Hunter Killer Shames The Existence Of Submarine Movies

The recent silver screen releases have been no short of amazing. Movies like Halloween, The Hate U Give, Mid 90’s are all sheer works of art. The artistry behind their making, the devotion, the thoughtfulness, and the innovation, are all beyond just commendable. These are the movies that define the true purpose of Hollywood. Hunter Killer; however, is not one of these movies. Hunter Killer largely disappoints for a movie emanating from a distinguished bedrock of Geopolitics. The movie is principally cliched, furthermore; it’s a bit all over the place. This Gerald Butler submarine picture fails to capture the diplomatic sharpness of art films. Additionally, it garishly scatters the star power of its ensemble with ill-defined story arcs. For this reason, there is no denying the 29% rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

The Plot And Characters

Don Keith and George Wallace are the original authors of the novel, Firing Point, which resources this movie. The movie follows a mission commandeered by US submarine Commander Joe Glass (Gerard Butler). The quest is to rescue the Russian president, as his own Defense Minister Dmitri Durov (Mikhail Gorevoy) has held him, hostage. Bill Beaman (Toby Stephens), National Security Agency senior analyst Jayne Norquist (Linda Cardellini), Rear Admiral John Fisk (Common), and Admiral Charles Donnegan (Gary Oldman) amalgamate as a group of Navy Seals who join forces to aid the central mission. The film barely ever gives a Russian glimpse. And when it does, it ensures that it portrays them as sinister-evil men. Gorevoy’s scarred face further augments this bigoted evil-Russians ideology.

Later; however,  Russian submarine Captain Sergei Andropov (the late Michael Nyqvist) joins the crew unintentionally. Thus forcing Americans and Russians to cooperate, despite their unwillingness, much to their unease. The movie precipitates a fine humorous tone when it showcases its Joe- Andropov moments. But, in all sincerity, the gags are often senselessly silly.

Gerald Butler Disappoints

Sadly there is a divine lack of thrill in Butler’s own performance. Undoubtedly, his presence entails some of the greatest moments of tension on the submarine. But, otherwise, he is a general mess. It appears that he holds a like commitment to the film as the creative team, as he contributes generously to the already unbearable incoherency. Nevertheless, some scenes of Butler are still worth a watch on Hunter Killer. Especially when he and Byqvist’s Andropov had to navigate through Russian waters lined with naval mines and devices tripped by sound.

Cinematography Is Incredible

If we review it, the cinematic style of the movie is still a remarkable aspect though. The choreography and direction of the underwater sequences are palpably perfect. Hunter Killer truly standouts through its PlayStation-ish graphic sense. The interiors of the submarines do not depart from a realistic sensation. And when the torpedoes clash, the turbulence and roaring feel markedly real. The films successfully deliver the kind of apprehension and anticipation for a falling submarine before it is saved in the nick of time. Only if the makers had milked a more engaging tale out of such splendid visuals, the reviews for Hunter Killer would have been much more favorable.

A Review On The Supporting Cast

The Navy Seals salvage the film from its dread soullessness through their rough, slapstick play. However, some supporting characters, despite their refined skill, just stand aimlessly in the crowd. This is specifically true for Oldman and Cardellini, who got do not get enough screen space to stage their prowess.

Verdict

There is no justifying the existence of Hunter Killer. Even if we multiply the rather scarce ‘good scenes’ in the movie, the review will still be frankly harsh. Hunter Killer is the embodiment of the misuse of a beautiful genre. Neither is the creative ambition in place nor are the political angles. It only seconds the Olympus Has Fallen franchise in political misinformation, making this has-fell-through-the-gap movie a precise cringe-fest.