If you’ve been mainlining Scott Adkins movies lately, you’ve probably noticed one name popping up in the director's chair: Jesse V. Johnson. The guy is basically the godfather of modern low-to-mid-budget action cinema. He curates brutal, no-nonsense fight sequences that feel like they were choreographed in a cage rather than on a soundstage. Adkins has built half his late-career renaissance on Johnson’s films (Avengement, One Shot, Debt Collector series, etc.), and for good reason: Johnson gets martial arts. He respects it. He lets it breathe.
While Adkins is the obvious star of that partnership, Johnson has another recurring heavy hitter who deserves way more attention: Dominique Vandenberg, best known as the fight coordinator for Beowulf (2007) and stunt work on Mortal Kombat (1995).
You might not recognize the name at first. You might even do the classic “Who? Is that Ben Kingsley?" But once you see him move, you'll never forget the name. Vandenberg is the real deal: a former professional fighter with a resume that reads like a martial arts mixtape.
The Man Behind the Shaved Head and Beard
Dominique Vandenberg has been around longer than most people realize. His first credited role was as “Frack” in the gloriously trashy Barb Wire (1996) alongside Pamela Anderson, but that was just a cameo. The real story starts much earlier:
- Trained in Kyokushin Karate and Judo from childhood.
- Cross-trained in Muay Thai, Savate (French kickboxing), boxing, and Greco-Roman wrestling.
- Competed in full-contact karate tournaments and bare-knuckle events.
- Fought professionally in Thailand and Burma in the infamous “iron circle” Muay Thai bouts.
- Served in the French Foreign Legion’s elite 2nd REP parachute regiment for five years.
In other words, the dude has lived the life most action stars only pretend to have lived.
That pedigree shows up on screen. When Vandenberg throws a strike, it has weight and looks like it hurts. So, when he’s starring in a Jesse V. Johnson movie, the choreography feels dialed in because both people speak the same violent language.
The Vandenberg–Johnson Connection
Johnson clearly trusts Vandenberg’s authenticity. He keeps bringing him back, usually in roles that demand someone who can sell pain and punishment without stunt doubles doing 90% of the work. Here are the key ones worth checking out:
- Death Row the Tournament (1998), about futuristic tournament fights. It's a 12-minute short available on YouTube here and here.
- The Doorman (1999) and released as The Honorable (2002), Vanderberg plays a bouncer.
- Pit Fighter (2005) Vandenberg’s first lead role. A raw, ultra-violent martial-arts exploitation flick that feels like a love letter to underground fighting. If you want to see him unleashed, start here.
- Green Street Hooligans 2 (2009) He plays one of the more dangerous firm members. The street-brawl energy is nasty and grounded, exactly what you’d expect from someone who’s actually thrown hands.
- The Mercenary (2019 / 2020) Vandenberg stars as Maxx, the ice-cold killer-for-hire. This is peak Johnson–Vandenberg collaboration: tight, bloody, and full of inventive close-quarters combat. Easily one of Adkins’ best non-Adkins movies. My favorite of his among the lineup.
- Hell Hath No Fury (2021) Supporting role, but he makes every second count. The film’s intensity owes a lot to his physical presence.
- Boudica: Queen of War (2023) Another supporting turn, this time opposite Olga Kurylenko (who absolutely deserves her own deep-dive blog). Many fans consider this Johnson’s strongest directorial effort yet. Epic scope, vicious fights, and Vandenberg adding grit and tear-jerking drama to the historical carnage.
The Bottom Line
Jesse V. Johnson has quietly built a stable of actors who can actually fight, and Dominique Vandenberg is one of the crown jewels. Next time you see that shaved head and trimmed beard pop up in an action flick, don’t skip past him. Give the movie a chance. You’re watching someone who earned every punch he throws.
If you’re already down the Jesse V. Johnson rabbit hole thanks to Scott Adkins, do yourself a favor and add Vandenberg to your watch list. He’s the guy who makes the violence feel honest and brings stoic intensity to the screen.
What’s your favorite Johnson-directed banger? Or have you caught any of Vandenberg’s work before? Drop it below. I’m always hunting for the next hidden gem.
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