I’m a hardcore action film fan as much as I am a hardcore horror film fan. It all started decades ago at the local video stores, where I could rent almost anything my heart desired. The ’80s and ’90s gave birth to practical effects-filled horror films and action movies where you didn’t need special effects because the star was all you needed.
Those action stars all had to start somewhere, and while Bloodsport (1988) first brought mainstream eyes to Jean-Claude Van Damme, it was No Retreat No Surrender (1986) that gave him his start. It was a small role, but nonetheless, it was highly impactful, especially for someone like me, a highly impressionable 12-year-old. It was a little silly, but the action was like nothing I’d ever seen before.
At that time, I just thought the fight scenes were awesome; I didn’t realize how impactful it would be on pop culture. It was so successful that it spawned two sequels and, now unbeknownst to me, a feature-length documentary called The Untold Story of No Retreat No Surrender (2026) from filmmakers Oliver Harper and Christopher Stratton. This is a documentary I never realized I needed until now, and it far surpasses anything I could have hoped for.
No Retreat No Surrender follows Jason Stillwell (Kurt McKinney), who, after seeing his father crippled and getting bullied himself, turns to an unlikely source for help, Bruce Lee’s ghost (Kim Tae-jeong). Sensei Lee trains him to be the best to defeat a vicious opponent, Ivan the Russian (Jean-Claude Van Damme), while bonding with his new friend R.J. (J.W. Fails) and trying to win Kelly’s (Kathie Sileno) heart. It was directed by Corey Yuen (The Transporter) and written by Keith Strandberg (Bloodmoon).
No Retreat No Surrender is pretty simple, so I wasn’t quite sure how a documentary like this would work, but it’s pretty fantastic. The film’s subject was an underdog tale, and this documentary tells the same story, only about the film itself. Despite the odds, No Retreat No Surrender became a success on cable and video, while fighting off much bigger opponents.
Anything you may have ever thought about No Retreat, it’s covered in this documentary. The way it was cast, how it was written, even the cheesiness of it, all addressed and looked at through the loving eyes of the cast, crew, and fans alike, even some famous ones like Scott Adkins (The Rip).
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Kurt McKinney, J.W. Fails, Kathie Sileno, Peter “Sugarfoot” Cunningham, Dale Jacoby, even Ruckins and Roz McKinley, the two featured dancers, appear to share stories about filming and how the movie has affected their lives. The only one missing is Van Damme, but having been in a similar situation with him when seeking interviews for my book, I can only imagine what they went through just to end up disappointed.
There’s plenty of interesting trivia, like the fact that there were two scores, for international and domestic, that Joe Satriani played on one. It also dives into why McKinney didn’t appear in the sequels. While the coverage was light, they do cover the sequels with interviews from Cynthia Rothrock, Matthias Hues, and series producer NG See Yuen.
Also missing is director Corey Yuen, who sadly passed away in 2022. It was also a pleasure to see my friend Sam Firstenberg (American Ninja) show up for a little insight on the genre during that time period.
No Retreat was also one of the first films to combine an American story and cast with Hong Kong-style action. It was groundbreaking and left its mark on the hearts of martial arts film fans worldwide. Directors Harper and Stratton move their audience with the tale of a silly action movie that defied the odds to become a classic.
Even looking back, I would watch No Retreat, No Surrender over and over again. I knew the dialogue, I knew the theme song, I could even mimic Van Damme’s Russian accent, and to this day, I remember and love it all. To see such a compelling documentary about something so important to me is nothing short of a real treat.
The initial release of The Untold Story of No Retreat No Surrender is sold out, but there are big plans, so keep an eye out for updates. This documentary, filled with action, laughs, revelations, and heart, you won’t want to miss.
