A Gritty Spy Thriller That Misses the Mark
Stratton is a 2017 British action thriller directed by Simon West, based on the novels by Duncan Falconer. It follows the story of John Stratton, a hardened Special Boat Service operative, as he races against time to stop a deadly terrorist plot involving stolen biochemical weapons.
Dominic Cooper stars as the no-nonsense lead, delivering a serious and focused performance as Stratton. The film opens with a high-stakes mission gone wrong, leading to the death of a team member and setting up a revenge-driven, international chase. From London to Rome and beyond, Stratton must navigate betrayal, secret intelligence, and a ruthless enemy intent on unleashing chaos.
The movie aims for a gritty, grounded tone with its military-style realism and covert operations. Action sequences involve gunfights, car chases, and intense combat, all wrapped in a classic spy thriller structure. However, despite these ingredients, Stratton struggles to rise above the genre’s familiar tropes.
The plot feels predictable, and character development is limited. While Cooper brings intensity to the role, the supporting cast often lacks depth, and the dialogue can be stiff. The film tries to echo the style of Jason Bourne or James Bond, but it lacks the polish, pacing, and emotional stakes that make those franchises stand out.
Still, Stratton delivers for viewers who enjoy straightforward action, military themes, and spy thrillers rooted in realism rather than flash. It has moments of suspense and grit, but overall, it plays it too safe to leave a lasting impression.
For fans of British espionage stories, Stratton might be worth a watch — just don’t expect it to redefine the genre.
