Andrei Arlovski is a UniSol who gets “triggered” during a job and goes after John. He poses a direct threat to John and, together with Adkins, they delivers one of the most intense and brutal fights in the film. There are two fights with Andrei Arlovski and these are raw, physical, and intense, all choreographed realistically.Fighting in a sporting goods store, the two go head-to-head, using bats, weight plates, and anything else they can get their hands on to hit and kick each other. Scott later revealed that real bats were used during the filming of these scenes. This scene is often regarded as one of the best in Scott’s career.
In this film, Scott Adkins transforms into a shattered character who eliminates anyone in his path in an extremely violent and cold-blooded manner. In that sense, it reminded us of The Terminator with Arnold Schwarzenegger. As a child, I remember being impressed by that film, and you can get that same feeling when you watch Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning for the first time. But of course, the films are totally different. Day of Reckoning is a more experimental film, with slow shots, silences, hallucinatory scenes, and a surreal atmosphere. The violence is far more extreme and explicit, with horror elements.
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning is the fourth installment in the series and represents a raw, dark reinterpretation of the franchise, in which Scott Adkins explores the limits of action and psychological depth. The film is directed by John Hyams, who makes action feel gritty and tangible. He doesn’t just show the viewer violence — he makes them feel it. For many, the film will evoke mixed emotions, and some viewers may struggle with its dark tone and hallucinatory style. Yet, it is considered one of the best films Scott Adkins has ever made.A few weeks before filming, Scott tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a serious injury. He didn’t tell the producers, fearing replacement. Despite the injury, Scott gave 110%, which is evident in every action sequence.
The storylines of the previous Universal Soldier films do not strictly follow one another. In the first Universal Soldier (1992), soldiers Luc Devereaux and Andrew Scott die in Vietnam but are later resurrected as emotionless super-soldiers. Gradually, their memories return, leading to a deadly battle between humanity and machine. In The Return (1999), Luc lives again as a human but becomes involved in a new military program gone awry due to artificial intelligence. Years later, in Regeneration (2009), Luc is deployed once more as a soldier while trying to reclaim his identity. In all three of these previous films, Luc was played by Jean-Claude Van Damme. Dolph Lundgren played Andrew Scott in the first film and had a brief cameo in the third.
Then comes Day of Reckoning (2012): a dark, hallucinatory new chapter introducing a new soldier, John, played by Scott Adkins. Scott immediately takes the lead role, while Van Damme and Lundgren again appears, but now in smaller parts. Also Andrei Arlovski joins the cast.In the opening scene Van Damme brutally murders John’s family. This is filmed from Scott’s first-person perspective, giving it an almost horror-like effect. It is admirable that someone so well-known for his heroic roles, like Van Damme, dares to 'choose the dark side.' Van Damme’s imposing presence—dressed in black overalls, with a shaved head—transforms him into a slasher villain. He proves perfectly capable of playing such a cold character: one without a sense of honor, defined entirely by the violence he can inflict on others.
This could very well be the most violent and shocking scene of JCVD in his film career.
As mentioned, the film is extremely violent — perhaps too violent for some. Personally, Scott enjoys films of this kind and gives his all. There are countless brutal scenes in which Scott kills and destroys 24 people.The action sequences are raw and physical: a baseball bat through Arlovski’s head, someone knocked out with a hammer, killing with bare hands or feet, neck breaks, and limb amputations. Shootouts are unflinching, with multiple headshots and brains literally flying across the screen. Scott is drenched in blood, giving the film an extreme, almost nightmare-like atmosphere. For some, this may be too much; the film is often censored when it was broadcast on TV.
The Universal Soldiers in this film are hollow inside. Something is missing from their lives, which they attempt to fill with alcohol, rude sex, and violence. The story follows the structure of a film noir. The government tries to track down Luke Devereaux (Van Damme’s character) and other reanimated soldiers who have gone too far. But whenever they get close to Van Damme, he turns the tables and forms a resistance with them against the government. At that point, they are effectively the “good guys.”Scott’s character appears in two versions: the first came close to Van Damme but broke mentally due to memories and the emptiness in his mind. In one scene, he faces his own clone. Scott filmed the “evil” version on one day and performed the other version against nothing, listening to the playback of his own voice. Ultimately, he shoots himself — originally fully filmed but not included in the final cut.
The scene in which Scott gives himself a headshot didn’t make it into the final film, much to Scott’s own regret. Here you can see an image of it…
Scott has never given more headshots than in Universal Soldier:
Ultimately — spoiler alert — Scott remains the villain in the film. He kills both Van Damme and Lundgren. For Scott, a huge Van Damme fan, performing these scenes was remarkable. There’s also a fantastic car chase scene.
