Way back in June of 2025, in an effort to expand our reviews of franchises beyond endless encores for unkillable horror icons and the ever expanding MCU, I opted to tackle some of the smaller, under the radar, series to give myself (and hopefully you) a bit of variety – little did I realise that almost a year later, I’d still be working through the damn thing due to the unbelievable fact that people keep fucking making them. In fact, after reviewing the eleventh Sniper in March 2026, I breathed a sign of achievement that I’d managed to finish another long running franchise – so imagine my shock when I accidently stumbled upon the news that not only would there a twelfth installment, but it would be releasing incredibly soon.
As the Sniper series once again strikes out without warning from a hidden location, it’s down to us to measure the impact and wonder if this is finally the parting shot, or if the filmmakers are simply pausing to reload…
In the aftermath of the Costa Verde massacre that closed out Sniper: The Last Stand, evidence is discovered that American covert team, G.R.I.T., was responsible for helping the freedom fighters of the Phoenix Rebellion for striking a noticable blow against corrupt president Roman Diaz. While we pause to wonder why a covert military team would be dumb enough to have merchandise obvious to be classed as evidence, the political relatiation occurs almost immediately when G.R.I.T. members Brandon Beckett and Zero are ambushed during their boat ride home. However, despite Beckett showing off that he can now apparently snipe targets in zero visibility on a moving boat via sound alone, the damage is done and G.R.I.T. has to go to ground after the uproar over their illegal involvement.
While it’s seemingly easy for members such as General Stone and Lady Death to hide because they’ve simply been written out of the script, both Beckett and Zero have to trust Frost, a mysterious company man, to keep them sheltered once they are disavowed by their own nation. Worse yet, after Beckett tells his disillusioned student, Zondi, that orders stop him from returning to Costa Verde to help fix the damage he’s caused, the Phoenix Rebellion is attacked and dismantled by deranged mercenary group the Iron Legion who kill everyone else but take a couple of members, including Zondi and Angel, hostage.
If Beckett and Zero are going to have to return and save their captured comrades in arms, they’re going to need some help and after discovering that Nova is still alive after absorbing four bullets in the last movie, they plan to free their friends. However, while the past is frequently brought up thanks to the franchises endearingly tangled continuity, the biggest relic that’s been dug up proves to be a familiar – if wrinkled – face. That’s right, Thomas Beckett has returned to set his sights on the franchise he started…
While my attitude concerning the seemingly immortal Sniper franchise may sound like I’m growing increasingly weary of its shit, there’s actually no denying that the series has been on a steady rise since 2017’s Ultimate Kill. OK, so I’m not suggesting that this defiantly underground franchise can claim to such expanding quality control as Fast & Furious 5, Prey or the Christopher McQuarrie era of Mission: Impossible, but when it comes to slick action shtick that displays endearing ambition in its action sequences, I have to admit that the damn series has been growing on me. However, while the past ten years or so has seen Sniper pick up some recognisable traits from other franchises as it seems to be using its rapidly sprawling universe to mimic the Fast & Furious, or even the MCU. But while this has helped to give the series a bit of stability, it seems that with No Nation, it’s starting to pick up a few bad habits as well.
Firstly, let’s focus on the good stuff and we find that first time director Trevor Calverley (formerly the cinematographer of Leprechaun Returns, Lake Placid: Legacy and Sniper: The Last Stand) gas no intention of rocking the boat then it comes to the tone set by previous helmer Danishka Esterhazy. Still fairly gritty with hints of the self-deprecating humour delivered by Oliver Thompson in the ninth and tenth installments, it’s fairly safe to say that after thirty three years, the franchise has finally found its rhythm. Better yet, after joining the franchise as its least most interesting character (by a fair way, too), it’s gratifying that Chad Michael Collins is now grizzled enough after eight movies for me to finally take him seriously as the face of the franchise. I mean, his acting is still suspect, but he’s grown into the role enough that his rapport with Ryan Robbins Zero is still a high point. Also, I must be strangely enamoured of this franchise now, because why else would I be pleased to see the sight of a plainly 76 year-old Tom Berenger resurfacing yet again for another extended cameo. It proves to be a weird sight because not only does the elder Beckett look too old to lift a sniper rifle let alone shoot it, but the normally glum veteran character seems to be quite cheerful these days as he seems eager to show off his new, brilliantly white dentures (surely they would give his position away in the field, no?).
However, while No Nation delivers a cool (if ridiculous) opening sequence that involves Beckett setting fire to an enemy boat by shooting a flare out of the sky, the Avengersfication of the series now means that the films are holding back on the good stuff while relying way too much on dangling plot threads that even hardened fans will find tough remembering. “Classic” characters such as Lady Death, General Stone and Intel Pete are heavily referenced but never seen while random holdovers from the last film are given new leases on life as they join the semi-regular rotation of faces these films keep throwing out. However, it also means that because this film follows directly on from another, it actually has no beginning and thanks to a cliff hanger ending and a brief trailer for No Nation Part 2 (which was certainly news to me), it doesn’t have an end either. Having middle film syndrome when you’re the twelfth film in a franchise isn’t exactly a good look, but I guess it’s another feather in it’s cap that I’ve reached the point where I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. But still, while we get a spirited action climax after a lot of setup, I have to say I’m disappointed that villainous, heavily armoured merc group, the Iron Legion, are wiped out so easily, especially as they hype up their Road Warrior looking asses to a mouth watering amount. Still, while the series has worked hard to earned a fair amount of slack, that ending is nigh-on indefensible.
Easily the least of the Sniper films released over the last decade hamstrings itself by going down the justifiably hated two-part finale route, but before you take aim at its flaws, remember this: we may have to embark on an unnecessary wait for the final instalment, but at least we’ll get it a damn sight sooner than Fast & Furious 11…
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