When it comes to naval films that take place almost entirely on submarines, The Hunt for Red October should be near the top of anyone’s list. That film released all the way back in 1990, and while several other Tom Clancy novels have seen theatrical and TV adaptations, we have yet to see a remake of one of Clancy’s best. Fast-forward to 2018 and we may have the next best thing. Find out more in our full Hunter Killer review!
The story of Hunter Killer revolves around rookie captain Joe Glass (Gerard Butler) as he is tasked with stopping an all out war between the United States and Russia. If you’ve seen previews of Hunter Killer, you may not have been overly impressed. However, on paper the movie is overrun with talent. In addition to Gerard Butler, Gary Oldman plays Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, Charles Donnegan, and Common portraying Rear Admiral John Fisk.
When a high-ranking Russian official goes rogue and tries to stage a coup, it’s up to the Americans to not only rescue the Russian President deep behind enemy lines, but stop war before it begins. That’s a fairly standard plot for a military movie, but it’s executed fairly well. This isn’t a high-budget film, and that shows a bit in the special effects, but it doesn’t detract too much from the heightened suspense the film does so well.
Many of the characters in Hunter Killer are military stereotypes. You’ve got the scruffy submarine captain who hasn’t really earned his position, the hard-nosed Joint Chief who just wants to fight, and even a female President of the United States. If there’s a checklist for naval films with a submarine as the primary set, Hunter Killer hits every mark. Despite this, it still manages to surprise and entertain on almost every level.
Let’s be clear… Hunter Killer is a far cry from The Hunt for Red October. It has a lot in common with the Sean Connery classic, but the quality just isn’t there. That said, this is a fun movie that will put you on the edge of your seat on multiple occasions. Some parts of the movie don’t make sense if you think about them even a little bit, but if you can turn off your brain for two hours, Hunter Killer is a fun film.
About Hunter Killer
Synopsis: Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Now, facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what’s right.
Director: Donovan Marsh
Writers: Arne Schmidt, Jamie Moss
Stars: Gerard Butler, Gary Oldman, Common
Rated: R
Runtime: 2 Hours, 1 Minute
Bryan Dawson has been writing professionally since the age of 13. He started his career as a video game writer and has since worked for Random House, Prima Games, DirecTV, IGN, AOL, the British Government, and various other organizations. For GNN, Bryan taps into his passion for movies.
