The grave and unforgiving nature of war is put on full display in the most brutalwar movies. Depicting extreme violence or emotional distress in films and TV can be a risk, as there’s always the potential for it to be deemed exploitative or sensational. However, when done right,these films are lauded for their realism and sinceritywhen illustrating the harrowing truth about war.
Surprisinglybrutal war movies come from all sorts of angles. The expected perspective of war movies is that of the soldiers engaging in the primary conflict. While the atrocities of some war movies occur amid combat, others in the genre are more concerned with the effects on surrounding civilians. Regardless of what particular group of people these war movies are focused on, what they each have in common is their commitment to portraying the ugly, brutal truth about war and its lasting consequences.
10Go Tell The Spartans (1978)
Directed By Ted Post
Released the same year asThe Inglorious BastardsandThe Deer Hunter,Go Tell the Spartanshasn’t earned quite the same amount of acclaim. The latter film is based on Daniel Ford’s novel,Incident at Muc Wa, and follows a group of U.S. Army military advisors led by seasoned veteran Asa Barker (Burt Lancaster) duringthe early days of the Vietnam War. Like a handful of filmmakers and screenwriters in Hollywood, Ford had experience in the Vietnam War, where he worked as a correspondent in Vietnam forThe Nation.
Go Tell the Spartans
Cast
Go Tell the Spartans is a 1978 American war film depicting U.S. Army advisers, led by Major Asa Barker, during the Vietnam War’s early years. Based on Daniel Ford’s novel Incident at Muc Wa, the narrative centers on defending the village of Muc Wa against Viet Cong guerrilla attacks.
The anti-war message of Ford’s novel translates well in the film, leading to critical acclaim around its initial release and years later with the film’s cult following. Much of the brutality in war films comes from the physical and emotional scars left on individuals involved, and whileGo Tell the Spartansisn’t completely devoid of this, the film is much more concerned with critiquing America’s involvement in Vietnam.
9Johnny Got His Gun (1971)
Directed By Dalton Trumbo
One of the mostterrifying anti-war filmsin existence,Johnny Got His Gunwas momentarily forgotten by audiences, despite finding success with its initial release. After gaining a second life in the ’80s,the independent film has earned itself a cult followingthat is still going strong to this day. The film’s chilling tale comes from director Dalton Trumbo’s own novel of the same name.
Johnny Got His Gun
Joe Bonham, a young American soldier, suffers devastating injuries from an artillery shell on the last day of World War I, leaving him a quadruple amputee without the ability to see, hear, or speak. Trapped within his own mind, Joe battles to retain his sanity and find a way to communicate with the outside world. Using Morse code, he taps out messages on his hospital bed, pleading to be put on display as a living example of the true horrors of war.
Johnny Got His Gunsees World War I soldier Joe Bonham (Timothy Bottoms) wake up in his hospital bed after being hit by an artillery shell.Joe discovers the hit has resulted in the loss of his eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and limbs, though he’s still conscious and able to communicate through Morse code. Joe’s main request to be displayed in a freak show to demonstrate the horrors of war is devastating and gets the simple message of the film across to audiences.
8Das Boot (1981)
Directed By Wolfgang Petersen
Both an intense war film and an exemplary submarine movie,Das Boottakes place during World War II. Unlike most of the other brutal war movies mentioned, the cruelty shown in the West German war film isn’t as appalling for audiences.Das Bootsees the crew of the U-96 set out to patrol the Atlantic Ocean, where they’re met with intense naval conflict.
Das Boot
Das Boot is a 1982 German war film directed by Wolfgang Petersen. The narrative follows the harrowing journey of a German U-boat crew during World War II, capturing the relentless tension and claustrophobia of underwater combat. With Jürgen Prochnow starring as the U-boat’s commanding officer, the film offers a stark, immersive portrayal of the psychological and physical challenges faced by the crew under extreme conditions.
The film does intersperse moments of levity that focus on the crew’s camaraderie, yet it remains a highly intense war movie thanks to its setting. Thecombination of unforgiving weather, enemy attacks, and limited suppliesresults in a suspenseful fight for survival that’s guaranteed to have audiences on the edge of their seats. The claustrophobic setting of the submarine adds to the high stakes throughout the film as it affects both the crew’s sanity and safety.
7Casualties Of War (1989)
Directed By Brian De Palma
As is the case with many films based on true stories, the details of the incidentCasualties of Waris based on was altered for the 1989 film. Based on Daniel Lang’s article inThe New Yorker,and his eventual book, the film tells the story ofa Vietnamese woman who was raped and murdered by a squad of American soldiers.
Casualties of War
Casualties of War, directed by Brian De Palma, follows a soldier in the Vietnam War who becomes isolated from his squad after they kidnap a female villager. The film explores the moral conflicts and ethical dilemmas faced by soldiers during wartime.
Being released around the same time as other notable war films and having an especially bleak true story attached to it, there’s no wondering whyCasualties of Warperformed poorly at the box office. However,the film has gone on to receive a more positive response. Critics point out that Sean Penn and his character of Sergeant Tony Meserve, in particular, hold a lot of weight in the film, as it is crucial audiences buy into his disdain for the Vietnamese woman and the extreme lengths he’s willing to go to keep others quiet about his actions.
