February 6, 2025

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

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An Excellent Watch – Sunray: Fallen Soldier (Film Review)

In a world of big-budget Hollywood blockbusters and streamers’ plentiful content, many genres have become heavily pedestrian, a run-of-the-mill and dull endeavour. The revenge film has had its ups and downs, with John Wick being a key hopeful that there is still new life to be breathed into the formula. John Wicks USP was about a man hellbent on avenging his dead dog. Sunray: Fallen Soldier also adds something new to the formula – this is a film about Royal Marines featuring real-life military veterans. 

Sunray: Fallen Soldier is about a father’s quest to avenge his daughters death, but it also deals with the mental health of military veterans. After dedicating his entire life to service in the armed forces, Andy (Tip Cullen) struggles to re-enter society after what he dealt with during his tenure. He’s working a job that he hates, he’s separated from his wife, and he struggles with the trauma of what happened to his fellow marines. What Andy does have is his daughter Rachel. However, when Rachel dies suddenly, Andy is consumed with revenge and calls upon old friends to help avenge his daughter. His quest sees him targeting his daughter’s boyfriend Cass (Daniel Davids) who is also trying to come to terms with Rachel’s death. Along the way, Andy learns more about himself, confronts his past, and discovers a violent crime syndicate. 

This is an impressive debut feature by directors James Clarke and Daniel Shephard – both of whom served as Royal Marines. There’s a lot of artistic flare on display throughout the film, with many shots standing out amongst the adrenaline-fuelled action. There are some well-played out set-pieces in the film that have a strong kinetic energy to them. 

This is a story about loss and grief; everyone has lost something and is struggling to overcome it. We have two characters who are dealing with Rachel’s loss – Andy and Cass. Both have very opposite reactions to what happened. Andy retaliates with violence, he’s a man who has lost so much and reverts back to what he knows. Cass represents the ‘civilian’ angle of the film, he has a far lesser reaction, blaming himself for her death and is trying to escape his father’s criminal empire. It was great to see two sides of the same coin play out on these verging paths throughout the runtime of the film, and when they inevitably meet, we care for both characters and want them to deal with their grief together, as neither of them is to blame for what happened. 

Like a good revenge film, this film is chock full of action. But, it’s the quieter, more subtle moments that leave a mark. This is where Sunray: Fallen Soldier solidifies its individuality amongst other revenge films – there’s an added layer of reality due to the crew’s past as Royal Marines. Watching Andy’s journey of grief and coming to terms with his trauma is very compelling, and it humanises the character. Cullen is a great fit for this role, masterfully conveying the inner battle the character faces in such a nuanced and believable way.  

Sunray: Fallen Soldier is an excellent watch. It has impressive set pieces, compelling characters, and a story you can easily get invested in. 

Sunray: Fallen Soldier will be released on VOD platforms on January 24