James Clarke, Daniel Shepherd (director)
(studio)
15 (certificate)
116 (length)
24 January 2025 (released)
16 h
A very sweary opening with a drug deal turning into a firefight gives the impression of a gang related territorial skirmish.
Going back nine days Andy (Tip Cullen) is in a dead-end job with a manager he dislikes. An army veteran Andy is having difficulty adjusting to civilian life and prone to blackouts. And he is still traumatised by an incident in Afghanistan that involved a child and a suicide attack.
He’s grounded by his daughter who is a bit of tearaway with a boyfriend Cassius (Daniel Davids) while a bit dodgy appears to care for her. However at a party Rachel (Saskia Rose) is taunted into taking heroin, to which she reacts badly and dies in a distressing scene.
Andy gets hold of her mobile and with the evidence begins a mission to get the people who sold the drugs and the dealers. However he takes on one too many and is only saved by his ex-marine mates: Smudge (Tom Leigh), Sledge (Luke Solomon) and Harper (Steven Blades). They unite to take on the drug dealers and lords.
Directed by James Clarke and Daniel Shepherd, who wrote it with Sam Seeley, Sunray is a fairly straightforward revenge thriller with some terrific action sequences and usual high-performing drug lord, with underlings and here also a son.
Where they try, and do, make a difference is with the backstories of the four ex-marines. The writer, directors and some of the actors served in the forces and so provide some authenticity to the discipline of their mission against the dealers As well their difficulties adjusting to life after the military. Flashbacks to their army days provide the viewer with enough background to understand the complexities they faced as soldiers and later as civilians.
There’s also a drug gang turf war, a relationship issue between drug boss Lucian (Kevin Golding) his son Cassius. As such the film looks very busy and the script starts to suffer with some ropey dialogue. That is forgiven during the action sequences that are very well handled.
Overall while there are action sequences this is not an action film in the traditional sense. In amongst the various plot strands there’s a story being told that is potentially far more harrowing as the viewer sees Andy’s struggles with post military life.
Sunray: Fallen Soldier will be available on digital platforms and in select cinemas across the UK from 24th January 2025.
