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If you still need proof that indie action cinema is where the real hunger and hustle live, look no further. Casts and crews are out here carving mayhem out of scraps, and Saban Films has just unleashed the assassin action-thriller Exit Protocol into the wild for your weekend viewing and action fix. Sure, it’s no secret that action powerhouses Michael Jai White and Dolph Lundgren are the big, flashy hooks to pull fans in, and they absolutely get their share of bone-crunching confrontations. But make no mistake: it’s headliner Scott Martin who walks away with this one, tearing through the film as Sam Hayden, a “killer of killers” who suddenly finds himself in way over his head the moment he breaks his own sacred codes.
Exit Protocol comes locked and loaded from filmmaker Shane Dax Taylor, best known for directing The Best Man, which also teamed Lundgren with Martin—only this time, Martin was the heavy. Taylor clearly lives and breathes adrenaline-fueled cinema, and here he dives straight into the chaos. With prolific action scribe Chad Law crafting the story, fans can rest easy knowing their action cravings are about to be seriously served.
As laid out from the jump, Exit Protocol centers on Martin as Sam Hayden, an elite executioner whose specialty is taking out other assassins when they decide they want out. Translation: this is a line of work you never retire from clean. Hayden’s latest target is the legendary Charles Managold (Lundgren), the best of the best, who’s gone ghost after refusing to complete his final assignment. His employers are furious, and the response is simple and brutal: unleash Hayden to erase the legend.
As the plot kicks into gear, we find out why Manigold walked away from his mission: he fell in love with his target. Danique Kellar, played by Charlotte Kirk (The Lair, Dutchess), isn’t just the woman who stole his heart—she’s also pregnant, raising the emotional stakes through the roof. When Hayden finally tracks Managold down, he quickly realizes why his quarry is considered the top of the food chain as Manigold gets the drop on him. But instead of pulling the trigger, Manigold lets him live. That single choice detonates the story, forcing Hayden into an uneasy alliance with the man he was sent to kill once a fresh wave of assassins is turned loose to finish the job at any cost.
With these two tier-one killers now forced onto the same side, the danger level spikes. Hayden and Managold have to go head-to-head with the lethally composed Isaac (White) and his volatile ally Wicked (Stepanie Beran), a femme fatale in every sense. Wicked’s tangled, hot-and-heavy history with Hayden makes her a wild card the second the bullets start flying. The result is a high-stakes showdown of assassins where gunfire and fists fly, loyalties flip in an instant, and nobody is safe for more than a heartbeat.
We’ve seen a tidal wave of assassin flicks crash onto theaters and streaming over the last decade, and Exit Protocol absolutely knows the terrain. Fans of this subgenre can expect a movie that leans into what they love—gunsmoke, double-crosses, professional killers under pressure—while still veering off the beaten path just enough to feel fresh against its peers. Yes, this is an indie production with limited resources, but park the low-budget bias at the door. What you get is a tight, lean actioner that hits the beats fans crave while sprinkling in just enough unpredictability to keep things exciting.
That edge comes straight from veteran writer-producer Chad Law, whose career is packed with action films that mix muscle with character and flair. Here, Law builds a story where alliances shift faster than you can track, and the players are more layered than standard genre cutouts. Character arcs twist and evolve as the bullets fly, and there’s plenty of sharp, punchy dialogue traded between the anti-heroes and the predators on their trail. Plans go sideways, expectations get smashed, and the narrative throws in some well-timed surprises to keep the tension climbing.
As mentioned, Scott Martin is the true standout here, and the actor/filmmaker absolutely owns the screen as elite killer Sam Hayden. On the surface, he’s got that “guy-next-door mowing his lawn” vibe, but underneath, he’s a stone-cold professional with a brutal skill set that justifies his “killer of killers” reputation. Martin shoulders most of the physical workload and crushes it, tearing through a barrage of firefights with an arsenal that includes a very cool, rad-looking crossbow. The film builds to a final fight that’s raw, stripped-down, and viciously choreographed between Martin and Christian Cardona, who plays rival assassin Bashkim. The fact that Martin and Cardona train together in real life gives the brawl an extra shot of authenticity and impact—it’s nasty, grounded, and satisfyingly brutal. With this performance, Martin announces himself as a legitimate action star in the making, and he deserves plenty more chances to flex those action chops.
