WFG RATING: B+

Vertigo Entertainment presents a Sunray Productions film. Directed, lensed, and edited by Daniel Shepherd and James Clarke. Written and produced by Daniel Shepherd, Sammy Seeley, and James Clarke.

Stars Tip Cullen, Tom Leigh, Luke Solomon, Steven Blades, Karline Grace-Paseda, Alex Montagnani, Daniel Davids, Saskia Rose, and Doireann May White. 

A former soldier goes to great lengths to avenge his daughter in this action thriller starring and created by former Royal Marine Commandos.

Andrew Coleman was once part of an elite squadron of Marine Commandos known as the Echo Team. Returning to normal life, Andrew has been estranged from wife Elaine and works a humdrum life in a hardware store. He suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and sees a therapist every week. He soon will learn his world is about to be turned even more upside down.

Andrew’s daughter Rachel goes to a party with her boyfriend Cassius. When Cassius leaves to take care of business, Rachel tries drugs for the first time and it is also her last time as she dies of a suspected overdose. A devastated Andrew becomes fueled with rage and vengeance as he decides to find out who is responsible. He gets help from his old crew, consisting of Smudge, Harper, and Sledge. Together, they are determined to take the drug dealers down once and for all. 

Back in 2012, a film called Act of Valor featured a cast of real-life active U.S. Navy SEALs and it was a well-regarded film among fans even though it was not so much among critics. Over a decade has passed and we have the UK’s answer to that very film. Starring and created by former members of the UK’s Royal Marines, this is a pretty good action thriller filled with some twists, a subplot connected to the main story, and a humanistic look at the protagonist, played by Tip Cullen (who has a resemblance to South African actor Sean Michael Cameron). 

Cullen excels in the role of Andrew, whose military past has caused him not only to have PTSD, but also estranged from his ex-wife and daughter. While in some films where we have a PTSD-stricken hero talk about his or her emotions to a therapist (and it is seen here as well), the writing trio of Daniel Shepherd, Sammy Seeley, and James Clarke show us flashbacks of Andrew and his team in battle and in one pivotal scene, when the group reunites, an emotional moment reveals the fate of a fellow soldier. 

A major subplot involves the character of Cassius, the boyfriend of Andrew’s deceased daughter, as he also searches for clues as to what happened. However, as one can possibly guess, he is well connected and finds himself partly responsible for what had happened. However, there is more beneath the surface and a twist is thrown in as while Andrew seeks revenge, there is a war brewing between two drug factions as well. By the third act, it all comes together quite smoothly. Well, not smoothly when it comes to guns blazing and all. 

Sunray: Fallen Soldier is a well-written and planned action thriller with former Royal Marines in the lead roles and has some nice intricate twists and emotions throughout. Definitely one for action fans.

The film will be released in select theaters in the UK and North America on January 24, 2025.