In the absence of any feel for intrigue, not least the potential intricacies of a husband-and-wife spook team, Johnson shuffles a deck of espionage-film cliches largely at random.

CHIEF OF STATION is tense, violent, thrilling and, perhaps most rewardingly, it’s familiar and comfortable in its construction.

The screenplay is by George Mahaffey and while his dialogue has a good rhythm to it, his plotting doesn't get very deep.

Generic action spy film.