SNIPER: ASSASSIN'S END

US, 2020, 95 minutes, Colour.

Chad Michael Murray, Sayaka Akimoto, Tom Berenger, Ryan Robbins, Lochlyn Munro, Emily Tennant, Michael Johnson, Vincent Gale.

Directed by Kaare Andrews.

It is surprising to find that the Sniper franchise, beginning in 1993, has continued for almost 30 years, the original sniper, Tom Berenger, appearing in almost all of them. Then, there was the introduction of his son, played by Chad Michael Murray being introduced and also appearing in, to date, five films.

As the title indicates, this is a film about assassins, specifically a woman Japanese assassin who completes a task but lays clues that the sniper involved is Murray. He is tracked down by a very earnest’s CIA investigator but Murray is able to elude his pursuers and goes to visit his father.

There is further investigation to unmask the real assassin but she appears at the father’s house, is captured, is turned by the CIA and agrees to participate in action that will root out the corporate villains and hired assassins behind the initial assassination.

Which is what happens, as the audience would expect, quite a number of fights, some moments of reminiscence in chats between father and son, and the father having the opportunity to fire the bullet that could save his son’s life.

Parallel to this story is that of another agent, Zero (Ryan Robbins) who has an extraordinary capacity for moving from city to city on the American West coast, unmasking villains, being captured, needing to be rescued and final fights – and a postscript where he is talking to the assassin, preparing the way for a sequel.

1. The longevity of the sniper franchise, Tom Berenger continuing, Chad Michael Murray continuing?
2. The range of cities visited, Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, the Montana countryside? The musical score?
3. The opening, the assassination, the skill of the assassin? Leaving evidence for Brandon Beckett to be the killer? The response of the authorities, Franklin, his staff, the pursuit of Brandon, capturing him, the interrogation, his being on vacation? Being transported, the assassin, the thugs, the attack on the car, Brandon survival, driving away, cars, the parking lot, the driver? The lift in the truck, making his way to see his father?
4. The background of Thomas Becket, the many episodes, his relationship with his son? Living in the backwoods, the sequences of his reminiscing about his past, targets, shooting, comrades death? His supporting his son?
5. The background of the pharmaceutical company, the presence on stage, the issue of deals?
6. Zero, his role as an agent, interrogating Brandon, the clashes with Franklin? The range of his investigations, city to city, the company, the tough security guard and confrontation, the injured man in hospital, tough, pulling a gun? His keeping in touch with agent Clover? The phone calls?
7. The range of thugs, the truck, the assassination attempt, the deaths?
8. The setting up, the police at the Beckett’s hideaway, the assassin, her presence, Brandon and the fight with her, her being taken? Franklin and his decisions?
9. Zero, going south, the island, tracking down the managers of the company, getting to the island, the encounter with the security guard, his being the master organiser? With the head of the company?
10. The assassin, the situation, the conditions explained to her, her going in with Brandon, the fights? Brandon taken by the card? His father, the possibility of the shot, hesitation, firing?
11. Satisfactory ending? Action show? And zero persuading the assassin to be ready for a sequel?