Special Forces is a 2003 direct-to-video action film that tells the story of an elite military team deployed on a dangerous rescue mission in a fictional, war-torn republic in Eastern Europe. After a brief prologue set in Lebanon, where an American soldier is held hostage in a Hezbollah camp, viewers are introduced to a U.S. Special Forces team led by Major Don Harding. In a swift and efficient assault, Harding and his team infiltrate the camp, rescue the hostage, and destroy the facility. This opening mission serves as an introduction to the team and their skill sets. The main mission of the film begins when American war correspondent Wendy Teller is captured in the fictional republic of Muldonia. She was there to report on ethnic cleansing and war crimes committed by General Hasib Rafendek, a former Bosnian warlord who now controls the military. Rafendek demands the release of imprisoned fighters in exchange for Wendy’s life. The United States refuses to negotiate and instead sends Harding and his team to rescue her.

In Special Forces, Scott Adkins plays Talbot, a British SAS operative working deep behind enemy lines. While not the main protagonist, he plays a crucial role in the film’s progression. This marks the first heroic role in Adkins’ career in which he plays a named and developed character — making it a significant entry in his filmography. It is also the first collaboration between director Isaac Florentine and Scott Adkins, a partnership that would go on to become a staple in the modern action genre (Undisputed II, Ninja, Boyka: Undisputed, etc.).

Once in Muldonia, the team is assisted by a local contact named Saira, who leads them to a safe house. There, they also encounter a mysterious British SAS agent, Talbot, who is operating independently in the region. Talbot’s partner was previously killed by Rafendek’s forces. Although Talbot initially refuses to cooperate, their paths continue to cross. During an attempt to rescue Wendy, the team is betrayed and ambushed. The rescue is partially successful, but their extraction helicopter is shot down, stranding Wendy, Talbot, and several team members behind enemy lines once again. This leads to a series of deadly confrontations. Talbot faces off against Zaman, Rafendek’s right-hand man, in a one-on-one fight. Major Harding confronts Rafendek in a final showdown, where their shared history comes to light.

Special Forces delivers a compact yet intense story about a rescue mission that escalates into a full-blown confrontation with a tyrannical regime. In his role as Talbot, Scott Adkins gives his first serious performance as a martial arts hero. It also marks the beginning of a long-lasting collaboration with director Isaac Florentine — one that would become instrumental for both men in shaping the modern action genre.

What makes this film especially notable for Adkins is that it's the first time he fully unleashes his choreographed fighting abilities on screen. Throughout the movie, his character takes down a large number of enemies — an estimated 30 or more — using martial arts, firearms, and tactical precision. He makes use of pistols, explosives, his fists and legs, proving himself to be in top form. For many viewers, Special Forces marks the moment where Adkins began to truly demonstrate his potential as a future action icon. Physically, Scott Adkins already stood out with a sharp, athletic appearance. He was leaner than in later roles, which visually emphasized his agility and speed. In both fight scenes and quiet moments, his physical condition was clearly on display — toned, quick, and fully in control.