The soundtrack and sound design strongly enhance the atmosphere. The pounding electronic score heightens tension, unease, and an ongoing sense of threat. Silence is used to create discomfort. The sounds of the action are raw and authentic: no exaggerated groans, just heavy breathing, stamping, and striking by Scott himself — each impact feels tangible. This amplifies the brutality and makes the fights palpable.Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning is not a film for everyone. It is brutal, dark, and sometimes confusing, yet also daring, innovative, and showcases Scott Adkins’ impressive physical performance. The grim colors, pulsating soundtrack, and hypnotic shots give the film an almost dreamlike quality, contrasting with the brutal fights. Those willing to look beyond the blood will see a film that raises questions about identity, memory, and control.
This is what happens when Scott hits your head with a baseball bat.
If we had to pick one personal favorite scene from all of Adkins’ films, this one would rank high on our list. The way Scott walks up, his opponent fully in frame as the head explodes — but especially that look on Scott’s face as he walks on…
Scott Adkins talks exclusively about Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning
The Trailer:
Dolph Lundgren returns as the psychotic Andrew Scott, but in a more existential and cult-like role, serving as one of the leaders of a rebellious UniSol group. When facing Scott Adkins, Dolph ultimately gets the worst of it against Adkins. He is relentlessly attacked with a knife — slashed on his feet, hands, back, and stomach, and even through his head. Scott Adkins is able to go all out on him.
Scott Adkins — Kill Stats including methodsGunfire (15)•9 Headshots•6 Other firearm shots (non‑head)Knife kills (stabbings): 3•Killed 1 man by stabbing him in the side of his neck•1 Knife through Lundgren’s head•And 1 knife through Van Damme’s body Blunt weapon / melee (decapitation / hammer): 2•1x club/blunt decapitation (Andrei Arlovski) •1 man hammered to death Melee / hand‑to‑hand (beaten, kicked, neck twist, etc.): 4•1 man beaten to death •1 man kicked to death •1x neck twist •1x man beaten and stomped 24 total Kills
The story is not explained step by step; the viewer must actively think to understand what is happening. Trust the director and narrator that the pieces will fall into place gradually. This can be challenging for a film like Universal Soldier 4, as many people expect a simple popcorn movie. Those who truly want to understand the story need to use their brains.
A fun fact about the film is that Jean-Claude Van Damme’s son, Kristopher Van Varenberg, also has a small role in it. At that time, Kris often appeared in minor supporting roles in his father’s movies. Kris plays the assistant to a surgeon. They plan to operate on Scott Adkins’ character to make him forget his nightmares and traumatic memories. However, the operation doesn’t go as planned — Scott breaks free from the chair and the restraints holding him down, and all hell breaks loose…
In this film, Scott Adkins transforms into a shattered character who eliminates anyone in his path in an extremely violent and cold-blooded manner. In that sense, it reminded us of The Terminator with Arnold Schwarzenegger. As a child, I remember being impressed by that film, and you can get that same feeling when you watch Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning for the first time. But of course, the films are totally different. Day of Reckoning is a more experimental film, with slow shots, silences, hallucinatory scenes, and a surreal atmosphere. The violence is far more extreme and explicit, with horror elements.
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning is the fourth installment in the series and represents a raw, dark reinterpretation of the franchise, in which Scott Adkins explores the limits of action and psychological depth. The film is directed by John Hyams, who makes action feel gritty and tangible. He doesn’t just show the viewer violence — he makes them feel it. For many, the film will evoke mixed emotions, and some viewers may struggle with its dark tone and hallucinatory style. Yet, it is considered one of the best films Scott Adkins has ever made.A few weeks before filming, Scott tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a serious injury. He didn’t tell the producers, fearing replacement. Despite the injury, Scott gave 110%, which is evident in every action sequence.
The storylines of the previous Universal Soldier films do not strictly follow one another. In the first Universal Soldier (1992), soldiers Luc Devereaux and Andrew Scott die in Vietnam but are later resurrected as emotionless super-soldiers. Gradually, their memories return, leading to a deadly battle between humanity and machine. In The Return (1999), Luc lives again as a human but becomes involved in a new military program gone awry due to artificial intelligence. Years later, in Regeneration (2009), Luc is deployed once more as a soldier while trying to reclaim his identity. In all three of these previous films, Luc was played by Jean-Claude Van Damme. Dolph Lundgren played Andrew Scott in the first film and had a brief cameo in the third.
Then comes Day of Reckoning (2012): a dark, hallucinatory new chapter introducing a new soldier, John, played by Scott Adkins. Scott immediately takes the lead role, while Van Damme and Lundgren again appears, but now in smaller parts. Also Andrei Arlovski joins the cast.In the opening scene Van Damme brutally murders John’s family. This is filmed from Scott’s first-person perspective, giving it an almost horror-like effect. It is admirable that someone so well-known for his heroic roles, like Van Damme, dares to 'choose the dark side.' Van Damme’s imposing presence—dressed in black overalls, with a shaved head—transforms him into a slasher villain. He proves perfectly capable of playing such a cold character: one without a sense of honor, defined entirely by the violence he can inflict on others.
