Based on actual events. Andrew Briggman (Nat Wolff) is a young American Solider determined to serve his country. Based on the film’s opening, we see that Andrew has the determination to be a good soldier. We also gain the understanding that he is ambitious to make a difference on the battlefield and perhaps move up the ranks while serving his country.

But after Andrew’s Sergeant is killed during a tragic bombing, a new commanding Sergeant is dispatched and arrives to lead Andrew and his fellow teammates into battle. However, Sergeant Deeks (Alexander Skarsgard) has a very different mindset on how to do things compared to the previous Sergeant. Soon Andrew learns that Sergeant Deeks and even some of the fellow soldiers are murdering innocent people. Andrew begins to seek help but fears that if he tells on Sergeant Deeks his own life will be in danger.

The opening to this film does a great job at introducing the characters, particularly Andrew. We learn so much about his desires even when the film is giving very little dialogue. The film only becomes more interesting when the new Sergeant Deeks arrives. Throughout the film, Andrew is unsure of Sergeant Deeks and his motives. Is he a criminal? Does he have the right mindset in battle? It also doesn’t help that the new Sergeant seems to enjoy playing mind games and toys with Andrew consistently. Whenever Andrew attempts to talk with the Sergeant, the level of conversation is minimal and vague. And the question that sat on my mind while watching is ‘what will Andrew do’? Will he confront the matter head-on? Or will he submit and do nothing?

Visually this film’s tone is quite gritty, dramatic, and the location is generally on a dry, desert type battlefield. The camera work here is excellent, and there are plenty of uncomfortable moments captured wonderfully on-screen. Performances were most certainly pleasing with Alexander Skarsgard taking the spotlight and delivering a quite sinister and unpleasant character.

Pacing is slightly questionable with the film’s second act being the most dramatic and tense to watch. The third act does feel somewhat vague as character decisions will be more up to the viewer to interpret rather than explained. This could also be because the writer and director are trying to be honourable to the original story and material. If you are expecting an action-packed film, viewers will be disappointed. The Kill Team (2019) is undoubtedly more of a Drama with minor elements of Thriller.

Overall, The Kill Team is a brutally dramatic film. There are so many elements which occur in the film which are genuinely shocking to see, mostly because it’s disheartening knowing this is based on real events. This type of film is usually aimed at a selected audience, including those who love war films or those seeking a movie based on true stories as well as those who enjoy seeing a man faced with a significant moral dilemma. Performances are also pleasing with Alexander Skarsgard taking the spotlight whenever he appears on screen.

5.8/10

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Review Written by Peter Walkden