Written and Directed by Brandon Slagle (Frost), this World War Two actioner, in the tradition of Hacksaw Ridge, sees Starship Troopers’ Casper Van Dien as a field surgeon and his wounded charge trying to escape during an enemy invasion in Mid 1944 on the island of Saipan.. Jeff Fahey (Machete) also stars, along with prolific action star Louis Mandylor (Rambo: Last Blood), Devanny Pinn (Piranha 3D, Frost,) and Jennifer Wenger (Tales of Halloween).

The film does have some great set-pieces  (including a cracker of a third act) and is definitely worth watching for those who love a war movie and want to learn a bit more history (I hadnt heard of the Battle for Saipan before this film popped on my radar). Some of the early advertising compared some scenes in the film to those of Saving Private Ryan and whilst I don’t think that is an accurate comparison, that’s not to say that Battle For Saipan isnt a very decent war movie. Its just not up there with Private Ryan and to be honest, It doesn’t try to be. Its a more contained, smaller film that focuses on its core characters so when the danger comes (and it does) you do care about what happens to them.  So two thumbs up from me for Battle For Saipan

BATTLE FOR SAIPAN is available on digital platforms including Google, iTunes, Sky, Amazon, Rakuten and Virgin