Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strange but interesting action sequel is ultra violent.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning
What's the Story?
John (Scott Adkins) wakes in the night to find masked intruders in his home. They kill his wife and daughter, and the leader reveals himself as super soldier Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme). Months later, John comes out of a coma, with his memory fuzzy. He tries to find Deveraux and to figure out what's going on. He meets a mysterious, beautiful woman, Sarah (Mariah Bonner), and keeps encountering a vicious, bearded plumber who tries to kill him. Meanwhile, bad guy Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren) appears to be training a new army of unisols. By the time John reaches the final showdown, he'll have discovered some disturbing truths about his past.
Is It Any Good?
Director John Hyams (son of veteran director Peter) turns in a most peculiar and welcome sequel to the aging UNIVERSAL SOLDIER sci-fi/action franchise. It's as if David Lynch collided with a truckload of martial artists and brawlers, and the resulting explosion created this strange, moody universe, full of odd sound cues; shocking, dreamlike imagery; and less flashy, more vivid fight scenes.
Many longtime fans of the franchise will be disappointed -- and perhaps tune out -- when they realize that Van Damme and Lundgren hardly appear in Day of Reckoning (and never together), but star Adkins makes up for that lack, and the film's surprising and unusual style helps as well. Unlike most action movies, the fight scenes are long, wide, and clear, and every move registers. One climactic fight scene in particular is filmed in a single, long, traveling take. For all audiences that appreciate "something different," here's hoping Hyams continues to provide it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning's violence. Is it meant to be thrilling, shocking, or both? What impact does it have, and how did the filmmakers achieve this?
Are martial artists role models for kids or teens? Does it matter what kind of character they're playing?
What is the movie's stance on revenge? Do you agree with it? Can you think of other movies that have dealt with that subject?
What's the appeal of this long-running sci-fi movie series about artificial super soldiers?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 30, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : January 22, 2013
- Cast : Dolph Lundgren , Jean-Claude Van Damme , Scott Adkins
- Director : John Hyams
- Studios : Magnet Releasing , Magnolia Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 114 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : brutal bloody violence throughout, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, and language
- Last updated : September 18, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate