SNIPER: SPECIAL OPS
US, 2016, 84 minutes, Colour.
Steven Seagal, Robert Van Dam, Tim Abell, Charlene Amoia, Daniel Booko, Jason- Shane Scott.
Directed by Fred Olen Ray.
If one has a strong talent for something, one should continue working in it. Decades ago, Steven Seagal found that he had a talent for action films, not acting in itself, that is something he is not particularly good at, but producing and starring in action films. He has been quite prolific through the decades.
This film is for the action audience and straight to DVD or other popular means of downloading.
The setting is Afghanistan, and the first 20 minutes show a mission in action, the rescue of a congressman from a Taliban village, a man who went into danger allegedly to prove that action in Afghanistan was too expensive and unnecessary. The rescue team is led by Vic, Tim Abell, an efficient leader. The team is covered by snipers in a high building who are able to shoot so many of the attackers who seem to run, unconcerned, right into the line of fire. The chief sniper is played by Seagal, who disguises his 64 years and increasing weight with a headcloth, dark glasses and dyed moustache and beard.
Back at the base, there is a threat of an impending attack. Also on the base is a young woman, accredited by NATO, who is to write stories and take photos, getting in the way of Vic and clashing with him, trying to apologise, and eventually hiding in the truck which goes out to check a vehicle which has broken down.
The rest of the action of this brief film is the drive to the truck, attempts to repair it, seeing the amount of weaponry and explosives it contains, as well as a young woman and her baby. Headquarters have been warned by a local guide who takes the group back to the truck. There is an attack but it immediately stops when the assailants see the woman and the baby – she turns out to be the daughter in law of the local chief and this is his only grandchild.
The plan is to return to the besieged town, to rescue the snipers, to confront the Chief and to inflict as much damage as possible. Needless to say, the journalist is an expert mark and contributes to the body count. Vic employs a ruse, employing the journalist to impersonate the daughter in law and thus put a grenade into the chieftain’s hand. There is more shooting, the rescue of the sniper and his wounded aid, and the success of the mission.
The film is written and directed by Fred Olen Ray, a director of small budget films for many decades, having over 200 credits so quickly does he work in making his features.
