There is rarely a moment when our Editor doesn’t remind us about his military service and that on his last tour alone he killed over one hundred enemy soldiers. It’s not quite as impressive as it might sound when we have to remind him that Call of Duty on the xbox does not count. But what does have authenticity is ‘Sunray : Fallen Soldier’ co-written and directed by James Clarke & Daniel Shepherd and starring Rip Cullen, Tom Leigh, Luke Solomon, Steven Blades because all of them are former British Royal Marines.
Cullen plays Andy Coleman now in civvy street having spent his entire career in the armed forces and is struggling to assimilate back into a job at hardware store, The Toolshed (or the House of Commons as we call it). But it’s his daughter that triggers him, or more specifically the death of his daughter after taking drugs. Determined to find those responsible for her demise he calls on three friends from his military days, Smudger (Tom Leigh) Sledge (Luke Solomon) and Harper (Steven Blades who is something of a boxer Tony Bellew look-a-like). Slowly but surely they find themselves working their way through the layers of a crime syndicate.
As might be expected with such a background the four squad members are utterly convincing in the many action sequences to such a degree that its a reminder that many actors who go to boot camp fin preparation for on screen military roles just don’t exude the authenticity that’s seen on screen here. You really do believe that these four men are ex-military and their banter and camaraderie rings true. Added to that is the execution of those set pieces that are handled so well – an opening sequence pulls you into the action and equally a scene set in a quarry filmed in one shot, impresses.
But whilst the action convinces the scripting needs an overhaul with its structure and plotting fractured certainly in the first act that often sees the story hop back and fore in time to the detriment of the narrative. But there’s also the occasional plot holes and an ending that pulls the rug from under you. However for a film that was crowd funded Sunray Fallen Soldier is far better than might ever be expected that will leave audiences wanting to see more of this four man squad.
related feature : Scott Adkins talks fear of heights, stunts & injuries in his new action film, ‘Take Cover’
related feature : Rise of the Footsoldier films rated….
We chat to the cast and co-director here ……
Here’s the Sunray Fallen Solider trailer…..
