This film is a powerful indictment of the insanities of war and also a fine example of the art of filmmaking. It is amazingly effective at establishing the sense of claustrophobia and impending doom that those poor soldiers must have felt stuck in those horrible trenches in France during World War I.
The acting is superlative to a man. Sam Claflin as the company’s leader, Captain Stanhope, shows the signs of what is now known as PTSD. He has witnessed too much horror and experienced too much loss to continue as a well functioning human being.
Then there is Asa Butterfield as the fresh faced Second Lieutenant Raleigh, he just out of boot camp and yet to experience the horrors of war. His story arch is an especially tragic one. Paul Bettany as Lieutenant Osborne is also excellent.
It’s the fine details that make the experience of the film so impactful. The artillery shells used as candle holders, the large collection of dead rats nailed to a board or even the actor’s faces illuminated only by flickering candle light. It is easy to feel involved in their dreadful plight. The memory of this film burns its way into your mind and its ultimate tragedy will break your heart.
Rob Hudson
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