Brute Corps – Dark Force Entertainment (4k UHD)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1971
Director: Jerry Jameson
Writers: Richard L. Huff, Robert Easton
Cast: Alex Rocco, Felton Perry, Paul Carr, Joseph Kaufmann, Jennifer Billingsley, Michael Pataki, Charles Macaulay, Roy Jenson, Joseph Bernard, Parker West

Release Date: July 14th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 87 Minutes 41 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"A group of hardened mercenaries is assembled to transport a kidnapped woman across a harsh desert landscape, each man motivated by money, power, or personal gain. As the journey unfolds, underlying tensions and competing agendas begin to surface, turning the mission into a volatile clash of egos and desires. The captive woman becomes both a bargaining chip and a catalyst for conflict, as alliances shift and the group descends into violence. What begins as a straightforward job devolves into a brutal struggle for control and survival, where trust is nonexistent and betrayal is inevitable." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 4K restoration anamorphic widescreen 16x9 master from original 35m IP."

Brute Corps comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 60.6 GB

Feature: 55.9 GB

Outside of some very minor debris, the source looks excellent. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, there are no issues with compression, and the image retains an organic appearance.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented. 

Extras:

Extras for this release include an interview with actors Felton Perry and Parker West (31 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles) and an audio commentary with screenwriter/producer Michael Kars.

Summary:

Jerry Jameson directed Brute Corps. He mostly works in television, with his most notable theatrical film being Airport '77.

Two hippie hitchhikers cross paths with mercenaries on their way to a mission in Central America.

Brute Corps is an exploitation film with some counterculture elements. The mercenaries prioritize having a good time over their next mission. There is only so much a group of guys can do before they get bored. Fortunately for them, along comes a pair of hitchhikers, one of whom is a very attractive, sexually free woman. From there, the mercenaries compete to see who will be the one who gets her.

The opening setup does a phenomenal job establishing the characters, especially the mercenaries, who quickly kill a group of bikers who taunt them. This is not a one-off moment of aggression, as each person who comes in contact with them experiences their brutality. Though they are trained killers, it is clear that they lack any impulse control. That said, all but one of the mercenaries have no redeeming qualities, which makes their downfalls all the more enjoyable.

All around, the performances suit the story that unfolds well, especially Alex Rocco’s (The Godfather) portrayal of Wicks, a sadistic mercenary who’s determined to capture a woman. Jennifer Billingsley (White Lightning), in the role of a female hitchhiker, provides an ample amount of eye candy. Another performance of note is Joseph Bernard (The Baby) in the role of a cowardly sheriff who lets the mercenaries run wild in his small town.  

At 88 minutes, the narrative moves briskly from one violent outburst to the next. For a film that was made on a modest budget, Brute Crops does an excellent job maximizing its resources. Ultimately, Brute Corps is an intense exploitation film that is very effective at delivering moments that make you feel uneasy.

Brute Corps gets a first-rate release from Dark Force Entertainment that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and two informative extras. Recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer