Phantom Soldiers (1987)

User Rating:

3.9/10   

Director:

Teddy Page

Writer:

Jim Gaines (screenplay)

Genre:

War

Plot:

Texas Ranger Daniel Custer leaves for Vietnam to find his brother Michael, a Green Beret Lieutenant who has been reported missing in action...

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Max Thayer	...	Daniel Custer
Jack Yates	...	Col. Hammer
Corwin Sperry	...	Michael Custer (as Corwyn Sperry)
Jim Gaines	...	Red Legs
Richard King	...	KY
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Light
Mike Monty

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

Italy | Philippines

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Humax

Quotes:

Daniel Custer: You know what follows 'testicle' in the dictionary? 'Testify!'

An overlooked late entry stylish Vietnam combat movie

From the opening fifteen minutes of action packed carnage the on screen style of the 'Phantom Soldiers' garbed in black biochemical warfare outfits equipped with the unforgettable image of gas masks adorned with protrusions are the stuff of apocalyptic nightmares. The outfit of death close in on a Vietnamese family community mercilessly wiping them out with all manner of automatic weaponry & biological killing man woman & child with extreme prejudice for humanity. The American special forces green berets are sent in as led by Michael Custer but are lured into a trap and all bar two of his men are wiped out before the three of them are captured by the mysterious band of rogue soldiers. We are introduced in equally action packed & explosive circumstances to Texas Ranger brother, Daniel Custer who learns of his brothers captivity by the media labelled 'Phantom Soldiers' and fatigues up for a Rambo rescue mission. Daniel is surprised by the mercenaries but not killed as he is seen as a Pentagon attache & so fed the story that the 'Phantom Soldiers' are not at all what he seems & given the relative freedom of their camp only to discover a Russian propaganda at the underbelly as well as finding his brother & men held captive, readied for execution. Escaping the attentions of his minders Daniel frees his brother & men as they make a break for freedom armed to the hilt as an explosive finale ensues in bloody & action packed style reminiscent throughout the entire movie. The style of film making is excellent & the superb use of full frame material is extremely well realised as Director Irvin Johnson produces scene after scene of solid actor dialogue delivery & spectacular head & body multiple bullet hits in bloody & gory detail. This is one movie that clearly came at the end of the Vietnam war action film stable & was overlooked cinematically even on its shamelessly low video release issuing which is a great shame as this stands out as a real highlight & even dares to contain original themes previously unseen as a result of its low profile exposure.