The Contractor (2022)

James Harper, a decorated serviceman, is involuntarily discharged from the United States Army Special Forces due to his use of illegal steroids to treat an otherwise debilitating knee injury. Facing financial ruin, he contacts his friend Mike who works with a private military company under the command of fellow veteran Rusty Jennings.

Harper is being headhunted by a number of military contracting companies with lucrative offers but still feels a sense of duty to his country. Mike tells him that Rusty runs clandestine operations for the Department of Defense. Harper agrees to meet Rusty after seeing Mike's opulent house. After the meeting Harper signs on with Rusty and the team for an operation in Germany. As a sign of good faith Rusty gives Harper's family $50,000 to help clear their debts.

Harper spends most of his tour surveilling a Middle Eastern scientist named Salim. After analysing the data Rusty informs the team that Salim is working for ISIS and developing a bio-agent. He tells the team they have been given permission to invade Salims's laboratory and retrieve all of his scientific data and then dispose of Salim. The team easily accesses the lab and acquires the data, Mike orders Harper to finish Salim who protests that he is just a scientist working on a cure. Harper follows orders and then departs after setting the lab on fire. As the three man team return to their exfil van they encounter the police and after a prolonged shoot-out, during which the remaining team members have been killed, Harper rescues a wounded Mike and they hide in a nearby sewage drain.

Mike, believing he is about to die, begs Harper to look after his family and get the data to Rusty. Harper provides a blood transfusion and saves Mike's life. After recuperating, Mike is ready to return to Rusty and the main team but Harper's knee has given out on and he needs to rest up. Mike proceeds alone but informs Harper he will be picked up after he rests up.

Harper manages to make it to the agreed hotel and finds fresh clothes but no sign of Mike or Rusty. He tries to treat his injured knee and then gets a burner phone and makes contact with Rusty. Rusty informs him there is a car waiting to exfiltrate him to safety but Harper senses all is not as it seems. As he delays going to the car, a hit team emerges and they shoot at Harper forcing him to flee. Harper evades capture and manages to kill the hit team who are revealed to be a team of former Marines working for Rusty and who have been sent to kill Harper. Before dying one of the marines gives Harper intel on a safe house but advises him that he can never return home.

Harper visits Salim's home, threatening Sylvie, Salim's wife, into providing him with Salim's computer files. Sylvie gives Harper her husband's iPad, and he leaves for the safe house. After Harper meets Virgil he is tranquilized and awakes in the safe house. Virgil explains that Harper's knee was infected but has now been treated but that Harper cannot return to his family. Harper plays a video on the iPad in which Salim explains that he was indeed working on a successful H5N1 vaccine formula that he intends to provide for free, rather than sell it to a pharmaceutical company. Over dinner, another fire team from Rusty attacks. Virgil is killed, but Harper escapes, setting off a booby trap for Rusty's team.

Harper returns to the US. He tracks down Mike, who explains that Rusty also lied to him and told him Harper had died. Rusty has provided for Harper's family and Mike advises Harper to disappear. Harper protests and wins his old friend over and they set-up a plan to get revenge on Rusty.

Mike gets Harper into Rusty's compound and they surprise Rusty's guards. Harper manages to take out Rusty but not before Mike is mortally wounded. Harper destroys evidence and returns to his family.