Hunter Killer wasn’t exactly at the top of my watch-list, but when I finally got around to watching it, boy, I was pleasantly surprised. A submarine thriller with Gerard Butler as the lead? Sign me up! It’s the kind of movie where you know you’re going to get tension, explosions and a few moments where you just have to suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride. In all honesty, I was mostly drawn to this film because of Gerard Butler. His eyes are charming.
Spoiler Alert
The film follows the story of Captain Glass (Gerard Butler), a relatively untested submarine commander who finds himself in the middle of an international crisis. When an American submarine is mysteriously sunk in Russian waters, Glass is sent on a mission to investigate. But things spiral out of control when it’s revealed that the Russian president (Alexander Diachenko) has been taken hostage by a rogue Russian defense minister, Durov, attempting a coup.
Glass’s mission isn’t just to navigate treacherous waters and avoid Russian attack submarines. He’s also tasked with rescuing the Russian president with the help of a Navy SEAL team operating on land, led by Lieutenant Beaman (Toby Stephens). With the world on the brink of war, which of course is what Durov aims at, Captain Glass has to make quick decisions to prevent global catastrophe.
My Review and Rating
One of the things I appreciate about Hunter Killer is that it delivers exactly what you expect from a submarine thriller; nail-biting tension, claustrophobic environments, and high-stakes military action. The film doesn’t waste much time on unnecessary exposition; it drops you right into the action and that pacing keeps things engaging throughout.
Gerard Butler, as usual, is in very fine form as Captain Glass. His performance in my opinion is groundbreaking, solid and dependable. Butler’s characters in the action movies I've seen all seem to have that gruff, no-nonsense vibe and Captain Glass is no different. He’s not flashy, but he gets the job done. What I enjoyed most was the dynamic between Glass and his crew. There’s a sense of camaraderie and trust that adds a layer of authenticity to the film’s submarine scenes.
The SEAL team subplot also adds an exciting change of pace, with some properly executed ground action that breaks up the underwater tension. Watching the SEALs infiltrate Russian territory while Glass maneuvers through hostile waters creates a beautiful duality of tension, both above and below the surface.
Now, here’s where I have to point out the film's flaws. The portrayal of the Russians. Hunter Killer falls into that classic Hollywood trap of reducing Russians to stock villains. I honestly can't place a finger on why Russia is always beefing with America and vice versa. There’s a rogue defense minister trying to start a war, but the Russian president is portrayed as the noble exception and most of the other Russian characters are either villainous or passive. It’s not the most nuanced depiction of international politics, and it feels a bit outdated. Anyway it was released in 2018 so what can I say?
If you’re looking for an entertaining, action-packed movie with submarines, special ops, and Gerard Butler saving the day, this film is right up your alley. It's a tightly written, deeply character driven political thriller.
I have to give props to the visual effects too. The underwater sequences are well done and the film manages to create a sense of claustrophobic tension in the submarine scenes.
Rating? I love it so it'll be a 4.5/5
Hunter Killer delivers the thrills. It’s a solid submarine action flick that’s worth watching if you’re a fan of the genre. Not speaking out of sentiment but Gerard Butler is always fun to watch in action, and trust me this movie keeps you entertained from start to finish.