A British RAF Wing Commander during World War II is captured and forced to fight in a Japanese internment camp.
“Prisoner of War” doesn’t pretend to reinvent the action genre — and frankly, it doesn’t have to. What it does offer is a taut, muscle-driven showcase for Scott Adkins, who once again proves he’s the kind of action star you can’t take your eyes off, even when the story around him is as familiar as an old combat boot.
The plot? You’ve seen versions of it before: a soldier (Adkins) caught behind enemy lines, fighting impossible odds to survive and maybe, just maybe, find some redemption along the way. The dialogue clunks along in places (there are lines here that probably sounded better in someone’s head than they did on set), and the writers take historical accuracy as something closer to a rough suggestion than a guiding principle. None of it will win awards for subtlety or fresh storytelling.
But let’s be honest, that’s not why anyone will seek this out. The reason to watch “Prisoner of War” is the action — full stop. Adkins is a one-man demolition crew, combining grace and brutality in a way that feels almost balletic when fists start to fly. Every fight is crisp, physical, and, crucially, always easy to follow. Forget those frenzied edits that leave you guessing what just happened; here, the choreography is front and center, athletic and punishing.
The film’s cinematography isn’t just serviceable; it’s a weapon on its own, pulling you right into the filthy trenches and flickering torch-lit corridors. The cameras stay close but never claustrophobic, finding every bead of sweat and cracked knuckle. Sound design follows suit — every blow lands with weight, every gunshot echoes, and silence is wielded almost as brutally as noise. There are moments when you’re not just watching a fight, you’re inside it.
Adkins, for his part, isn’t just a stuntman with a few lines. There’s a raw, bruised humanity running beneath the steel — an exhaustion and desperation that lifts the performance above the level of pure physicality. He holds the screen, even when he isn’t in motion.
“Prisoner of War” doesn’t break new ground. The script could’ve used a few rewrites, and students of history might roll their eyes at some of the timeline’s acrobatics. But as a pure adrenaline fix — a straightforward, harsh, and relentlessly entertaining action film — it’s hard to complain. Sometimes, you just want to see a guy fight his way out and do it with style.
For action fans, especially those who appreciate real physical performance and bruising, authentic fight scenes, “Prisoner of War” is a blast. Just check your expectations for depth and originality at the door — and maybe leave the history textbook behind.
Now available on Digital and on Blu-ray™ and DVD November 11th
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