The Kill Team

Name: The Kill Team
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, War
Released: October 25, 2019
Duration: 87 min
Rating: 60
Cast: Adam James, Adam Long, Alexander Skarsgård, Anna Francolini, Brian 'Sene' Marc

2019

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Ratings

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5.9

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5.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Ratings

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The Kill Team

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Movie Details & Credits

Belga Films | Release Date: October 25, 2019 | R

Starring: Adam James, Adam Long, Alexander Skarsgård, Anna Francolini, Brian 'Sene' Marc, Ian Keir Attard, Jonathan Whitesell, Nat Wolff, Oliver Ritchie, Osy Ikhile, Rob Morrow

Summary: When Andrew Briggman (Nat Wolff), a young soldier in the US invasion of Afghanistan, witnesses other recruits killing innocent civilians under the direction of a sadistic leader, Sergeant Deeks (Alexander Skarsgård), he considers reporting them to higher-ups — but the heavily-armed, increasingly violent platoon becomes suspicious thatWhen Andrew Briggman (Nat Wolff), a young soldier in the US invasion of Afghanistan, witnesses other recruits killing innocent civilians under the direction of a sadistic leader, Sergeant Deeks (Alexander Skarsgård), he considers reporting them to higher-ups — but the heavily-armed, increasingly violent platoon becomes suspicious that someone in their ranks has turned on them, and Andrew begins to fear that he’ll be the next target.… Expand

Director: Dan Krauss

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 87 min

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Critic Reviews

The Film Stage John Fink

May 2, 2019

Krauss packs a lot into what could be read as a prequel for his documentary, creating a brutal war on terror picture with a timely context. Read full review

Zaki Hasan

Oct 23, 2019

The Kill Team serves an essential function by illustrating in agonizing detail not only how easily morality can be subjugated to hate, but how important it is for people of conscience to do the right thing. It’s deeply uncomfortable viewing at times, but it’s no less necessary a story to experience. Read full review

IndieWire David Ehrlich

Oct 24, 2019

As lucid and intense as it is underwritten, his second crack at the Maywan District murders might be much less nuanced than his first, but this riveting thriller still manages to amplify its subject much louder than Krauss has been able to before. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Oct 11, 2019

The big and small screens have been awash in military features and documentaries since 9/11, and there’s not a lot to The Kill Team that qualifies as new or surprising. But a decent level of suspense and the genuine dread Skarsgård casts, like a shadow, inform it and make it stand out in a genre that may not outlive America’s endless military involvement in that corner of the world. Read full review

Stephen Whitty

May 2, 2019

At its core, The Kill Team has one great performance, and some important things to say – about the dangerous appeal of the strong, and the easy malleability of the young. It’s well worth watching, and thinking on. It’s just a shame that that great performance isn’t matched by all the others – and that what the film has to say is said in such a dutifully by-the-book way. Read full review

Roxana Hadadi

Oct 23, 2019

Its depiction of toxic masculinity and bloodthirstiness within the U.S. Army is blunted by an overly passive lead performance and a lack of specificity in its storytelling. Read full review

Katie Walsh

Oct 24, 2019

Krauss digs into the murky, uneasy morality of wartime, but The Kill Team doesn’t quite convey the brutality of these crimes with the same power that news accounts or even Krauss’ own documentary have. Read full review

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User Reviews

Bellamikaelson

Oct 27, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It is good. All the actors did the job good. But sad ending. Maybe it would be nice if they filming another series but same actors.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Oct 30, 2019

The film isn't bad but I think that when dealing with such a serious subject, the dramatization seems to diminish its strength.
I'm definitely more interested in looking for the documentary that bears the same name of this film because I read that it's much more competent.
Nothing specialThe film isn't bad but I think that when dealing with such a serious subject, the dramatization seems to diminish its strength.
I'm definitely more interested in looking for the documentary that bears the same name of this film because I read that it's much more competent.

Nothing special for A24 but I can recommend it and I should definitely mention that this is the best performance I've seen from Nat Wolff so far. Nothing spectacular but it certainly he does things right.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GrantD243

Oct 30, 2019

The Kill Team is an intense thriller about a soldier who is roped into a situation that he never could have anticipated before he joined the military. What can a young soldier do when his squad mates begin to murder civilians? The feeling of hopelessness is palpable at times, and theThe Kill Team is an intense thriller about a soldier who is roped into a situation that he never could have anticipated before he joined the military. What can a young soldier do when his squad mates begin to murder civilians? The feeling of hopelessness is palpable at times, and the director does a great job of building tension over the course of the entire film. And, really, the tension building is what saves this film from missing the mark entirely.

This is a dramatization of the 2013 documentary of the same name, and the documentary remains the better film out of the two. This isn't a complicated story. It's pretty clear cut what happens and how it came to be. With that being said, this year's dramatization of the story feels very...thin. We hit each of the main points of the story (he joins the military, tries to impress, and then the killings happen) and then before you know it...it's over. It also doesn't touch much on the actual brutality that is being shown. It doesn't have anything to say about it. It just shows it. Like I said, the tension between Briggman, his sergeant, and the rest of his squad is what helps it cross the finish line. I still think it's worth the watch if you've seen the documentary and are curious about the adaptation, or if you're a fan of military films in general. But if you are going to watch either the dramatization or the documentary, just watch the documentary.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

section20mi6

Mar 12, 2020

While packed with gritty realism, the film does not live up to any conventional standards in story development. It almost feels like the story started and ended with few substance within.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Berik

Nov 12, 2019

Based on real events, The Kill Team is supposed to show a dark blemish of the Afghan Invasion by the United States. Manipulated and enabled by a Sergeant that condones committing war crimes as if it is justified, several young soldiers commit murder on innocent afghan villagers. Among thisBased on real events, The Kill Team is supposed to show a dark blemish of the Afghan Invasion by the United States. Manipulated and enabled by a Sergeant that condones committing war crimes as if it is justified, several young soldiers commit murder on innocent afghan villagers. Among this squad of soldiers, Specialist Briggman feels trapped as he is aware of the murders, but feels threatened by his Sergeant and squad mates.

What is supposed to be a dark war drama, unfortunately comes off as a rather amateurish attempt at creating tense atmosphere. Scenes that are supposed to make you feel uncomfortable don't deliver much except stretched out exposition, and the main character doesn't come across as stressed or scared, but rather oblivious.

The movie is a slow burner with little to no peaks in tension, and after 105 minutes the movie ends without much of a climax. Unfortunately this leaves a rather underwhelming after taste. I give this movie a 5/10.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Mauro_Lanari

Nov 4, 2019

(Mauro Lanari)
"War movie, but not too much, thriller, without ever exceeding, and distorted formation novel. Many identities for 'The Kill Team', unfortunately not enough coagulated in a single, powerful story. It turns out, instead, from this mix, a paradox: the multifacetedness of the(Mauro Lanari)
"War movie, but not too much, thriller, without ever exceeding, and distorted formation novel. Many identities for 'The Kill Team', unfortunately not enough coagulated in a single, powerful story. It turns out, instead, from this mix, a paradox: the multifacetedness of the film is its weak point" (Andrea Giovalè).… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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