Sunray: Fallen Soldier – brutal thriller by Royal Marines veterans explores effects of PTSD

A new adrenaline-fuelled, high-stakes film written, directed, produced, edited and acted by Royal Marines veterans shines a spotlight on the sacrifices made by soldiers and the devastating effects of PTSD. 

With the tagline "not everything is as it seems" and described by the Edinburgh International Film Festival as a "compellingly visceral story of revenge", Sunray: Fallen Solider is available on digital video on-demand platforms. 

The Sunray team members have drawn from their personal experiences during and after military service to provide audiences with what they hope is a more accurate than usual representation of those who have served.

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BFBS Forces Radio spoke to two of the Royal Marines veterans who worked on the film – Daniel Shepherd, one of the writers and directors of the film, and Tip Cullen, who plays the main character, Andy.

Sunray: Fallen Soldier sees veteran Andy go on an enlightening quest to exact revenge after his daughter's untimely death. 

But there's a deeper level to the film as Mr Shepherd explains, saying: "The film really is about survivor's guilt and where do you draw the line between right and wrong?

"How far do you go to do something that you believe is the right thing? 

"We're quite subtle with our message all the way up until the end - and then it hits you like a ton of bricks. 

"The idea behind that is that people sometimes are going through things you don't really understand and you don't see."

For Royal Marines veteran-turned-actor Mr Cullen, as soon as he heard former marines were creating a film to highlight the struggles faced by people just like him he couldn't say no. 

He said: "I don't think for the rest of my career as an actor that I will do something that is so personal.

"It's about... a big chunk of who I am, my community and also my friends and colleagues that I've served with.

"The character Andy is so close to my heart, so important to me and to, I think, society as well, that you see this troubled human who has got a big, big heart and thinks he has a really strong moral compass.  

"But he's struggling... and there are people like that out there." 

If you, or someone you know, needs support we have a list of resources at forcesnews.com/audiencesupport.