Set against the blistering backdrop of the US-Mexico border, Under Fire throws together FBI agent Griff (Dylan Sprouse) and DEA operative Abbott (Mason Gooding) in a deadly game of survival after a routine undercover drug bust goes catastrophically wrong. When both men reveal their badges—only to realize they’ve been unknowingly working the same case—their rivalry turns explosive as a hidden sniper picks off their targets, leaving them stranded in the desert with nothing but a briefcase of government secrets and each other’s distrust. With cartel enforcers closing in and bullets flying, these polar-opposite agents must put aside their egos or die together in the scorching wasteland.

Directed with relentless energy and razor-sharp wit, Under Fire blends the buddy-cop chemistry of Lethal Weapon with the survival tension of Sicario. As Griff’s by-the-book precision clashes with Abbott’s reckless improvisation, their nonstop bickering evolves into an uneasy alliance—one that’s tested by betrayals, brutal firefights, and the revelation that the sniper hunting them might be one of their own. Packed with white-knuckle shootouts, dark humor, and a twist you won’t see coming, this is a thriller that burns as hot as the desert sun.

Under Fire cast 2025

1: Dylan Sprouse as Griff

Dylan Sprouse (After We Collided, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) sheds his teen-heartthrob image with a gritty, transformative performance as Griff, an FBI agent whose analytical mind is his greatest weapon. Sprouse brings a wound-up intensity to the role, portraying Griff as a perfectionist who’s spent years playing by the rules—only to watch them crumble in the chaos of the ambush. His physicality—lean, precise, and increasingly desperate—mirrors his character’s unraveling control, especially in a brutal hand-to-hand fight where he’s forced to fight dirty for the first time.

Sprouse’s chemistry with Mason Gooding is the film’s backbone, their love-hate dynamic oscillating between hilarious insults and moments of grudging respect. A standout scene sees Griff meticulously mapping their escape route in the sand, only for Abbott to kick it away—a perfect metaphor for their clashing ideologies.

2: Mason Gooding as Abbott

Mason Gooding (Scream VI, Booksmart) steals the show as Abbott, a loose-cannon DEA agent who trusts his instincts more than protocol. Gooding infuses Abbott with charismatic recklessness, whether he’s improvising explosives from car parts or needling Griff about his “boy scout” mentality. The actor’s background in track and field lends authenticity to Abbott’s athletic, fluid combat style, particularly in a dizzying chase sequence through a collapsing mine shaft.

Beneath the bravado, Gooding reveals Abbott’s deep-seated guilt over a failed operation, adding emotional weight to his devil-may-care persona. His most powerful moment comes when he silently tends to Griff’s wounds after a firefight—wordlessly admitting he needs his rival to survive.

3: Odette Annable as Vazquez

Odette Annable (Supergirl, Cloverfield) smolders as Vazquez, a cartel lieutenant with her own agenda. Annable plays Vazquez with calculating menace, her loyalty shifting as violently as the desert winds. A tense interrogation scene—where she toys with the captured agents like a cat with prey—showcases her ability to pivot between seductive charm and icy brutality.

Her character’s final confrontation with Griff and Abbott delivers one of the film’s most shocking moral choices, forcing the agents to question who the real monsters are.

4: Bayardo De Murguia as Delgado

Bayardo De Murguia (Narcos: Mexico, The Bridge) is terrifying as Delgado, the cartel’s philosophy-quoting enforcer who views violence as art. De Murguia’s quiet, deliberate delivery makes every threat land like a hammer blow, especially when he calmly debates morality with Abbott mid-gunfight.

His signature weapon—a customized, gold-plated pistol—becomes a recurring symbol of the cartel’s grotesque extravagance, culminating in a blood-soaked standoff in an abandoned church.

5: Emilio Rivera as El Santo

Emilio Rivera (Sons of Anarchy, Mayans M.C.) returns to his roots as El Santo, the cartel’s aging but ruthless leader. Rivera brings gravitas and unexpected vulnerability to the role, particularly in a monologue where he laments how “the business” has corrupted his family.

A heart attack during the climactic battle forces El Santo to confront his mortality in real time, with Rivera’s performance making his final moments oddly tragic.

6: Declan Michael Laird as The Sniper

Declan Michael Laird (The Terminal List, SEAL Team) is a silent but pervasive threat as the mysterious sniper picking off both cartel and agents. Laird’s physical acting—seen only through scope POV shots and gloved hands reloading rifles—creates unbearable tension.

The reveal of his identity (and shocking motive) reframes the entire mission, delivering one of 2025’s most jaw-dropping thriller twists.