The 80s Filipino action flick that dares ask: what if revolution had motorcycle chase scenes?
Ambush is a 1988 Filipino action film directed by Francis 'Jun' Posadas and written by Jerry O. Tirazona. It stars Ronnie Ricketts, Dick Israel, Sonny Parsons, E.R. Ejercito, Leo Lazaro, Bobby Zshornack, and Beverly Vergel. The film depicts an armed struggle between the New People's Army's Sparrow Unit and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Practical Effects
Pre-CGI explosions that genuinely risked everyone's safety.
Acting
Ronnie Ricketts' committed intensity sells the propaganda.
Production
Genuine NPA/AFP hardware sourced who-knows-how.
Director
Francis Posadas
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during Cory Aquino's presidency, this was one of few mainstream films depicting NPA sympathetically—reportedly Ricketts had actual leftist sympathies despite his action-star image.
Director Posadas allegedly filmed real military hardware without official clearance; some 'extras' in AFP uniforms may have been actual soldiers who thought they were in a legitimate production.
PH
