Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Invasion U.S.A. 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 26, 2024

In 1984, “Red Dawn” offered a look at an American invasion by foreign aggressors, with co-writer/director John Milius trying to sell the idea of Colorado teenagers fighting to defend their land from occupation. Many critics scoffed at the idea of adolescents turning into patriotic war machines, leaving an opening for 1985’s “Invasion U.S.A.” to sell a more direct visual of American heroism. Would you laugh at Chuck Norris? Well, possibly, but the star goes full steeliness in the actioner, which also covers battle zone happenings between vicious foreign intruders and terrified locals. Director Joseph Zito (“Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,” “Missing in Action”) seems to be hanging on for dear life with the endeavor, offering a wildly uneven and shockingly inert take on a surefire premise that welcomes big screen hellraising. There’s Norris with guns and a growl, mobs of enemies, and locations to blow up. And yet, “Invasion U.S.A.” feels too leisurely at times, only occasionally working up the energy to sell the central idea of home defense.

Rostov (Richard Lynch) is a Russian operative looking to bring America to its knees, using Miami as a launch point for an international effort to infiltrate and destroy the country. As his plan begins to take shape, chaos erupts, with Rostov’s armies working to blow up suburbia and decimate the city, with such horrors reaching the Everglades, where ex-CIA agent Hunter (Chuck Norris) lives in peace. When his friend is murdered and he learns his old enemy Rostov is behind the takeover, Hunter declares war on the invaders, using his skills and anger to fight back against violent men, staying one step ahead of local police and Dahlia (Melissa Prophet), a reporter trying to document the event.

Rostov is an angry man, prone to violence where he shoots men in the crotch (“He hates these penises! Stay away from the penises!”), and he burns especially bright when thinking about Hunter, his sworn enemy. However, there’s a war to start in the picture…I guess. “Invasion U.S.A.” isn’t big on explaining the details of Rostov’s plans, which seem to involve a small group of men taking over major cities, while the American government stays out of the fight, leaving defense to governors. The details of everything aren’t worked out in the movie, with the screenplay (credited to Norris and James Bruner) basically arranging a major threat in vague terms, which allows Hunter to respond in warrior fashion, pulled from airboat and frog-eatin’ bliss in the everglades to pursue an old enemy trying to blow up the U.S. one street at a time.

The invasion in “Invasion U.S.A.” begins 33 minutes into the movie, with the opening act going very slow as it explores funding for Rostov’s army and the labor of Hunter’s personal life. The villain is disgusted by America, and the writing is too, depicting Miami as a hellhole of drug dealers, prostitutes, and gangs, making one wonder what Hunter is ultimately trying to save. Nothing really happens in the feature for quite some time, finding Zito dragging along with useless moments, including a jump scare and a nightmare sequence, almost refusing to get to the Big Show of the endeavor, which finally starts showing signs of life at the 55-minute mark, when Rostov’s forces battle with Hunter inside a shopping mall. It’s here where “Invasion U.S.A.” reaches its full potential, offering an orgy of violence and dicey stunt work as Hunter, armed with Uzis and a truck, aims to kill his way to Rostov.

Invasion U.S.A. 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray

"Invasion U.S.A." was initially issued by Shout Factory in 2016, and returns with a UHD release courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome, listed as "newly scanned and restored from its 35mm original camera negative." There's fresh visual life to the endeavor, with the viewing experience capturing detail, exploring rougher facial surfaces and other skin particulars baking in the Florida sun. Costuming remains fibrous. Exterior action retains excellent dimension, offering a full view of street wars and remote swampland locations. Interiors are deep, exploring living spaces and the expanse of the shopping mall attack. Color is alert, with rich greenery throughout, and primaries are big on period style and signage. Skin tones are mostly natural, with a few hotter moments. Blacks are deep, doing well with evening events, preserving the scope of the production. Highlights are largely tasteful, working with intense sunshine and plenty of orangey explosions. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition, with some very mild scratches at times.

Invasion U.S.A. 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix handles with some authority, doing well with dialogue exchanges. Voices sound distinct, preserving some quieter moments with Chuck Norris's performance. Scoring remains appreciable, with a defined presence on the track, leading with sharp instrumentation (including crisp percussion) and dramatic support. Surrounds aren't commanding, but feel out musical moods and atmospherics, capturing some community chaos and movement. Low-end is satisfactory as explosions dominate the feature. Sound effects carry authority.

Invasion U.S.A. 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (26 pages) offers an essay by author Austin Trunick.

• Commentary #1 features director Joseph Zito.

• Commentary #2 features author Austin Trunick.

