The action genre is
currently in a state of emergency. Major
studios now treat action as merely an ingredient in a “four-quadrant filmmaking”
recipe. It’s become a small part of a
larger whole, no longer worthy of its own filmic category. Gone are the simple plots and relatable
protagonists of “golden era” classics like ‘Die Hard’ and ‘Lethal Weapon’. Likewise for set pieces that make any sort of
visual sense. In recent years, the DTV
format has become the last bastion of traditional action cinema. It’s also become a proving ground for
untested talent.

Filmmaker John Hyams has
chosen to ply his trade in the DTV arena.
He offers a more classical approach, one grounded in the values of 70’s
cinema. He’s revived the ‘Universal
Soldier’ brand, turning in its two best entries to date: ‘Universal Soldier:
Regeneration’ and ‘Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning.’ The latter turned a good many heads upon
release. I proudly count myself among
its admirers. Mr. Hyams recently shared
the details of his creative process with me.
His insights revealed him to be a true renaissance man.