Review - Hunter Killer on Netflix

There's something about submarine movies that have appealed to me some Tom Clancy wrote The Hunt for Read October. Admittedly, the book is a dense read with a plethora of technical details.

The movie of the same name was hugely popular with Darling Hubby and me.

Consequently, I always take a look at a movie with a submarine setting and/or plot such as Hunter Killer, a 2018 American film starring Gerard Butler. that is currently streaming on Netflix.

The movie was directed by Donovan Marsh from a screenplay by Arne Schmidt and Jamie Moss which was based on Firing Point, a 2012 novel written by George Wallace and Don Keith.

About Hunter Killer

Captain Joe Glass, a submarine captain, races to prevent World War III. He's on the hunt for a U.S. sub in distress in the Arctic Ocean. 

Throw in a secret Russian coup, a conspiracy aimed at changing the world order, and an elite  group of Navy SEALs with a daring plan to rescue the Russian president. Exciting story? Yes, and no more outlandish than the plot of The Hunt for Red October.

Released in October 2018, the film didn't do well at the box office which I personally find surprising after having seen it. Hunter Killer is a solid action flick with a thrilling plot, excellent characterizations, believable actions and motivations, and a cast that brings the story alive.

Cast

Gerard Butler as Captain Joe Glass, USS Arkansas, is superb. He is the kind of actor who is imminently believable in whatever role he tackles whether it's a Spartan in 300 or a sub commander in this movie.

Gary Oldman was CJCS Charles Donnegan, Common as RADM John Fisk.

Linda Cardellini was Jayne Norquist, National Security Agency, and Caroline Goodall was U. S. President Dover.

Actors portraying USS Arkansas crew members are: David Gyasi as COB Wallach, Gabriel Chavarria as Jimenez, DSRV pilot, Carter MacIntyre as XO Brian Edwards, Taylor John Smith as Belford, Sonar tech, and Christopher Goh as Park.

Those portraying Navy SEALs are: Ryan McPartlin as Matt Johnstone, Zane Holtz as Paul Martinelli, Michael Trucco as Devin Hall, and Toby Stephens as Bill Beaman.

Alexander Diachenko as Russian President Zakarin with Yuri Kolokolnikov as Oleg, Presidential Security, and Michael Gor as Admiral Dmitriy Durov, Minister of Defence.

Igor Jijikine portrayed Tretiak, Russian Special Forces, and Ilia Volok was Captain Vlade Sutrev, RFS Yevchenko. The late Michael Nyqvist portrayed Captain Andropov, RFS Konek, in his last movie role.

My 2 Cents

Darling Hubby and I enjoyed this film very much. In fact, it's one of the better movies we've seen lately. It's great to see a movie where the storytelling structure makes sense.

I often think we live in a streaming world offering far too many ridiculous super hero movies, endless derivatives of once popular films, and flicks whose writers seem to have no concept of what makes a good story. 

Hunter Killer offers an intelligent story, good guys who may be flawed but who do the right thing for the right reason, and bad guys who are unquestionably bad guys.  How refreshing to see the so-called heroes of movies actually be heroic.

Takeaway Truth

Sorry if I jumped up on my soapbox there at the end. I guess I've been seeing too many movies that are just inferior. Fortunately, Hunter Killer isn't one. Watch it. You'll like it.

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