Sniper: The Last Stand – Review + Interview with Director Danishka Esterhazy

THE SNIPER FRANCHISE

Sniper: The Last Stand, huh? Let’s talk about it. This franchise? Certified. It’s the kind of series that plays on a loop in barracks, inspiring a whole generation of hard chargers to sign up and send it. My older brother? Had Sniper on repeat before shipping out to the Marines, like it was doctrine. And Tom Berenger? Man, he was built for this.

Fast forward to 2025, and boom, Sniper: The Last Stand is on the way. I remember having a blast with Sniper 2, watching Berenger team up with the criminally underrated Bokeem Woodbine. Sniper 3? Can’t lie, missed that one. But it’s on the list.

THE REVIEW

Now, Sniper: The Last Stand. Got the chance to do a Q&A with director Danishka Esterhazy, and let me tell you, she did something different here. Yeah, it’s an action-packed military thriller, but there’s an actual heartbeat beneath the firepower. It’s not all just tactical reloads and body count, there’s a real sense of camaraderie among the squad. And props to Danishka for threading that needle between grit and emotion. She doesn’t turn this into war porn. It’s intense, it’s violent, but it never loses its soul.

Oh, and for the movie nerds, there’s a slick little nod to The Professional, with a villain bellowing, “Send everyone!” You love to hear it. The team dynamic? Solid. Each character has a unique backstory that slots them into the mission like a well-oiled fireteam. One character, Angel, straight-up feels like they walked out of an old-school GI Joe file card. And speaking of GI Joe, if Hollywood’s looking for someone to finally do that franchise justice, Danishka Esterhazy just put in her audition tape.

Final thought? Sniper: The Last Stand‘s climax is absolutely unhinged. Think Metal Gear energy, axes over firearms, sheer survival instinct kicking in. It’s one of the wildest third acts I’ve seen in a while. Danishka came to play.

THE INTERVIEW

Q – The opening shot is striking—what was your approach to crafting such a strong visual introduction?

“It was two things that inspired that opening shot. First, I love drone cinematography. And second, I love to embrace the landscape on location. We were shooting near Cape Town (South Africa) so there was a lot of beautiful geography to explore.”

Q- The cast brings a lot of personality to the action—how did you go about assembling this ensemble?

“Casting was a lot of fun. We had our wonderful returning lead actors: Chad Michael Collins and Ryan Robbins. But then we needed a villain. And I immediately thought of Arnold Vosloo. I’m a huge fan of The Mummy. I’m sure I’ve watched that film a dozen times or more. So, I was thrilled that Arnold said yes to playing Kovalov. Then we hired some amazing Canadian actors: Sharon Taylor and Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz. And we were able to book a South African rising star (Noxolo Dlamini) and South African legend Vusi Kunene. It’s an incredible international cast.”

Q-The action sequences balance long-range sniper work with intense close-quarters combat. How did you design these contrasting styles of action?

“It all starts with the script. Our writer/producer Sean Wathen really understands action. So, he gave me great sequences to build upon.”

Q- There’s a clear nod to The Professional when a character shouts “Send everyone.” Was that an intentional homage, and if so, how did you decide to include it?

“That credit also goes to Sean Wathen!”

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Q- The team dynamic feels authentic—what went into developing the chemistry between the actors?

“That team dynamic was very important to me. So, I started the production by organizing a military boot camp for the cast. To review weapons training and gear and military movement. It helped the actors get into character and to come together as a team. And then I also set aside a good chunk of time for the big dinner scene. I wanted to give the cast the opportunity to improvise, to overlap, and to interact in authentic ways.”

Q- Angel’s story about surviving a brutal stabbing to take down a madman is gripping. How did you approach storytelling for this character’s arc?

“I love Angel and her story. There is an additional backstory about Angel that, unfortunately, did not make the final studio cut. I hope Sony will release those full scenes one day because Noxolo’s performance is so breathtaking. The combination of a great script and a great actor like Nox is powerful.”

Q- The stakes feel high throughout, with rousing speeches and heavy losses. How did you ensure the emotional weight matched the intensity of the action?

“I love action movies that have characters with depth and layers. It makes the battles and the stakes so much more engaging. In this film, Brandon Beckett has a great character arc as he moves from soldier to leader. Working with Chad on those scenes was very satisfying.“

Q- The final mission is brutal, with half the team wiped out early. What was your intention with that choice?

“I love that midpoint shocker. When I first read the script and got to that scene, I knew that I had to direct the film. Those deaths ramp up the stakes and make it clear that no character is safe.“

Q-  “Leadership is an action, not a position” is a powerful quote. What inspired its inclusion in the film?

“All the credit for that fabulous line goes to screenwriter Sean Wathen. But it is my favorite line in the film. As a director, I am also a team leader. And I think about that quote every time I walk onto set. It has inspired me, and I hope others find it inspiring, too.”

Q- The battleaxe fight is a standout moment—what went into choreographing and filming that sequence?

“I love Hera’s fight. I think it really came to life when I found the fountain location at the Castle of Good Hope. Moving the fight into an abandoned castle fountain made the action feel more claustrophobic and intense. And our actor, Sharon Taylor, has lots of stunt experience so I knew that we could make the fight sequence more ambitious. I worked with our fabulous stunt coordinator Anneli Mueller to expand the original fight and turn it into a bigger set piece.”

Q- The showdown between Angel and the one-eyed woman is intense. How did you craft that fight to stand out among the other action scenes?

“Again, location was very helpful. Finding that staircase at the Castle of Good Hope, with the different levels and the archway views, helped our stunt team design a fight with lots of intensity. “

Q- The final act is relentless, with characters being brutally gunned down. How did you balance the spectacle of the action with the emotional impact of the losses?

“Those were challenging scenes to direct. Outdoor scenes with many different moving parts, loads of background performers, blanks, squibs, and explosions, shot over several days in an outdoor location with ever-changing light. But the cast was always prepared and committed. And our stunt team, armorers, and special effects team kept all the gun and vehicle action running smoothly. So, it all came together. The only hiccup was a few days when we couldn’t shoot on rooftops due to high winds.”

Q- When can we tell viewers to seek out the film? Where can viewers watch?

“It is currently available for purchase or rental on most digital streaming platforms including Apple, Google, and Amazon. It is also available on high-def DVD for those (like me) who love physical media.”

To Conclude

There you have it folks. Sniper: The Last Stand is available now. So whether you stream it on your preferred platform or snag a copy of the physical media. Do yourself a favor, and track it down. What are you waiting for?

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