During a daring mission in Vietnam, a helicoptor squadron is downed. While the soldiers try to escape capture by the Viet Cong, clues that the copter was sabotaged lead to brutal infighting, as they search for the traitor among them.
Aficionados of B-grade Vietnam war movies shot on the cheap in the Phillipenes will no doubt be familiar with director Cirio H. Santiago’s volumous work. The prolific filmmaker made close to a dozen action films focusing on America’s conflict in Southeast Asia. Of those pictures, his latest, Firehawk, is by far the best. It’s surprising not only because it comes so late in Santiago’s career but also because it has one of the most bland VHS/DVD cover art in all of cinema history.
Firehawk has a more thoughtful script than is the norm, with a story that has a couple of interesting twists. I enjoyed the effort, compared to other films in Santiago’s vast filmography, that went into telling a compelling tale with at least a hint at subtly and subtext. This is not the standard shoot-em-up war film but rather a variation on the paranoia thrillers of the 1970s.
Assured storytelling, particularly for the level, makes for an enjoyable if unexpected experience. Those looking for Rambo-style hijinks may be disappointed, but Santiago’s attempt at wartime drama is note-worthy for its ambition and, ultimately, its execution.
Directed by: Cirio H. Santiago
Written by: Rob Kerchner (story), Jeff Yonis
Starring: Ronald Asinas, Terrence ‘T.C.’ Carson, Raffy Curtis, Martin Kove
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