For the most part, when it comes to silly direct to DVD films in the U.S. and the film features a martial arts action star who once had silly but entertaining B action film in theatres, I pretty much have given up. But there is one exception, and that exception is Jean Claude Van Damme. I don’t know what it is with Van Damme’s DTV work; it always seems better quality in production than any of Dolph Lundgren and the Steven Seagal pictures. Unlike Lundgren or Seagal, Van Damme’s work seems to always have a rumor of going theatrical, but never does. Van Damme’s latest, The Shepherd: Border Patrol I think, was a hair of making that cut.

The story is a little muddy in places, but the gist of it is that a small Navy SEALS team, tired of the Government policy and unsatisfying ‘jobs’ in the middle east, decide to hire themselves as mercenaries. In a short period of time, they get into – and take over- a cocaine cartel, using illegal aliens to smuggle drugs across the US/Mexico borders. If they are stopped, some of these illegals are strapped with explosives, and with the touch of a remote button, they light up.

Out to stop them is a restructured Border patrol, which includes a renegade cop from New Orleans, Jack Robideaux (Van Damme), his partner Billy (Gary McDonald) and the no-nonsense head of operations Ramona Garcia (Natalie J. Robb). Not much is known about Robideaux except about his breakdown after the death of his daughter while serving on the New Orleans PD and that he carries around a pet rabbit around in the first reel of the film. Because of this and a brief, unessessary small town diner brawl, the low budget screams low budget. Then there’s talk of a mole within the Border Patrol, some hijinks with a local politician, and it’s almost time to give up on this film. Natalie Robb stiff line delivery doesn’t help matters. But…wait…

The bad SEALS get thier screen time, specifically henchman Karp (Scott Adkins of The Bourne Ultimatum) who gets to show off several wushu and kickboxing moves, and right then and there, an audience should expect a throw down with Robiedaux. There is indeed such an extended dance of death, and at worst it shows Van Damme is still underrated and very much in shape. At that scene’s best it puts Adkins in the limelight. I expect to see a lot more action films big and small with Scott Adkins. He puts on a good show. In fact, I think this Adkins-Van Damme showdown is one of the best martial arts action done on a DTV level.

There are some bits in Shepherd however, which is less surprising, for example when ‘the mole’ comes forward, it can be seen as coming a mile away. Then there’s miss emery board (or should I say bored) Natalie Robb, who seems miscast and…no, I take that back. She is miscast. Miscast and annoying. But at least folks get a Van Damme action scene here and there, torture fu, and that impressive fight.

******
Directed by: Isaac Florentine
Starring: Jean Claude Van Damme, Scott Adkins, Natalie Robb and Stephen Lord.