Arriving on digital platforms on November 7, 2025, via Saban Films, Exit Protocol (or Fight or Flight in some places) follows Sam Hayden (Scott Martin: Don’t Kill It 2016, The Best Man 2023), an “assassin of assassins” who takes out retired hitmen. But he hits a snag when his next mark is Charles Managold (Dolph Lundgren: Rocky IV 1985, Universal Soldier 1992), formerly one of the best killers in the world, before he dropped off the radar.
Killing him is a difficult task in itself. Still, he finds himself marked for death by Isaac Florentine (Michael Jai White: Spawn 1997, Black Dynamite 2009), a rival assassin who is also gunning for Managold. Now Hayden has to work with Managold and his lover, Danique (Charlotte Kirk: How to Be Single 2016, The Reckoning 2020), to survive. Then find out who double-crossed him and why.
That is the general gist of the movie, as it has a few narrative quirks here and there for additional intrigue, like Hayden’s own mystery partner Nona (Lina Maya: Fearless Heart series, Forbidden Passion series), and Isaac’s protégé Wicked (Stephanie Beran: Fatal Call 2012, Big Kill 2019). This is not the first Action movie rodeo for writer Chad Law (Hero Wanted 2008, Hollow Point 2019), but he is good at providing hooks that are not just set pieces for gunfights or brawls. He even peppers in a few gags beyond typical action movie one-liners to help lighten the mood here and there.
Likewise, director Shane Dax Taylor (Provinces of Night 2010, Murder Company 2024) and cinematographer Mark Rutledge (Enemies Among Us 2010, Kill’em All 2017) got creative with the camerawork. It is not exactly going to be heading to the Academy anytime soon, as the editing is a little rough here and there, like Lundgren’s Managold rushing to his car at sonic speed through the power of a shaky cam jump cut. But they use a variety of camera shots that, for the most part, flow together well, accentuate the action, and frame the picture’s mood.
For example, much of the action takes place in the bright sunny hills of New Mexico, which matches the occasional idyllic scene quite well. Though it usually would not work well for a cast of characters who work best in the shadows. But the camerawork still manages to make the action look tense by working with the color (desaturated for twilight action, saturated elsewhere). In contrast, the writing works around it- excusing one broad daylight escape attempt as ‘getting sloppy with age.’
If only the acting were up to snuff. Sure, it is an Action movie with Dolph Lundgren. That being said, Lundgren does pretty well for himself, showcasing Managold’s conflicting feelings and why he solidly left the assassination business. One could even say he put in the movie’s best performance, or rather, second-best. Even though he does not get a soliloquy himself, Jai White’s delivery is smooth and natural.
Which makes one wonder why he did not get the lead role. Not to be mean about Martin, as he does handle Hayden’s cynical, sarcastic wit well here and there, and he is no slouch in the fighting department, either. But high emotions are not his strong suit. As opposed to Beran, who is better at delivering angry threats than her own snarky dialogue. Beyond Lundgren, Jai White, and Martin, the acting in general is rather wooden, unfortunately.
If the performances were stronger across the board, the movie would be more palatable. The writing could have been refined; some plot points are easy to scrutinize, but with a more passionate, engaging delivery, they would have been easier to pass. Badass quips and hammy villains are the genre’s bread and butter. Yet many of the quips are delivered in a clunky fashion, and the villain is about as hammy as a vegan salad.
In short, Exit Protocol has a neat premise, intriguing scenes, good, if occasionally shaky, camerawork, lush cinematography, and decent action. Yet aside from the older hands like Jai White and Lundgren, who do a solid job, the acting is too dry to be ironically entertaining, and too rough to be unironically entertaining. It evens out to being slap-bang average at best, which is why Cryptic Rock puts Exit Protocol right in the middle of the scale with 2.5 out of 5 stars.
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