Seven Snipers – Movie Review
Leaning into to the nostalgic throwback vibe of action-thrillers from the 90s, Seven Snipers is an Australian made, relentlessly paced, action-packed, and simply plotted flick that does exactly what it says on the tin, which somehow feels like a refreshing breath of fresh air in the genre space.
After decades of service in an elite sniper kill squad, Kris (Radha Mitchell) now lives a reclusive life on a large property in outback Australia with her teenage daughter (Annabel Wolfe), away from everything and everyone. However, their peaceful life is threatened when Kris’ daughter is targeted by a group of killers led by The Dragon (Tim Roth), whose connection to Kris forces her to call in a favour from her old sniper squad to protect her most valuable asset.
Keeping things simple and contained, Seven Snipers takes place entirely on Kris’ isolated farm property, a location that director Sandra Sciberras takes full advantage of to execute solid action sequences and some truly tense stand-offs between the sniper teams. The danger of the vast outback plains, human and animal alike, creates this overbearing tension throughout the film. And visually, the farmhouse lends to a unique Australiana feeling that is rarely seen in the action genre. Sciberras balances the dread filled tension of not being able to see your enemy in the bushland and the visceral impact of large sniper bullets obliterating soldiers quite well, and executes a thrilling feeling with the various set pieces.
The sniper based action for the most part is effective, with certain characters getting blown away with such immense force in the way that you could only see in the movies. The sound design and practical effects of bullets ricocheting, plus the ultimate gradual destruction of the farm house and property is exciting to watch. The action is brought to life by supporting performances from the likes of Iona Grufford, Ryan Kwanten, and Bianca Wallace, who lean into that 90s action movie tone with gruff machismo. There is some occasional CGI that doesn’t meet the standard of what can be pulled off in the 2020s, but overall, the action works.
Mitchell’s performance as Kris, aided by some solid screenwriting from Andrew O’Keefe, builds a familiar but interesting world around her past, and her connections to the supporting characters – both villains and heroes. Using her scars and the way she communicates with her team, Kris is built out as a character with depth that isn’t usually seen in these types of movies, and that depth is only solidified by the relationship and stakes involving her daughter. That character work is more played in a heightened fashion to aid the life and death stakes at play, rather than being a genuine emotional exploration of anything substantial, and at times can affect the pacing and structure of the film, but it does ground the action in some emotion. Mitchell is strong, both physically and emotionally, as Kris, and plays off of Roth’s determined villain with a wicked sense of humour. And it’s this back-and-forth where the best character work is seen.
Seven Snipers isn’t bringing anything new to the action genre, but what it does well is bring to life the elements that make a simple, effective movie like this work within the genre.
Seven Snipers is in Australian cinemas April 30
