WFG RATING: A-

Lionsgate and Grindstone Entertainment presents a Daros Film/Film Mode Entertainment production in association with Green Dog Films and Agora Films. Directed and edited by Ernesto Diaz Espinoza. Produced by Scott Adkins, Craig Baumgarten, Clay Epstein, Jason Gurvitz, and Alvaro Gutierrez. Written by Mat Sansom; story by Sansom, Scott Adkins, Marko Zaror, and Ernesto Diaz Espinoza. Cinematography by Niccolo de la Fere. 

Stars Scott Adkins, Marko Zaror, Alanna de la Rossa, Lucho Velasco, Maria del Rosario Barreto, and Diana Hoyos.

It’s round three between martial arts powerhouses Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror in this exciting action packed thriller from Zaror collaborator Ernesto Diaz Espinoza.

Ex-convict Kris Chaney has been out of prison after a 15-year sentence. He has one thing in mind and that is a promise he made years ago. When Elisa, the daughter of notorious crime lord Vicente, is en route to school, Kris proceeds to take out the bodyguards and kidnap Elisa. At first, she is hesitant and temperamental. However, when she learns that Kris had known her mother, Lenore, and made a promise to keep her safe, Elisa slowly finds herself at a crossroads.

Meanwhile, Vicente, deterred by Elisa’s kidnapping, proceeds to get Elisa back by any means necessary. He informs all the criminal elements in Colombia to find her at any cost. However, things soon become complicated with the arrival of El Corvo, a professional hitman, who unbeknownst to him, is after Vicente for botching a major deal with him. And El Corvo knows Elisa is the key to get to Vicente. All roads lead to a potential showdown between ex-rivals and an unstoppable killer.

After their amazing showdowns in Isaac Florentine’s Undisputed III: Redemption in 2010 and Jesse V. Johnson’s Savage Dog in 2017, it was inevitable in the best way possible that we would get a round three between British martial arts ace and millennial legend Scott Adkins and the Chilean Dragon, Marko Zaror. However, this time around, taking the reins is Ernesto Diaz Espinoza, who has been a frequent collaborator of Zaror, where the previous films were more associated with Adkins. 

It was clear that these three together would come up with a concept that would once again highlight the skills of both fighters and yet, give those visuals in Latin America that highlighted what Espinoza brings to the table. Another major plus is the script by Mat Sansom, which thanks to the story by he, Adkins, Zaror, and Espinoza, gives you more insight as to why Adkins’ Kris kidnaps Alanna De La Rossa’s Elisa as well as the connections between he and Lucho Velasco’s crime boss Vicente and that between Vicente and Zaror’s Terminator-like killer El Corvo. As a matter of fact, El Corvo should get his own movie where his backstory is revealed perhaps in an anime form as he has that look of an anime villain.

As for the fight scenes, they are nicely choreographed by Zaror, who gets to show a grounded kickboxing style when it comes to Adkins where when it comes to El Corvo, shows that menacing side to where in one particular scene, he singlehandedly takes down an entire mini operation using both gunfire and martial arts, killing anyone, and I do mean anyone, who gets in his way, regardless. The finale, where the story comes together, has quite a level of insanity in terms of location, but works quite well. 

Diablo once again showcases the talents of Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror quite well, and with Ernesto Diaz Espinoza at the helm, it has an intricate story with twists that keep you wanting more and of course, there are quite a few battles between the two powerhouses that will satisfy fans. 

The film will be released in select theaters, On Demand, and Digital on June 13.