I’ve been meaning to watch The Shepherd Code for some time as I’ve heard good things about it. These are low budget indie movies, but they attract a good cast and the third entry which is a prequel is out now.
The Shepherd Code (2024)
Plot: Alex Lapierre, a professional assassin, is tasked by his boss, Lewis, to protect an African minister’s daughter from imminent kidnapping.
The Shepherd Code has a great cast that includes Alan Delabie as our lead, Alex Lapierre. He’s a man of few words but when his lady is murdered he vows revenge on the people responsible. He is also tasked with protecting an African minister’s daughter from kidnappers. The rest of the cast includes Don “The Dragon” Wilson in an extended cameo, Michael Morris and Silvio Simac who steals the show as one of the imposing main villains.
As this doesn’t have a massive budget there aren’t any big set-pieces and there are a few scenes which go on a little longer than they need to. Still, we get several fight scenes and the highlight is the final showdown between Delabie and Simac.
Delabie really looks the part in his stylish suits and has the martial arts skills, so the fight scenes work well. I wish Don Wilson had more to do… but that comes in the second movie.
Michael Morris plays Alex’s loyal friend Mike who always has his back and provides some humour when Alex is always super serious.
At an hour and 18 minutes The Shepherd Code doesn’t outstay its welcome keeping things well paced for the most part with enough fight scenes to keep action fans entertained.
Overall, The Shepherd Code may not have a huge budget, but it still has some great fight scenes with the showdown between Alan Delabie and Silvio Simac the highlight.
The Shepherd Code II: Road Back (2025)
Plot: Alex Lapierre was once a professional assassin. He now leads a peaceful existence, far removed from his tumultuous past. However, the past never stays buried for long.
This follow-up to The Shepherd Code is a superior sequel in every way; there’s more action and it just moves along feeling like a more complete story.
It also has Preston Downey AKA That Phat Samurai Guy in a brief, but awesome cameo role at the start; he actually has screen presence and I’d happily see him do more roles in the future. Don “The Dragon” Wilson is more of a main character here and even gets a few fight scenes this time proving that he still has the movies even at 71 years old. In Road Back he gets kidnapped by an old nemesis Dumont (Michael McKell) thought long dead, so it’s up to Alex and his crew to save him.
On henchmen duties is Mark Strange who feels like a genuine threat as he beats up and kills anyone in his path. He’s maybe the best character in this movie as he makes for a truly hateful villain. Michael McKell is wonderfully smug too and yet you can understand why he wants revenge on Alex and his gang after they tried to blow him up (I’d be pissed too).
One thing about these movies the music which is fantastic and one of my favourite elements; it’s cool and works well for what’s happening on screen.
This seems to have a bigger budget than the first with better action and fight scenes which happen every few minutes.
Overall, The Shepherd Code II: Road Back is a superior sequel with more action and a genuinely threatening villain in Mark Strange.
The Shepherd Code: Lapierre (2026)
Plot: Lewis enlists his top agent, Alex Lapierre – aka “The Shepherd” – for a mission that’s as high-stakes as it is dangerous: eliminate a list of targets for Tania Edwards, a powerful and enigmatic woman tangled in a massive scandal. But things quickly take an unexpected turn. A mysterious bounty hunter, known only as “The Ghost,” enters the picture with a very different agenda: to take out both Tania and Alex, but on whose behalf? Caught between the conflicting demands of his superiors and his own growing doubts, Alex faces a tough decision: follow orders and remain the loyal soldier he’s trained to be, or be swayed by Tania’s allure and question everything he believes in.
This third entry is actually a prequel with Alex unsure who to trust as he faces off against a bounty hunter known as The Ghost. This story also gives us more backstory about Tania and Alex exploring their romance.
Eric Roberts and Patrick Kilpatrick show up in small roles, but it’s always good to see them especially Kilpatrick who has such an awesome voice. Series regular Don Wilson also makes an appearance although he doesn’t get in on the action this time.
This is more character based, so it doesn’t have quite as many fight scenes as part 2, but the highlight is Alex facing off against 2 villains which was awesome as one of them just keeps coming back.
Once again the music is fantastic and really elevates the action; considering it doesn’t have a huge budget it never looks it.
Alan Delabie is once again our lead, Alex and he is as well dressed, charismatic and badass as ever.
Overall, The Shepherd Code: Lapierre is an entertaining prequel that gives some nice backstory to Alex and Tania with a few entertaining fight scenes too.
So, those are my thoughts on The Shepherd Code trilogy – all three have amazing music and nice visuals defying the limited budget. It’s also great to spot action legends like Don Wilson, Patrick Kilpatrick, Eric Roberts and more making these worth checking out.