Sunray: Fallen Soldier Review

Andy, a veteran Royal Marine seeks revenge on those responsible for the death of his daughter. Something that angers a local crime syndicate connected to the tragedy. And when they try to stop him, he calls upon members of his old team for help.

On the face of it Sunray: Fallen Soldier is a pretty standard action/revenge thriller. A man fuelled by loss – thanks to a heavy dose of ‘fridging’ – goes on a blood-soaked rampage. The Guardian despised it so much they reviewed it twice! If that doesn’t make you want to watch it, I don’t know what will. But what makes Sunray interesting is that it both stars and is made by former Royal Marines. Directors James Clarke and Sam Shepherd set the tone perfectly with a brilliant opening scene in which our heroes dispatch members of an illegal drugs operation with incredible proficiency – Luke Solomon as ‘Sledge’ even does it sporting a moustache and Hawaiian shirt under his tactical gear. Think Harry Brown meets Act of Valor, only these marines can actually act.

While it doesn’t exactly glorify violence, Sunray is respectful of those who serve and what it takes to do the job, not to mention what it costs. Tip Cullen’s portrayal of Andy is genuinely hard-hitting. His conversations with his therapist (Gemma Knight Jones) highlight how it must feel trying to reintegrate into the world at home. We see several sides of him; the man struggling under the weight of all that he’s been through, who feels his world falling apart, isolated from all that he knows, and the marine in search of a mission, of purpose, desperately seeking to belong. Which only makes this story more tragic, that in a roundabout way his daughter’s death gives him what he’s looking for, and the movie doesn’t ever shy away from that gritty, grim reality. Confucius’ old saying about digging two graves certainly applies, only in Andy’s case the famous philosopher got the number wrong. And yet, despite all the tragedy and pain, you can’t help but root for Andy.

Sunray is an interesting lens through which to view the struggles many veterans face, precisely because it is made by veterans. Identity, humanity, morality. These are all themes that the movie explores. Tapping into the idea that members of the armed forces are almost expected to switch between modes as they transition between warzones and home. Coping mechanisms for which we see in Andy’s friends; Smudge (Tom Leigh) is the guy who tries to take care of everyone else, and the moral compass of the group, while Harper (Steven Blades) is a kind of warrior poet/philosopher, trying to process what he’s been through, and Sledge (Luke Solomon) – the man with the stache – he could almost be the most complicated of all. On the face of it, despite his superb moustache and stellar fashion choices, he’s a bit of a jock; over the top, in your face, and ready to get stuck in. But is it possible that this is just a smoke screen? An attempt to hide his pain? It’s never overtly stated, but both the character’s behaviour and Solomon’s performance certainly had me wondering. Like I said, these guys can act, and they bring a striking level of authenticity to proceedings.

Another thing they are very good at is action. Every scene in which Echo team are let loose looks like beautifully organised chaos. Mainly because they not only look like they know what they’re doing, they actually do know what they’re doing. Everything from the way they move, to the lingo and weapons handling, and most importantly the banter, it’s all very real. And because the directors are also former marines, they know the best ways to shoot it, to the point where it all feels quite immersive. With that authenticity comes a brutality, after all violence is messy, something Clarke and Shepherd rightfully want to make clear. A perfect example of this being a gripping Daredevil-esque corridor scene in which Andy unleashes hell with a hammer and a nail gun. Then there’s the time Sledge actually gets to use his namesake.

Naturally, the actions of Echo team somewhat irks the local crime boss – played with a delightful blend of malice and arrogance by Kevin Golding – causing Andy’s messy quest for revenge to explode into a massive finale featuring an epic mobile firefight through the English countryside. Obviously this kind of violence is not a regular occurrence here in the UK, but it’s no different than John Wick or Bryan Mills shooting up Paris, or wherever they happen to be. Go big or go home, I guess. And Sunray certainly goes big. Again the tactics all look fantastic, as do the players, and the fact that the entire movie was made using airsoft replica firearms makes it all the more impressive. But before you go thinking that this is simply an action movie made by men of action, there is a curious twist to the story – clues to which are hidden throughout. It has been called absurd by some, and while it does bring some events into question, it also drives at the very issues that those behind Sunray: Fallen Soldier are attempting to bring to the fore.

Sunray: Fallen Soldier is available to rent or buy on Amazon, Apple, Google Play, YouTube, and Sky Store.