakes.

But It's slicker and more concerned with team dynamics than Ransom's solitary journey. The plot gets tangled in Cold War politics without the B-movie energy.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Strike Commando

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Aces High1976

Both films examine what happens when an experienced soldier confronts a mission he knows is designed to be suicide. Ransom and Penfold are men learning that survival isn't the same as victory.

World War One aerial combat meets character study—Peter Penfold and Christopher Plummer in a film that uses flying sequences and action to explore courage, privilege, and the absurdity of war. Gorgeous and hard-edged.

But Languid pacing and literary sensibility. If you want spectacle over substance, this will feel slack and overly concerned with conversation. The flying, while impressive for 1976, feels distant.

Uncommon Valor1983

Gene Hackman assembles a team to rescue POWs in Laos. Focuses on logistics, loyalty, and the psychological weight of missions that shouldn't exist. Darker and more thoughtful than typical action fare.

But Slower-paced and more dramatic than action-focused. Less about spectacular heroics, more about cost and consequence. Might feel less thrilling if you want constant motion.

The Wild Geese1978

Richard Burton leading mercenaries on a covert African operation. Old-school military adventure with real craft and cynical humor about dirty work no one talks about. A model for this entire subgenre.

But British sensibility and slower pacing—very 1970s. The action sequences, while solid, don't have the kinetic excess of 1980s films.

Missing in Action1984

Chuck Norris in Vietnam searching for POWs. Straightforward, efficient action with Norris's particular brand of taciturn heroism. No wasted time on plot—just mission and survival.

But Chuck Norris's acting range is, charitably, narrow. The film is competent but predictable, and lacks any complexity or surprise.

The Honorary Consul1983

Michael Caine and Richard Gere in a CIA thriller set in South America. Cynical espionage with real intrigue, featuring professionals navigating moral ambiguity without the action-hero invincibility.

But Far more concerned with political intrigue than combat. Moves slowly and deliberately. If you're after spectacle and explosions, this will feel remote.

Invasion U.S.A.1985

Chuck Norris versus Russian-backed terrorists on American soil. Gloriously lean, mean, and convinced of its own righteousness. The action is direct and the stakes feel real in that b-movie way.

But Political messaging ages poorly and sits heavy. The film's jingoism can feel crass, and Norris's performance is so minimal it borders on absent.

American Commandos1985

A lower-tier action effort with soldiers-for-hire operating in Central America. Embraces the chaos and doesn't apologize for its modest scope. Good company for Strike Commando if you're binging this era.

But Genuinely rough around the edges in ways that are sometimes boring rather than charming. The plot is thin and performances are uneven. Definitely a deep cut.

Eolomea1972

Both are products of specific historical moments where smaller nations produced militaristic action without Hollywood resources. They share a particular kind of earnestness and improvisation born from constraint.

A Bulgarian sci-fi feature about cosmonauts in space, made on a shoestring during the Cold War. Strange production design, genuine stakes, and that weightless feeling of people far from home trying to do their job.

But Slow, meditative, and utterly unconcerned with pacing or conventional narrative. The dialogue is clipped; the logic is dreamlike. You have to meet it halfway.

The Piano1993

Both feature protagonists stripped of normal communication—Ransom through military protocol and survival, Ada through chosen silence—using their bodies and will to resist control. Both are about reclaiming agency in impossible circumstances.

Jane Campion's portrait of a mute woman navigating colonial New Zealand through music, desire, and silent resistance. Visually stunning, morally complex, and uses its central performance to say everything without words.

But It's a period drama about psychology and gender; if you came for action you'll be mystified. Patience required. Some will find its sexual content or pace prohibitive.