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Terrorists led by an android take over a nuclear plant and threaten to launch a missile at Washington. While the authorities desperately attempt to negotiate, the terrorists pursue their real goal. A plant worker, her son and a tough-guy repair man have other ideas and attempt to stop the terrorists from inside the plant.
Welcome back RETRO ACTION! yes, the section of Action-Flix.com formerly known as Action Rewind has been rebranded like a phoenix erupting out of the flames and is now known as RETRO ACTION! This is where I stroll down (or run if I feel like it) down memory lane and pick apart those awesome action films from yesteryear. The 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s were a treasure trove of bullet riddled, fist and feet flying carnage that is still unmatched to this day. This is when cable was king and we were seriously spoiled with countless action flicks flooding video stores and premium movie networks like HBO and Cinemax. These movies were populated by the likes of such iconic action stars as Gary Daniels, Don “The Dragon” Wilson, Jeff Wincott and many more and they delivered when it came to firepower and fisticuffs.
For my first Retro Action article, I found it fitting to revisit a lesser-known Christmas action movie that premiered first back in 1994 as an HBO World Premiere. Yes, back in the day, the leading movie network launched a different and brand-new action film every Friday and they were bangers let me tell you. Sure, when hardcore fans speak of holiday themed actioners, the usual suspects of Die Hard and Lethal Weapon always come up first. But what of those lesser-known holiday chaos laced hits?
I’m talking about Invasion USA, I Come in Peace (Dark Angel) and the one that headlines this episode of Retro Action…Project: Shadowchaser 2. This pseudo-sequel to the original Project Shadowchaser brought back 90’s DTV action hero Frank Zagarino as the merciless Terminator style killing machine for more blood-soaked carnage. Sure, Zagarino’s cyborg eliminator met its end in the first one at the hands of Martin Kove but who the hell cares? There was no explanation as to how another cyborg was set free to rampage in a nuclear power plant but to say you had to suspend disbelief was a massive, gargantuan understatement.
When the sequel first hit HBO, it was called Armed and Deadly but for its subsequent home video release, it sported the more conventional Night Siege: Project Shadowchaser 2 for US markets and just Project Shadowchaser 2 for international consumption. Joining Zagarino for all the hostage siege fun was martial arts expert turned action star Bryan Genesse who was best known for kicking it with Carl Weathers in the short-lived syndicated series Street Justice. Genesse brought the every man charm with attitude, swagger, looks and lethal martial combat skills to spare and he was perfect to headline a host of action films for the then rising Nu Image brand. Funny enough, both Zagarino and Genesse were at odds with each other here but would ultimately team up for future projects like Cyborg Cop 3 which was a rousing buddy action film with enough explosions and banter to spare. I’ll discuss that one later but for this week, it’s all about Christmas and what says happy holidays better than a killer cyborg running amok over a nuclear power plant and killing countless innocents before being stopped by…the janitor? Gotta love the 90’s.
Project Shadowchaser 2 was directed by John Eyres who actually helmed this one as well as the first and third entry of the series. Eyres also contributed to the genre by directing the hugely underrated sci-fi thriller Monolith which starred both the late, great Louis Gossett, Jr. as well as the late, great Bill Paxton. This installment, like all the others, makes no excuses as it firmly embraces the fact that it picks from the Die Hard scenario with a little Terminator thrown in for that added zing. It always made me snicker as how these films were only connected by Zagarino’s performance as the killing machine cyborg and it shamelessly put him in all kinds of situations with the third entry even going to space. This is just pure, dumb, unapologetic fun with decent action sequences and tongue planted firmly in cheek drama that was on the menu in the 90’s when DTV action was exceling.
Along with Zagarino, we also get another 90’s action cinema staple in Bryan Genesse who was best known for playing Grady on the syndicated TV series Street Justice alongside the late, great Carl Weathers. Genesse had that certain something when it came to action man leading swagger and he was pretty much the boy next door quality if the boy next door was a lethally trained martial artist who had some sick skills. Here, Genesse serves as the John McClane of the story as he is essentially a janitor who is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s funny how at first Genesse plays the role of Frank Meade as a drunk but when the shit hits the fan, he’s a one-man army systematically cutting his way through Zagarino’s mercenary army. Genesse gets ample opportunity to flex his unarmed combat skills in several altercations leading up to the inevitable confrontation with Zagarino where he gets to deploy a series of crowd pleasing slo-mo killer movies including a jaw dropping aerial assault that begs to ask the question as to why Genesse never became a bigger action star. He did get to have fun back then starring multiple Nu Image pics like Operation Delta Force 3: Clear Target, Live Wire: Human Timebomb and Cold Harvest where he got to switch it up and play the baddie going up against fellow DTV action sensation Gary Daniels. Hell, Genesse even rocked the Soap Opera circuit starring on The Bold and the Beautiful so how’s that for some serious talent.
