“Aren’t you breaking some super spy trouble for telling me all this?”
John Doe is a “soldier’s soldier” and now he’s under their control. Robert Patrick (The X-Files, Terminator 2) says this as the lead scientist responsible for this top-secret program which turns Former special forces soldier (Byron Mann) into a one-stop killing machine thanks to a chip implant tells us in the opening segment of Dark Asset.
It’s a powerful thought. A man under the control of any government agency? Imagine the possibilities. Dark Asset wisely explores the implications of this situation with a story which weaves together all those super soldiers who came before . . . and all the chip’s disengagements after the killing is done.
And it’s the territory of Writer/Director Michael Winnick’s new low budget action flick. Sure, this largely formalic trope-trodding super-soldier tale had been John Wicked to death, but - thanks to Mann’s lean and mean performance and Winnick’s doubling-down on the sexy flashbang of political cybernetics - Dark Asset manages to stumble into its low own budget groove. . .
. . . over cocktails. Wait. What?! John Doe escapes the top secret lab. We knew it was coming, because when the chip malfunctions, even a kill switch can’t stop this killing machine. The doctor explains - when John Doe escapes - that this new wrinkle is a minor setback, yet feels strongly that they can still control him . . . as he enters a swanky hotel in his white lambo. He isn’t even trying to hide. 
You see, Dark Asset has several stories to tell and John Doe is going to tell them - all involving an upgrade to this spy’s sleeper agent story - to the slinky red-dress wearing Jane (Helena Mattsson) and, with her entrance, the film warms up. The narratives are interesting and violent and add to the mystery of John Doe’s overall mission at this hotel bar, but they also ease up on the gas as each story becomes so involved, we forget about the two patrons sitting in the hotel bar.
And we shouldn’t. This is a tale of betrayal, conspiracy, and high-stakes action as one test subject attempts to expose and dismantle the project he’s a part of: one brick at a time. But it’s not going to be easy. There are a few twists coming as all is not what it seems, especially when dealing with a work in progress.
The action is tense and so is the drama as justice thanks to John Doe’s mission finds its Dark Asset. The film will be in theaters, VOD and On Demand on September 22.
MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime: 90 mins
Director: Michael Winnick
Writer: Michael Winnick; Terri Farley-Teruel
Cast: Byron Mann; Robert Patrick; Helena Mattsson
Genre: Action | Thriller
Tagline: Programmed for Vengeance.
Memorable Movie Quote:
Distributor: Saban Films
Official Site:
Release Date: September 22, 2023
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: In this adrenaline-fueled action film, an ordinary soldier becomes the subject of a top-secret experimental program. Under the guise of enhancing his combat abilities, the program transforms him into a lethal living weapon. As the John Doe delves deeper into the project, he uncovers the horrifying truth behind the program's objectives and the dark intentions of his creator. Fueled by a thirst for justice and driven by a desire for vengeance, the soldier breaks free from his captors and embarks on a relentless mission to dismantle the program while navigating a dangerous web of betrayal, conspiracy, and high-stakes action.
