The Shooter (also known as Hidden Assassin)
Quick Info
So, The Shooter is one of those mid-90s action films that just sort of hums along in the background of the genre’s big blockbusters, but it’s got this grimy, European vibe that’s hard not to find intriguing. Dolph Lundgren stars as a U.S. marshal sent to Prague to investigate the assassination of a Cuban ambassador—and you get a really cool tour of Prague’s moody, rain-slicked streets in the process. The plot has a few nice twists and doesn’t always follow those familiar American action beats, which makes it feel a smidge fresher, even if some tropes still sneak in.
What absolutely stands out here are the settings and the atmosphere. Unlike glitzy, CGI-heavy productions, The Shooter relies on stark Eastern European cityscapes and a practical approach to stunts and fight scenes. There’s a weight to the chases through narrow lanes, and the action doesn’t get too overblown, which keeps things just grounded enough. It all feels a bit more tactile—the kind of movie that smells like cold concrete and gun oil.
Dolph Lundgren is pretty much what you expect: stoic, physically intimidating, quietly sympathetic, but not exactly bursting with range. That said, he has a presence that carries the movie through some of its slower stretches. Alexandra Kamp is a solid and mysterious foil, though some of the secondary characters fade into stereotypical baddie territory. It’s the sort of cast that doesn’t distract you too much—just the right amount of recognizable for the vibe.
Where it falls short is in the emotional stakes. There aren’t really characters you get attached to, and there’s a certain flatness to how the story connects its dots. A few cheesy late-90s action one-liners sneak in, and the plot’s attempts at double-crosses and conspiracies sometimes feel more like padding than substance. Still, the film’s momentum and kinetic scenes keep things moving at a decent clip.
You’d enjoy this if you’re into action flicks that aren’t afraid to slow down a little, or if you have a soft spot for 90s Euro-thrillers. It’s a solid pick for a Saturday night when you want gunfights, chases, and that slightly off-kilter international edge—just don’t expect anything too deep or revolutionary.
