The Vertical Ray of the Sun 2001

As a chilling montage of news footage plays out, the brutal reality of a violent coup in Nigeria is laid bare. The Presidential family is brutally ousted, and General Yakubu’s rebel forces establish a ruthless dictatorship, unleashing a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Ibo tribes in the southern region. Meanwhile, on the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman, a news reporter interrupts his broadcast to deliver the shocking news: the entire presidential family has been assassinated by rebel forces.

Lieutenant Waters (Bruce Willis) and his team of Navy SEALs, fresh from their mission to extract American citizens from the embassy, are greeted by Captain Bill Rhodes upon their return. With their mission complete, they’re informed that a new, critical priority requires their immediate attention. After a swift refit, the team gathers in the ship’s briefing room to receive details on their next operation.

Their objective is to infiltrate the jungle outside a small Catholic mission in Cameroon, where they’ll extract Dr. Lena Fiore Kendricks (Monica Bellucci), an American citizen by marriage. Their secondary mission involves extracting the priest and two nuns who run the mission, provided they’re willing to join them on their perilous journey. Once their “package” is secure, the team must navigate a treacherous twelve-kilometer hike through dense jungle terrain to reach the designated extraction point, where they’ll be airlifted out by helicopter.

As the sun dips below the horizon, the mission unfolds with military precision. The SEAL team, led by (Waters), descends from the aircraft and engages in a daring free fall over the target area. Their objective: to extract U.S. personnel from a precarious situation. However, Dr. Kendricks (Kendricks) is adamant about completing her humanitarian mission before departing. Waters conveys the reality of an approaching rebel company, emphasizing the necessity to prioritize their own extraction. Kendricks refuses to abandon the people under her care, prompting Waters to negotiate with Rhodes, seeking guidance on how to proceed. The doctor’s compassion prevails as she agrees to evacuate those capable of walking, and the SEALs begin their arduous journey through the dense jungle.

As night falls, the team pauses to allow the refugees to rest and Dr. Kendricks to tend to the wounded. Waters takes charge, establishing a defensive perimeter around their human cargo. Just as they settle into a temporary campsite, guerrilla rebels emerge from the shadows, prompting Waters to swiftly dispatch a straggling tail gunner. Dr. Kendricks’ concern is palpable as she realizes the rebels are closing in on their position, but Waters remains resolute, determined to complete his mission.

The team eventually reaches the designated landing zone and makes contact with the helicopters en route. As the choppers touch down, Waters’ plan becomes clear: the SEALs turn on the refugees, holding them at gunpoint. Dr. Kendricks is forcibly escorted onto the helicopter, leaving her charges vulnerable in the midst of the treacherous jungle. The SEALs’ betrayal leaves a trail of devastation and despair.

As the helicopter crew and SEALs pass over the ravaged mission site, they bear witness to the destruction that was predicted by Dr. Kendricks. Waters’ moral compass is stirred, and he orders the helicopter to turn back, regrouping with the refugees. The SEALs, now moved by a shared sense of purpose, decide to escort the refugees to the Cameroon border, forging an unlikely alliance in the face of adversity.

As the SEAL team navigates through the treacherous terrain, they inadvertently draw the attention of a formidable rebel force utilizing satellite imaging to track their movements. The rebels’ uncanny ability to pinpoint the SEALs’ location raises suspicions and prompts Waters (character) to order his team to increase their vigilance. Their surveillance reveals a gruesome scene unfolding in a nearby village - a brutal massacre perpetrated by the rebels, with innocent civilians being slaughtered, sexually assaulted, and executed.

Seizing the opportunity to intervene, Waters instructs the refugees to remain at a safe distance while his team launches a swift and surgical assault on the rebel forces. With precision and deadly efficiency, they eliminate the threat, subsequently confronting the horrific aftermath of their actions. This grim reality checks the SEALs’ moral compass, forcing them to grapple with the devastating consequences of war.

As they press on, Slo (character) detects an anomaly - someone within their ranks is transmitting a signal that allows the rebels to zero in on their position at an alarming rate. The mystery deepens as it becomes clear that Arthur, the surviving member of the Presidential family, is among them. His presence holds immense importance for the rebels, who will stop at nothing to ensure his demise.

The discovery of a hidden transmitter on a new “refugee” sparks chaos, and Waters’ anger is directed at Dr. Kendricks (character) for her prior knowledge of Arthur’s true identity, yet her failure to inform him. Undeterred by the risks, the SEALs resolutely decide to continue escorting the refugees, no matter the cost.

The situation escalates as a massive firefight erupts between the SEALs and hundreds of rebels concealed in the trees. The SEALs form a defensive line, directing the refugees to retreat to the tree line, where the Cameroon border beckons. Zee (character) radios for air support, prompting two F/A-18 Hornets to take off from the Truman’s flight deck en route to their location.

As the SEALs valiantly hold their ground against the rebels’ relentless onslaught, a devastating toll is exacted as Slo, Flea, Lake, and Silk succumb to the hail of bullets. The refugees, desperate to stem the tide of destruction, offer what meager resistance they can as the remaining SEALs make a tactical withdrawal into the reeds. Amidst the chaos, Waters, Red, and Zee suffer grievous wounds, their bodies bearing the scars of battle.

As the air grows thick with tension, the sound of approaching aircraft pierces the air, and the pilots’ voices crackle over the radio, directing their firepower onto the enemy forces. Arthur and Dr. Kendricks, already on edge, watch in horror as the planes unleash a fury of fire upon the rebels, the landscape erupting into a maelstrom of destruction.

As the battle rages on, Waters, Zee, Doc, and Red emerge from the grassy veil, their faces etched with fatigue and pain. Meanwhile, Captain Rhodes stands firm at the border, commanding his guards to open the gates and welcome in the weary SEALs and refugees. The Marines then escort the wounded warriors to awaiting helicopters, where medical attention is rendered.

As Dr. Kendricks says her tearful goodbyes to her comrades-in-arms, she departs alongside Waters on the same helicopter, their bond forged in the crucible of battle. The film concludes with a poignant tableau: Arthur, hailed as the rightful king and champion of Nigeria, raises his hand in triumph, as his people celebrate around him, their faces aglow with hope and freedom.

The final title card bears witness to the timeless wisdom of Edmund Burke’s words: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”