SNIPER: SPECIAL OPS (2016)

Plot Summary

The story follows Sergeant Jake Chandler, a seasoned sniper embedded with a special ops team in Afghanistan. During a hostage rescue mission, Chandler and his spotter are left behind after a firefight separates them from the rest of the unit. Sergeant Vic Mosby, the team leader, returns to base but becomes determined to launch an unauthorized mission to retrieve his stranded teammates—despite resistance from military command.

What begins as a rescue operation slowly devolves into a low-stakes stand-off with little narrative tension or urgency. The sniper element becomes sidelined early on, and the majority of the runtime involves dialogue scenes rather than combat.

Characters & Performances

• Steven Seagal as Jake Chandler, the sniper who speaks in hushed tones and spends most scenes seated or stationary.

• Tim Abell plays Vic Mosby, the conventional action lead who does most of the film’s heavy lifting.

• Rob Van Dam appears in a supporting role, bringing physicality to an otherwise lethargic cast.

• Dale Dye plays the colonel, offering the film’s only glimpses of military credibility.

Tone, Style & Direction

With a runtime of under 90 minutes, Sniper: Special Ops is a low-budget production that relies heavily on stock military visuals, minimal set design, and recycled sound effects. The action is sparse and often underwhelming, with most firefights shot in wide, static takes. There’s little cinematic flair, and the editing often feels disjointed.

The film’s tone struggles between being a serious military drama and a throwaway action vehicle. Unfortunately, it commits to neither.

Reception

The film was widely criticized for its misleading title, lack of genuine sniper action, and Steven Seagal’s passive performance. Audiences noted that he remains offscreen or seated for most of the film, with his dialogue delivered in low-energy monotone. The story itself was panned for lacking suspense, depth, or meaningful stakes.

For fans of tactical thrillers or realistic military operations, this film misses the mark.

Conclusion

Sniper: Special Ops is a misfire in every sense. Despite a premise that hints at covert operations, loyalty under fire, and high-risk rescues, the execution falls flat. Between poor pacing, thin characterization, and a barely active lead, the film feels more like a placeholder than a genuine addition to the action genre.

Unless you’re collecting Seagal completions or curious about low-tier military films, Sniper: Special Ops is one you can safely skip.