British martial artist and actor Scott Adkins makes a welcome return to our home screens in his latest action film, Prisoner of War, which is coming to DVD and Digital release.
A British SAS officer during World War II is captured and forced to fight in a Japanese internment camp.
Scott is undoubtedly a talented martial artist, with both the look and skill of a mainstream action star, yet despite his abilities, he has never quite broken through to the mainstream. Surprisingly, he has already appeared in box office hits such as John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) and The Expendables 2 (2012), though his supporting roles were often overshadowed by his lead co-stars.
Despite limited mainstream success, Scott has built a huge cult following through numerous straight-to-DVD and streaming releases. Undertaking a variety of roles in films such as Triple Threat (2019), Undisputed III: Redemption (2010), Avengement (2019), and Accident Man 2, he’s proven himself to be not only a skilled fighter, but also has the diversity in his acting to expand into various genres.
His latest film, Prisoner of War, offers another opportunity to expand his portfolio, portraying British SAS Officer James Wright, who is captured and taken to a Japanese internment camp during World War II. With the harsh conditions of the camp, which is run by hard labour and torture, the captors use martial arts as a way to assert their authority and break down the spirits of the prisoners. Unfortunately for them, they’re unaware of James’ skilled fighting ability, having trained for years in Hong Kong, he has the ability to fight back and refuses to be broken.
The premise of the film reminded me of another prisoner of war film, the Chuck Norris straight-to-video sequel Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985). The difference here is the location, which has now been moved from the jungles of the Vietnam War to World War II in a Japanese internment camp. Like Missing in Action 2, director Louis Mandylor doesn’t waste time on subplots (although it does have a nice way of coming full circle to a more present day), it keeps the focus on Scott’s displaying ability as a martial artist and the prisoners’ relentless pursuit of a way to escape.
For many modern action films rely heavily on the erratic camera movement and confusing quick cuts to create the illusion that the actors can fight. Whilst this often makes for an adrenaline-fuelled set piece, although it’s often difficult to work out what is going on. Prisoner of War, however, uses wider shots and follows the action so we can see it unfold clearly on screen. The choreography in the fighting arena is excellent throughout, with Scott taking on several opponents of varying levels, to which he takes no prisoners. I’m always impressed by Scott’s fighting skills, and this is a perfect showcase of just how good he really is and why he deserves more opportunities.
For the most part, Scott is excellent in the role, making the most of the character, which feels different to what we have been used to seeing. Having also co-written the film, you feel that he has created a character with a bit more depth to show what he can do. That said, whilst he made the most of the role with his performance as the lead, I did notice a few slips in his accent on occasion. He starts as an upper-class English officer in the camp, but on occasion slips back into his more natural, gruffer accent. This change, however, did not have too much of an effect on his overall performance, and as he continued to keep me engaged throughout, it didn’t take anything away from the overall film.
Prisoner of War is a more modestly budgeted film, which can be seen with some of the set locations, but these can easily be overlooked. Films such as Missing In Action 2, which I mentioned earlier, suffered from the same issues, but what we really watch for is the action which is delivered.
Prisoner of War is a brilliantly entertaining war film, which is both inspiring and action-packed. It may not deliver something completely new, but it does manage to showcase Scott Adkins as both a brilliantly talented martial artist and a leading man who deserves the opportunity to be seen by a wider audience. Yes, it does have its faults, but these can easily be overlooked. As with many action films, it is made to let us switch off, have fun, and just enjoy the ride, and for that, Prisoner of War really does deliver.
Prisoner of War with be released in the UK on October 6th on TVOD/EST, then DVD and BD on 10th November.
You can pre-order a physical copy here
Scott Adkins Leads The Fight In The Inspiring And Action Packed Film 'Prisoner of War'
Movie title: Prisoner of War (2025)
Movie description: British RAF Wing Commander James Wright is captured by the Japanese during WWII and forced to fight in brutal hand-to-hand combat. The Japanese soldiers get more than they bargained for when Wright’s years of martial arts training in Hong Kong prove him to be a formidable opponent.
Date published: September 22, 2025
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 50m
Director(s): Louis Mandylor
Actor(s): Scott Adkins, Peter Shinkoda, Michael Copon
Genre: Martial Arts, Action, Thriller
Summary
Scott Adkins Leads The Fight In The Inspiring And Action Packed Film ‘Prisoner of War’
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
