Sniper: Rogue Mission (2022) Review – This Is Worth Watching

Sniper: Rogue Mission takes the long-running franchise in a slightly different direction, shifting its focus away from battlefield operations and toward corruption, conspiracy, and human trafficking. Directed by Oliver Thompson, this ninth entry experiments with tone while still delivering the tactical action fans expect.

Chad Michael Collins once again returns as Brandon Beckett, the globe-trotting sniper who has now traded combat fatigues for a suit and a desk job with the CIA. The transition hasn’t dulled his instincts, however. When a reconnaissance mission exposes a crooked federal agent connected to a human trafficking ring, Beckett does what he’s always done—he acts.

That decision costs him his career.

After making a tactical citizen’s arrest that disrupts a corrupt operation, political pressure quickly turns the tables. Strings are pulled behind the scenes, and Beckett finds himself fired and discredited. Rather than walk away, he goes rogue to uncover the truth.

Dennis Haysbert returns as Beckett’s boss, Stone. Haysbert brings his familiar commanding presence to the role, portraying a superior who suspects corruption but finds himself caught within a system he cannot fully control. As always, his calm authority adds weight to every scene he appears in.

Ryan Robbins is also back as Homeland Security agent Zero, now deeply involved in tracking the trafficking network. His investigation leads to the horrifying discovery of a hidden holding location where abducted women are being kept. When the criminals realize authorities are closing in, the situation escalates into cold-blooded executions—a moment that highlights the darker, more grounded tone the film attempts to explore.

One survivor, Julie, manages to escape. Zero hides her at his ex-wife’s house, where Beckett later joins them for dinner. The resulting scene introduces an unusual moment of humor for the franchise, with a tense but oddly competitive family dinner that gives the film a lighter edge rarely seen in the Sniper series.

The film also sees the return of Lady Death, played by Sayaka Akimoto. After the dramatic events of the previous film, she has been lying low and living a quiet life as a waitress. When the fight against the traffickers intensifies, she re-enters the story with lethal precision, and the film offers a few glimpses into her past and what shaped her into the assassin she became.

Director Oliver Thompson, who also wrote the previous installment Sniper: Assassin’s End, clearly aims to test new waters with this entry. The film introduces more character interaction and humor than earlier installments, which sometimes clashes with the darker trafficking storyline. For some viewers, this experimentation adds freshness to the series; for others, it slightly dilutes the hard-edged action that defined the franchise.

Still, the core themes remain intact: corruption, justice, and Beckett’s relentless pursuit of the truth.

Sniper: Rogue Mission may not follow the exact formula fans expect, but it’s a bold attempt to evolve the series. By mixing espionage, social commentary, and returning characters, it keeps the franchise moving forward—even if it occasionally pauses between trigger pulls.