Lundgren is in classic form as Managold, reminding everyone exactly why he remains one of action cinema’s enduring titans. He can still unleash top-shelf physical presence when it’s time to throw down, but here he also threads in a welcome dose of sensitivity and levity, shaking up what audiences might expect from one of his usual screen personas. A quiet exchange between Managold and Hayden, where Lundgren’s character opens up and lets his guard down, stands out as one of the movie’s non-action highlights and gives the film some unexpected emotional bite.
As Isaac, Michael Jai White steps into more of an extended cameo, but he makes every second count. He gets just enough screen time to bring his signature bravado, charisma, and swagger, stamping the film with his unmistakable presence. While he’s not given a showcase for his trademark empty-handed martial arts here, he’s still right in the thick of the action and blazing away in the frequent firefights that define this world. White also gets to stretch his dramatic muscles, trading sharp, salty dialogue and charged moments with both Martin and Lundgren. He’s such a commanding force that it barely matters what he’s doing—his mere involvement elevates the movie. And yes, naming his character Isaac Florentine feels like an unmistakable nod to one of indie action’s all-time great directors.
On the women’s side, the film comes out swinging. Charlotte Kirk, no stranger to onscreen badassery thanks to The Lair and Dutchess from genre favorite Neil Marshall, takes a different route here. Instead of going physically feral, she leans into the drama, and it’s a smart play—Danique is the emotional core that binds the entire story together. She shares most of her scenes with Lundgren and more than holds her own, bringing a grounded mix of vulnerability, resolve, and heart that counterbalances the heavy dose of testosterone firing off all around her.
Lina Maya makes a strong impression as Hayden’s love interest, and her storyline doesn’t unfold the way you might expect. Without diving into spoilers, Maya’s turn as Nona delivers one of the most unexpected twists in the movie, sharply upending the narrative and sending it crashing in a new direction.
Rounding out the roster in spectacular fashion is Stephanie Beran as the feral and unpredictable assassin Wicked. Married to Martin in real life, Beran naturally has electric chemistry with him, and their scenes together crackle with tension, history, and some wonderfully sharp, scene-stealing dialogue. As Wicked, she goes all-in, bringing intensity, attitude, and fire, then steps fully into the fray when the action erupts. She even gets a full-on John Woo-style moment, blazing away with dual pistols as things go tactical and the bullets rain down.
The action in Exit Protocol barely lets up once it kicks off. There are multiple, hard-hitting shootouts that deliver exactly the impact fans expect from this kind of movie, and while there aren’t any gigantic blow-the-roof-off set pieces, the adrenaline absolutely flows. Taylor is fast becoming a go-to director for indie action, and here he stages the violence with clarity and confidence—cleanly shot, easy to follow, and energized by practical stunt work that carries a pleasing 80s-style throwback vibe. The film layers in some bruising beatdowns and gnarly kills, all building toward a climax where Sam proves, in no uncertain terms, why he’s one of the deadliest in the business.
Overall, there’s never much mystery about what you’re signing up for with most independent action flicks. If you’re not into this brand of genre cinema, Exit Protocol probably won’t convert you. But for viewers who genuinely appreciate what can be pulled off on a lean budget and a blisteringly short shoot—12 days, to be exact—this one delivers. Exit Protocol hits hard with high-caliber action and a pair of seasoned icons giving the fans what they came for, all while showcasing a new action lead stepping into the spotlight. The characters are wildly entertaining, the plot refuses to play it safe, and the story thrives on multiple narrative switch-ups. Packed with bruising thrills and clocking in at a tight 85 minutes, it moves at a lightning pace, and it’s honestly all killer, no filler.
VERDICT: 3.5 Out of 5 Stars
Exit Protocol delivers a much-needed shot of indie adrenaline, twisting the assassin trope just enough to make the carnage feel fresh and ferociously fun!
Exit Protocol is Now Available in Select Theaters, Digital and On Demand
