Movie Review: Militia

Militia a.k.a Undercover
Cinetel Films, USA, 2000.

Ethan Carter (Dean Cain) is an ATF-agent. ATF raids the compound of peacefully living gun nuts Brotherhood of Liberty. Taking out a small group of loonies with more firepower than in Vietnam seems a bright idea for Deputy Director Anderson (John Beck) who does not know the word overkill. Brotherhood leader William Fain's (Frederic Forrest) family dies in the massacre.

Ethan Carter

Anderson

William Fain

Two years later terrorists Staley (Christopher Maleki) & Tegley (James C. Victor) steal anthrax from Cyberdyne Systems (sic). Radio DJ Mad Monty (Stacy Keach) spews hatred and predicts a fascist revolution. Agents Carter and Julie Sanders (Jennifer Beals) must find the stolen bacteria but co-operation with the army is difficult as arrogant Major Wilson (Dean Hallo) is hostile to ATF-agents. Anderson orders Carter to infiltrate the New Brotherhood and there he needs help from Fain. Why does it seem like a bad idea on so many levels?

Mad Monty

Tegley and Staley

Julie Sanders

Carter's cover is blown too soon so Carter and his new best buddy Fain have to improvise. The terrorists plan to kill the President with anthrax-missiles. But what will Fain's final stance be?

This time Jim Wynorski loans footage from "Delta Force 2", "Terminator 2", "American Ninja 2" and "Rambo 2" (all from sequels?) Unlike "Stealth Fighter" it has a more serious feel and much less humour. Somehow positive aspect is that Fain is surprisingly ambiguous character and not totally a bad guy.

The plot is quite typical for an action thriller with twists and turning of coats. The actors are surprisingly good and the B-movie plot has a good pace. The stock footage scenes are integrated to the movie using fun to spot pons asinorum scenes for example what is a limousine from "Delta Force 2" doing parked next to a country house? And later a soldier boarding a helicopter takes off his coat to match the following stock footage. It is not a great film but could be a lot worse. Fans of cheap direct to video films might want to check it out. 

Familiar face from many TV-series Michael Cavanaugh appears as Col. Jim Donnerman, Ret.

Rating: Average

Starring: Dean Cain, Jennifer Beals, Frederic Forrest, Stacy Keach, John Beck, Brett Butler, Christopher Maleki, James C. Victor, Dean Hallo, Bill Langlois Monroe, Michael Cavanaugh, Shawna Casey, Curtis Blanck, David Dunard, Billy Rieck, Jeff Kober, Ryan Cutrona, Paul Terrell Clayton, Tom Ferguson, Dale E. House, George Christy, Kipp Tribble 

Director: Jim Wynorski (as Jay Andrews)