Straight-to-video action movies are a weird beast. You know the ones. They usually feature a faded superstar on the poster, a lot of muzzle flash, and a plot that feels like it was written on a cocktail napkin during a flight to Romania. End of a Gun, released back in 2016, fits that mold perfectly. But here's the thing: people still search for the End of a Gun cast constantly. Why? Because the movie represents a specific era of Steven Seagal's career where he transitioned from the "Hard to Kill" aikido master to the king of the low-budget, high-output international thriller.
It’s not just about Seagal, though.
Who is actually in the End of a Gun cast?
If you're looking for the heavy hitters, you basically have Seagal and then a supporting group of European actors and seasoned character players. The movie follows Decker, a former federal agent (classic Seagal) who saves a woman from a beating and ends up entangled in a scheme to steal $2 million from a drug lord's car.
Steven Seagal plays Decker. By 2016, Seagal had fully embraced his role as the stoic, leather-jacket-wearing protector. His performance here is exactly what you’d expect—lots of whispering, very little running, and occasional bursts of hand-to-hand combat that rely heavily on quick cuts and stunt doubles.
Then you have Florin Piersic Jr. as Gage. Honestly, Piersic is often the best part of these Eastern European-shot action films. He’s a Romanian actor with real weight. He’s played in big productions like The Protégé and is a household name in Romania, being the son of the legendary Florin Piersic Sr. In End of a Gun, he brings a level of professional villainy that helps ground the more outlandish Seagal-isms.
The Female Lead: Jade Ewen
The standout in terms of name recognition outside the action bubble is Jade Ewen, who plays Lisa. If the name sounds familiar, it's because she wasn't originally an actress. She was a member of the British girl group the Sugababes. She also represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009.
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Seeing a pop star opposite Seagal is a bit of a trip.
She does a decent job with the "femme fatale" archetype, though the script doesn't give her a ton to work with. Her presence in the End of a Gun cast is usually what surprises people when they look up the credits on IMDb or Netflix.
The Supporting Players and Crew
The rest of the cast is filled with actors who frequently pop up in these types of productions.
- Jacob Grodnik plays Trevor. Grodnik is a producer-turned-actor who has appeared in several action flicks, including The Fanatic (yes, the John Travolta one).
- Jonathan Rosenthal takes on the role of Luc.
- Alexandru Nguyen plays the character of Bhupesh.
The film was directed by Keoni Waxman. If you follow Seagal's later filmography, that name is huge. Waxman has directed Seagal in at least nine or ten different projects, including Contract to Kill, Absolution, and Force of Execution. They have a shorthand. Waxman knows how to film Seagal in a way that hides the fact that the star might not be doing his own sprints anymore.
It’s kind of fascinating.
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These movies are shot fast. They are shot cheap. Usually in places like Bucharest or New Orleans. End of a Gun was a European shoot, which explains the high number of local Romanian talent in the minor roles.
Why the movie (and its cast) gets so much flak
Let's be real. This isn't Under Siege.
Critics absolutely mauled this movie. On Rotten Tomatoes, it sits at a pretty dismal score, mostly because the "action" feels static. People often complain that the End of a Gun cast feels like they are in different movies. Seagal is doing his "mysterious wanderer" thing, while Jade Ewen is trying to play a high-stakes heist drama, and the villains are chewing the scenery.
There is a weird disconnect.
The dialogue is often dubbed or ADR'd (Automated Dialogue Replacement) poorly. You can tell Seagal’s lines were recorded in a booth months later because the tone of his voice doesn't match the room he’s standing in. For fans of "bad" cinema, this is a goldmine. For everyone else, it’s a confusing 87 minutes.
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Is it worth watching for the cast alone?
If you are a Seagal completist, yes.
If you want to see Jade Ewen's transition from pop music to film, it’s an interesting artifact. But if you're looking for a tight, John Wick style experience, you’re in the wrong place. The End of a Gun cast does their best with a limited budget and a director who is basically a factory for this specific genre.
The most interesting thing about the production is how it fits into the "tax incentive" era of filmmaking. By shooting in Romania with a mix of one big "name" and local talent, producers can churn these out for a few million dollars and see a profit through international licensing and streaming.
Actionable Insights for Viewers
If you're going to dive into End of a Gun tonight, here is how to handle it:
- Adjust your expectations: This is a B-movie. Lower them. Then lower them again.
- Watch the background: Since it was filmed in Romania, the "Paris" or "US" settings often have hilarious European giveaways in the architecture and background vehicles.
- Check out Florin Piersic Jr.: If you like his performance, look up his Romanian work. He’s actually a very talented stage and screen actor who deserves better than being a foil for a whispering Seagal.
- Skip the slow parts: The movie has a lot of "walking through hallways" padding. Feel free to 1.5x speed those sections.
Ultimately, the End of a Gun cast is a snapshot of a very specific moment in 2010s action cinema—where the stars of the 80s met the reality of the digital streaming market. It's not great art, but it's a fascinating look at the "grindhouse" of the modern age.
To get the most out of your viewing, focus on the supporting performances of Piersic Jr. and Jade Ewen, who actually put in the effort to make the stakes feel real, even when the lead actor is mostly sitting in a chair. Tracking the career trajectories of the supporting actors often provides more entertainment than the film's actual plot, as many have moved on to much more prestigious international projects since 2016.