Jeri Jacquin
Coming to Bluray and
Digital from writer/director Dan Krauss, A24 and Lionsgate are events of war and the
effects caused by THE KILL TEAM.
Andrew Briggman (Nat
Wolff) is a young man who joins the military and immediately send to the Middle
East. Settling into camp, he tries to learn the ropes from the other soldiers.
His first experience with the seriousness of their work is when their leader
Weppler (Osy Ikhile) is killed. The group tries to come together as the new
leader Sgt. Deeks (Alexander Skarsgard) walks in with confidence.
Deeks makes it very
clear what he expects from the men under him and even treats them to a cookout.
He also takes Briggman under his wing a little and encourages him to be more
forward in his soldiering. The young soldier appreciates the attention and begins
to find his way and becomes more inclusive with the platoon.
Out on a mission,
Briggman remembers what Weppler told him about 'hearts and minds' but Deeks
doesn't agree with this approach. In fact, while out on patrol, he witnesses
something that he knows is frighteningly wrong. Unsure of what to do, Briggman
reaches out to his father William (Rob Morrow) who tells his son to stand fast
using his military contacts to find help.
As word begins to
spread that there could be a rat in the ranks, Briggman watches everyone
including Deeks for signs of danger. The days become more difficult to handle
as the others start weeding out who could be the person turning on them all.
Every move brings
him to a decision that will cost everyone!
Wolff as Briggman is
a young man who comes from a military family and sees himself as doing his duty
to country. Not as tough as some of the other soldiers he is with means if
someone is going to be made to feel the outcast it is Briggman. Wolff brings a
believable naivetés to his character that is shattered quickly and his reaction
is fear. From beginning to the end of the film I felt with Briggman every step
of the way (including feeling a big paranoid) and all of the emotions means
Wolff delivers.
Skarsgard as Deeks
is charming and disarming at the same time. Coming off as 'one of the guys' is
perfect for a predator of his calibre. Of course I know Skarsgard can play a
villain because I've seen him do it as a vampire in the HBO series True Blood, but
this isn't the same by any means. In THE KILL TEAM, he uses war and the
innocence of these young soldiers to fulfill his own nasty need for
destruction. Despicable yes, well portrayed - absolutely.
Morrow as William
Briggman is a father who just wants his son to come home alive without physical
harm or emotional scars. When his son reaches out, Dad does what dad's do, try
to fix a problem before it becomes bigger than a problem.
Other cast include
Anna Francolini as Laura, Oliver Ritchie as Cappy, Brian Marc as Marquez,
Jonathan Whitesell as Coombs, Adam Long as Rayburn and Ian Attard as Captain
Weaver.
Lionsgate is a
global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres,
television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER
GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000
motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well
as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.
The Special Features
of THE KILL TEAM include The Reality of
Courage: Making THE KILL TEAM, Deleted Scenes and Audio Commentary with
Writer-Director Dan Krauss.
THE KILL TEAM also
includes a Digital Copy that allows the viewer to stream instantly or download
to your devices such as PC's, laptops, tablets and your own phone.
THE KILL TEAM is a
difficult film because the idea presented is one that people have thought about
but never talk openly about. War brings about actions that otherwise wouldn't
be a part of a person's behaviors in everyday life. Not just in the recent wars
but wars throughout history people have done things to one another that aren't
spoken of in 'polite society'.
Not so much in
recent years as PTSD has become prevalent in our world and with that come the
stories (and even photographs/video with our technology now) that show what the
men/women of the armed services endure. The leader in this film, Deeks, is
supposedly one of their own that is trusted to do his job and protect his
soldiers is the disturbing part. Instead he is a man that betrays that trust
and does the unthinkable.
Briggman is a
character but not so far removed from all the young soldiers who join the
military. When the trust of a leader is betrayed, the fear is just another
thing that can get one killed. Anyone in the military or family of those in the
military will experience this film in a more difficult way because having a
service member in the family is already difficult enough. The choices they make
as soldiers is one most of us will never have to make and the film portrays
that as well.
The entire film is
on an emotional roller coaster for the viewer but at the same time will have
the same viewer writing up a mental list of questions. That's where the
conversations come into play that need to be had regarding the realities of
war. Of course my father and grandfather came from a generation where what
happened in war was never discussed but that is no longer the case and, in
fact, they are now speaking out for their own mental health.
In the years to come
this will not be the only time we hear and see a story of this kind as
writer/director Krauss gives us a based on a true story, in-depth look at a few
good men brought to many bad (and sad) behaviors.
In the end - they
are soldiers, brothers and enemies.
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