This could very well be the most violent and shocking scene of JCVD in his film career.
As mentioned, the film is extremely violent — perhaps too violent for some. Personally, Scott enjoys films of this kind and gives his all. There are countless brutal scenes in which Scott kills and destroys 24 people.The action sequences are raw and physical: a baseball bat through Arlovski’s head, someone knocked out with a hammer, killing with bare hands or feet, neck breaks, and limb amputations. Shootouts are unflinching, with multiple headshots and brains literally flying across the screen. Scott is drenched in blood, giving the film an extreme, almost nightmare-like atmosphere. For some, this may be too much; the film is often censored when it was broadcast on TV.
The story is not explained step by step; the viewer must actively think to understand what is happening. Trust the director and narrator that the pieces will fall into place gradually. This can be challenging for a film like Universal Soldier 4, as many people expect a simple popcorn movie. Those who truly want to understand the story need to use their brains.
The Universal Soldiers in this film are hollow inside. Something is missing from their lives, which they attempt to fill with alcohol, rude sex, and violence. The story follows the structure of a film noir. The government tries to track down Luke Devereaux (Van Damme’s character) and other reanimated soldiers who have gone too far. But whenever they get close to Van Damme, he turns the tables and forms a resistance with them against the government. At that point, they are effectively the “good guys.”Scott’s character appears in two versions: the first came close to Van Damme but broke mentally due to memories and the emptiness in his mind. In one scene, he faces his own clone. Scott filmed the “evil” version on one day and performed the other version against nothing, listening to the playback of his own voice. Ultimately, he shoots himself — originally fully filmed but not included in the final cut.
The scene in which Scott gives himself a headshot didn’t make it into the final film, much to Scott’s own regret. Here you can see an image of it…
Scott has never given more headshots than in Universal Soldier:
Ultimately — spoiler alert — Scott remains the villain in the film. He kills both Van Damme and Lundgren. For Scott, a huge Van Damme fan, performing these scenes was remarkable. There’s also a fantastic car chase scene.
The soundtrack and sound design strongly enhance the atmosphere. The pounding electronic score heightens tension, unease, and an ongoing sense of threat. Silence is used to create discomfort. The sounds of the action are raw and authentic: no exaggerated groans, just heavy breathing, stamping, and striking by Scott himself — each impact feels tangible. This amplifies the brutality and makes the fights palpable.Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning is not a film for everyone. It is brutal, dark, and sometimes confusing, yet also daring, innovative, and showcases Scott Adkins’ impressive physical performance. The grim colors, pulsating soundtrack, and hypnotic shots give the film an almost dreamlike quality, contrasting with the brutal fights. Those willing to look beyond the blood will see a film that raises questions about identity, memory, and control.
Dolph Lundgren returns as the psychotic Andrew Scott, but in a more existential and cult-like role, serving as one of the leaders of a rebellious UniSol group. When facing Scott Adkins, Dolph ultimately gets the worst of it against Adkins. He is relentlessly attacked with a knife — slashed on his feet, hands, back, and stomach, and even through his head. Scott Adkins is able to go all out on him.
Scott Adkins — Kill Stats including methodsGunfire (15)•9 Headshots•6 Other firearm shots (non‑head)Knife kills (stabbings): 3•Killed 1 man by stabbing him in the side of his neck•1 Knife through Lundgren’s head•And 1 knife through Van Damme’s body Blunt weapon / melee (decapitation / hammer): 2•1x club/blunt decapitation (Andrei Arlovski) •1 man hammered to death Melee / hand‑to‑hand (beaten, kicked, neck twist, etc.): 4•1 man beaten to death •1 man kicked to death •1x neck twist •1x man beaten and stomped 24 total Kills
Andrei Arlovski is a UniSol who gets “triggered” during a job and goes after John. He poses a direct threat to John and, together with Adkins, they delivers one of the most intense and brutal fights in the film. There are two fights with Andrei Arlovski and these are raw, physical, and intense, all choreographed realistically.Fighting in a sporting goods store, the two go head-to-head, using bats, weight plates, and anything else they can get their hands on to hit and kick each other. Scott later revealed that real bats were used during the filming of these scenes. This scene is often regarded as one of the best in Scott’s career.
This is what happens when Scott hits your head with a baseball bat.
If we had to pick one personal favorite scene from all of Adkins’ films, this one would rank high on our list. The way Scott walks up, his opponent fully in frame as the head explodes — but especially that look on Scott’s face as he walks on…
Scott Adkins talks exclusively about Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning
The Trailer:
A fun fact about the film is that Jean-Claude Van Damme’s son, Kristopher Van Varenberg, also has a small role in it. At that time, Kris often appeared in minor supporting roles in his father’s movies. Kris plays the assistant to a surgeon. They plan to operate on Scott Adkins’ character to make him forget his nightmares and traumatic memories. However, the operation doesn’t go as planned — Scott breaks free from the chair and the restraints holding him down, and all hell breaks loose…
