Sniper 2 (2002) – Review

Where to watch Sniper 2

3 Stars

A former Marine sniper is lured back in on a top-secret mission to take out a rogue general who is committing atrocities on the Muslim population. His partner in this mission is a death-row convict who has been given the chance to earn his freedom.

“Sniper 2” accomplishes the impressive feat of being a direct-to-DVD sequel, released a decade later, that is nearly as good as the original film. This is a significant achievement, especially considering that the first entry is a beloved cult favorite with a large budget and major studio backing. The rights have shifted from Warner Bros. to Sony, which chose to bypass theatrical distribution and reduce the budget. This change is reflected in the film’s Eastern European setting. Fortunately, the producers brought back Tom Berenger, who was the face of the franchise for the first three movies, and paired him with Bokeem Woodbine.

I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed “Sniper 2.” A key factor in my enjoyment was the unexpected camaraderie between Berenger and Woodbine; their chemistry felt more natural than that of Berenger and Billy Zane in the original film. Craig R. Baxley, known for directing enjoyable B-movies, effectively employs visual storytelling and maintains a brisk pace throughout the film. “Sniper 2” is a delightful surprise and a very satisfying follow-up to one of the treasured action thrillers of the 1990s.

Directed by: Craig R. Baxley
Written by: Ron Mita, Jim McClain
Starring: Tom Berenger, Bokeem Woodbine, Erika Marozsán, Tamás Puskás

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