Genesse has legit action star cred as he is trained in the disciplines of Hun Gar Kung Fu and Muay Thai. He also earned a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as he has trained with iconic martial artist Jean Jacques Machado. I always love watching him deploy his signature moves and he got to do it a lot on street Justice. he is smooth, fluid and devastating and here the filmmakers knew how to make him look his best.
Genesse and Zagarino would also reunite for the sequel Cyborg Cop III where they would get to team up on the same side in a rousing buddy style sci-fi thriller. Where the two were at odds here, that one demonstrated that they had some massive chemistry together and boy would I have loved to see them team up in more of these films.
The rest of the cast is actually pretty decent as well with Beth Toussaint playing Laurie Weber who is the power plant’s resident expert because only in a 90’s DTV actioner does a rocket scientist look like her. Toussaint manages to play rough with the boys and is by far no damsel in distress as she proceeds to save the day as well. Daniel Bonjour, who was a child actor at the time, brings a level of emotional security to the role of Billy who is Laurie’s son and he bonds with Frank as they battle the baddies in a Christmas Eve showdown of firepower and Fisticuffs.
It’s funny that this film also features the director of X-Men Origins: Wolverine as one of the mercenaries. That’s right. Gavin Hood, who starred in several Nu Image movies back in the day, went on to a very lucrative filmmaking career with Wolverine being one of them. It’s fun and nostalgic to see him play a ruthless killer knowing what we know now. His Wolverine film might be maligned but I enjoy it for what it is, flaws included.
Project Shadowchaser 2 also probably has one of the greatest villain intros ever as Zagarino, in all his slow-motion glory, invades a Christmas party and proceeds to stand there as his men mercilessly mow down several plant employees. The scene is highlighted by Zagarino then unleashing a salvo of rapid fire from his machine pistols as he screams with sadistic and unadulterated glee. The scene is punctuated by the cyborg than picking up a party hat, putting it on and wishing all the victims a Merry Christmas. Oh, and he says it in slo-mo as well. High cinema if I do say so myself.
This is the 90’s and things were a little less stick up the ass as we get to see the dangers of accepting rides from strangers who happen to be drunk driving. A little sexual harassment thrown in for good measure and some ill times humor to make it all the better. It’s kind of like the filmmakers were making public service announcements in the form of a bullet blasting, karate kicking action pic. I’m not going to lie as this is probably one of the greatest decades ever and I so long for these days every time I wake up and see how life is nowadays.
Every time I watch a movie like this, I long for the long-forgotten days of when all action cinema was done practically. From the stunts to the explosions to the stunts and most importantly, the blood squibs, action never looked better when it was done for real. There’s no green screen here just severely talented people doing what they do best in front of and behind the camera. There’s no quick editing cuts or shaky cam because the stars knew how to sale it for the audience. Action was king in those days and even though we still get a lot of it today, it’s far from what the output was in those long-gone decades.
Unfortunately, this film is hard to find if you are so inclined to search it out after I swayed you to. You can find used VHS copies on eBay as well as a dual DVD which pairs this one with Project Shadowchaser III. That one only costs about 80 bucks but I am seriously thinking of picking it up as it is worth it, it’s like an action cinema unicorn and the only copy I have right now is a burned DVD from the copy I bought back in the day. I tried searching for it on streaming but only the first one came up but you can find some scenes on YouTube which I so graciously shared down below.
Before I close up the proceedings here, let’s make sure that this actioner is indeed a Christmas themed thriller. There’s always debates on this and here we have a clear winner. The movie features a steady tone of holiday theatrics and atmosphere that serves to underly the action. There are multiple mentions of the holiday with the characters talking about various aspects. There’s Christmas music, decorations and multiple imagery. Hell, there is even a Christmas party in it although it doesn’t end well for many. The whole film just oozes Christmas along with the blood, bullets and bravado so yest Virginia this is a holiday themed action film.
All in all, Project Shadowchaser 2 (AKA Night Siege, AKA Armed and Deadly) is a standout of the 90’s DTV action assault that gloriously rips off Die Hard and Terminator in all its unabashed glory. We get a sensational villain with Zagarino’s unstoppable robotic warrior with no mercy along with Genesse flashing the action hero chops and martial arts techniques that won’t quit. The supporting cast is solid, the action is plentiful and practical, and this is just what made the 80’s and 90’s rock. If you can find it, I strongly suggest getting it as it will make for the ultimate addition in your action film arsenal. If you’re ever looking for something more than Die Hard and Lethal Weapon to fill your Christmas Eve night, I strongly suggest seeking this little treasure out. And yes, it is a Christmas movie!
As a belated Christmas gift to all of you, check out the climatic altercation between Zagarino and Genesse below!
