SNIPER:
ASSASSIN'S END (Blu-ray Review)
Starring
Chad Michael Collins, Sayaka Akimoto, Tom Berenger, Lochlyn Munro,
Ryan Robbins, Michael Jonsson. Directed by Kaare Andrews. (2020/95
min)
FROM
SONY
Review
by Tiger the Terribleđź
For
those of you keeping count, this is the eighth film in a franchise
that began with 1993's Sniper, which remains the only one that
was ever released in theaters.
And
for those of you keeping score, Sniper: Assassin's End marks
Chad Michael Collins' fifth go-round as the main protagonist,
surpassing original star Tom Berenger, who still pops-up to boost the
film's marquee value. But while the franchise will almost certainly
continue, the conclusion of this one surprisingly suggests another passing
of the baton.
For
now, though, Collins returns as Brandon Becket, a military
sharpshooter just like his old man, Thomas (Berenger). He's on
vacation when we first meet him, but it's cut short when he's framed
for the assassination of a foreign president. Hunted by both the CIA
and a mysterious female assassin (Sayaka
Akimoto), Brandon seeks-out help from Dad, now retired and living in a
fortified cabin in the woods. Meanwhile, agent “Zero” Rosenberg
(Ryan Robbins) is trying to uncover who's really behind the
assassination.
 |
| Yes...they met on Tinder. |
Assassin's
End is serviceable budget-conscious action fodder. A bit more
plodding and less violent than the previous installment (Sniper:
Ultimate Kill), the film still has its moments, one particular
highlight being a tension-filled, three-way sniper-stand-off, which
sort of reminded me of the climax in The Good, the Bad and the
Ugly. Once again, Collins is decent-but-unremarkable in the lead role, while
Berenger is mostly on-hand for franchise continuity. Conversely, Akimoto throws a lot of zeal into her character, amusingly known
as Lady Death and decked-out in standard-issue skin-tight leather
required for all female assassins.
In
the unofficial race to crank-out the most direct-too-video sequels no
one asked for, the Sniper
franchise has an edge over such low-watt fare as The
Marine. And fortunately,
newcomers can join the party any time, since prior knowledge of
the other films isn't really a prerequisite. Like the others, Sniper:
Assassin's End isn't
especially memorable, but there's enough action and implausible fun
to maintain interest on a dull evening. The door is left open
for a sequel, of course, but also hints the series is ready to move
on from the Becket family.
KITTY CONSENSUS:
NOT BAD. LIKE CAT CHOW.
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