Celebrating 20 years of Special Forces

Some action film history right here! Isaac Florentine's feature film, Special Forces, debuted 20 years ago this month in June 2003! The exact release date is hard to track down, but it was distributed in the United States on home video that month. Perhaps expecting just another video box on the pile, during an admittedly peak era of high quality-low budget VHS and DVD action, the lasting legacy would prove a lot more significant.

A few years before Florentine made larger ripples with popular titles like the Undisputed sequels and Ninja, at this point, his work included the important role shaping the action on TV’s Power Rangers, and earlier low budget features like Savate, Bridge of Dragons and US Seals II. Similar to the latter, Special Forces was a fun albeit by-the-numbers military actioner with actual military tactics quickly taking a backseat in favour of the director’s slick, signature martial arts and gunplay-infused style.

This one featured a solid, familiar cast many will recognise from key roles in lower budget action favourites, including Marshall Teague (US Seals II, Road House), Tim Abell (The Marksmen, We Were Soldiers) and Eli Danker (Undisputed 2, My Spy) but, perhaps most significantly, the film unveiled a breakout supporting role from Scott Adkins who was introduced as a British SAS operative alongside his American counterparts, and featured in the most memorable fight of the entire film. Adkins? Whatever came of him? But in all seriousness, from this film - this fight scene, forward - the action game changed. Audiences were captivated by this incredibly dextrous and talented kicker, in a sequence shot like a classic Hong Kong action movie.

Apart from the future collaborations between Adkins and Florentine which helped shape the star’s career, Adkins has always been vocal about the opportunities his friend and mentor afforded him, after submitting an early tape. Perhaps they saw in other a champion for the other’s talents. Florentine had an incredibly skilled and talented star he could push and utilise to the best of his ability. Adkins had a rare filmmaker who could shoot beautiful and slick action design, and gave a generous spotlight to show off his young star. Especially in the beginning, the films were small and lean in budget, but they gave the platform both men needed with freedom and creativity, and this would grow and evolve over time. For Adkins the action star; Yuri Boyka, Accident Man, Avengement, John Wick 4, take your pick… it all started here.

If you’re feeling nostalgic, give Special Forces a revisit.