• Commentary #3 features director Joseph Zito and fan Michael Felsher.

• "Operation Invasion U.S.A." (31:21, HD) is an interview with director Joseph Zito, who shares an anecdote about feature's reception in Romania, meeting a fan before discovering its impact on the country during its revolution. Making a movie that "was supposed to be fun," Zito recalls his experience with Cannon Films, building on his success with "Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter" and "Missing in Action," learning how to work with Chuck Norris, who had a soldier-like approach to acting. The formation of "Invasion U.S.A." is detailed, with Zito aiming to inch away from Norris's initial idea for the endeavor, eventually shooting the picture in Florida and Georgia. The bigness of the production is analyzed, finding the director dealing with heavy machinery and use of the National Guard to help complete battle sequences. Technical credits are also celebrated, with the crew helping the helmer get through a speedy schedule.

• "Writing the Real Thing" (23:30, HD) is an interview with screenwriter James Bruner, who followed his passion for movies from Wisconsin to California, learning, via the library, how to construct a screenplay. Creating "An Eye for an Eye," Bruner managed to impress producers and build a starring vehicle for Chuck Norris, forming a relationship that carried into an early draft of "Missing in Action," with Bruner's version ultimately rejected. Dealing with Cannon Films, Bruner started to give "Invasion U.S.A." some shape, with the script changing quite a bit before cameras rolled, aiming to keep Norris comfortable with the project. Highlights from "Invasion U.S.A" are shared, including casting and production achievements, and the interview recalls his interactions with producer Menahem Golan.

• "The Stories We're Telling" (22:04, HD) is an interview with editor Dan Lowenthal, who got his start in adult films before scoring slightly more mainstream work on 1980's "Mother's Day." Befriending director Joseph Zito, Lowenthal was eventually called in to help on "Friday the 13th The Final Chapter," which was falling behind schedule. Their collaboration continued on the "Invasion U.S.A." shoot, with editing happening as the movie was being shot, working to put the large-scale endeavor together as quickly as possible. Action set pieces are analyzed, with Lowenthal marveling over Zito's access to various locations, also celebrating second unit efforts. The interviewee also discusses his approach to story and the particulars of his career, grateful to Zito for professional opportunities.

• "Heroic Moments" (16:18, HD) is a video conference interview with composer Jay Chattaway, who tracks his initial love of music, following inspiration from Henry Mancini. Contacts are traced, with Chattaway eventually receiving a chance to prove himself with quickie work on "Missing in Action." The interviewee also offers his experiences creating "Invasion U.S.A." music, focusing on themes and rhythms for the action feature.

• "It's in the Eyes" (14:11, HD) is an interview with actress Melissa Prophet, who began her career as a singer, also joining the beauty queen circuit as a young woman. Winning a few titles and losing some contests, Prophet was finally discovered, becoming an actress for a short amount of time in the 1980s, including work with Martin Scorsese. The interviewee recalls her experience during the "Invasion U.S.A." shoot, including time with Chuck Norris, making sure to seem shorter than the star of the feature. Prophet was ultimately disappointed in her performance.

• "Do You Like Talking?" (7:24, HD) is a video conference interview with actor James Pax, who was trained at The Actors Studio, building a resume on the stage in New York City. Admiring Chuck Norris, Pax was excited to work with the star, eventually reuniting with him at a convention appearance. Praise for "Invasion U.S.A." director Joseph Zito is shared, and the interviewee details his transition from acting to writing.

• "Cannon Carnage" (17:47, HD) is a 2015 examination of "Invasion U.S.A." makeup effects with interviewees Tom Savini, Greg Nicotero, and Howard Berger.

• "Loose Cannons" (29:04, HD) is a 2016 interview with screenwriter James Bruner.

• T.V. Spot (:36, SD) is offered.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:37, HD) is included.

Invasion U.S.A. 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Invasion U.S.A." has highlights, finding energy with displays of physical conflict, including impressively large-scale (at least for Cannon Films) battle scenes where the National Guard faces off against Rostov's army. And there's some interesting horror when the bad guys dress up as cops and guardsman to help gain public trust before committing massacres, turning Americans against their own. The central image of Norris in Eastwood-ian mode has its appeal, but the effort almost seems reluctant to use the star, only really going full '80s action glory in the second half of the feature, and even then such comic book escapism is sluggishly staged. Editing woes seem to plague the production, which could use a significant tightening and rethinking of dramatic priorities. Instead of providing non-stop fun, "Invasion U.S.A." throttles excitement, and it's not Norris-y enough, creating a frustrating viewing experience with a seemingly perfect concept for one-man-army entertainment.