6Fires On The Plain (1959)
Directed By Kon Ichikawa
After witnessing the effects of the atomic bombings in Japan, director Kon Ichikawa made a shift in his career. Having mostly directed comedies beforeFires on the Plain, Ichikawa began making films that spoke out against war.Fires on the Plaintakes place during the end of World War II and follows Private Tamura (Eiji Funakoshi) as he and a group of other men are stranded. The men have been cut off from communication and share limited food.
Fires on the Plain
Fires on the Plain follows a Japanese soldier struggling with tuberculosis during the waning days of World War II in the Philippines. Released in 1959, the film portrays his journey as he grapples with abandonment and survival on the island of Leyte, emphasizing the harsh realities of war.
On top of the already dire circumstances,Tamura is battling tuberculosis and fights to survive his illness and the brutality of war.Fires on the Plainbalances its gruesome depictions of violence and death with a fascinating character-driven story centered around Tamura. With many of Ichikawa’s films, he aims to be realistic and is unafraid to show the bleakness that comes with tough subject matter, andFires on the Plainis not an exception.
5Threads (1984)
Directed By Mick Jackson
Holding its own against many of the brutal war movies released in theaters,the made-for-TV war filmThreadsdepicts a nuclear war that gravely affects the English town of Sheffield. The nuclear war is a result of the mounting conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. At its core, the film aims to present a moving story about families being separated and individuals forced to survive without their loved ones.
Threads
Threads is a British television film directed by Mick Jackson, depicting the impact of a nuclear war on the city of Sheffield and its residents. Released in 1984, the film follows the lives of two families as they grapple with the immediate and long-term effects of the catastrophic event. The narrative offers a stark and realistic portrayal of the societal breakdown and human suffering caused by nuclear conflict.
However,Threadsalso paints a grim depiction of the economic, social, and medical repercussions of the war. The unflinching portrayal of chaos and violence that stems from the nuclear disaster is realistic and dark,turningThreadsinto a horror film at times. The images throughout the film and the devastation that impacts its characters aresure to stick with audiences for quite some time.
4Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)
Directed By Isao Takahata
When thinking of classic war movies, animated films don’t usually come to mind, but the genre would be incomplete withoutStudio Ghibli’sGrave of the Fireflies. The film is based on Akiyuki Nosaka’s semi-autobiographical eponymous short story and tells the story of two orphaned siblings trying to survive as the Pacific War is coming to a close.
Audiences are forced to confront the reality of siblings Seita and Setsuko’s war-torn world, where they’re exposed to inhumane conditions, namely starvation.
LikeCome and See,the Japanese animated film is told from the perspective of younger victims of war. Contrasting the whimsical, adventure-filled worlds Studio Ghibli would eventually be widely associated with, the imagery throughoutGrave of the Firefliesis truly heartbreaking and bleak.
Audiences are forced to confront the reality of siblings Seita and Setsuko’s war-torn world, where they’re exposed to inhumane conditions, namely starvation. There are several themes addressed throughout the film related to war and the loss of innocence, andGrave of the Fireflies' endingties them together in a way that’s guaranteed to earn a tearful response from audiences.
3Platoon (1986)
Directed By Oliver Stone
Having served in the Vietnam War himself, director Oliver Stone uses his first-hand experiences to better inform the events ofPlatoon, one ofthe best war movies of the 1980s. Acting asthe first of Stone’s trilogy of Vietnam War movies, the film sees a U.S. Army volunteer (Charlie Sheen) caught in the middle of the growing conflict between the pessimistic Sergeant Barnes (Tom Berenger) and the sympathetic Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe).
Platoon
Platoon is a war drama directed by Oliver Stone, featuring Charlie Sheen as a young soldier experiencing the harrowing realities of Vietnam. Released in 1986, the film chronicles his moral struggle within a divided platoon, led by the contrasting characters of Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger. Platoon offers a raw depiction of the harsh conditions and ethical dilemmas faced by soldiers, contributing to its critical acclaim and multiple Academy Awards.
One of the film’s main messages comes from Barnes and Elias' opposing views on the purpose and morality of the war. Amidst the two men’s conflict and the action of the war itself,Platoonstill makes sure to never lose focus on Sheen’s Chris Taylor and the life-changing events he witnesses.The action throughout the film is brutal and is captured with authenticitythanks to its cinematography and Stone’s expertise.Platoonalso boasts some strong performances and an iconic,goosebump-inducing shot in Elias' final stance.
2Hamburger Hill (1987)
Directed By John Irvin
WhereHamburger Hilldifferentiates itself from othermovies about the Vietnam Waris byfocusing on one particular battle, the Battle of Hamburger Hill, and the soldiers involved. Over the course of 10 days, the squad members found themselves in intense attacks that resulted in a significant number of casualties on both sides.
The choice to frame the action and characters within the film in a short amount of time is unique but could have been detrimental to the film’s quality. Luckily, the movie’s performances and attention to every gruesome historical detail preventedHamburger Hillfrom being a disaster.
Hamburger Hill
Hamburger Hill is an action war-drama film based on the true events surrounding the Battle of Hamburger Hill and was directed by John Irvin. The movie centers on a group of men in the Bravo Company who battle to claim the infamously named hill while trying to keep themselves and each other safe in one of the bloodiest battles in American history.
The film has been praised by military historians for its accuracy in both the physical and emotional effects of the battle. In the middle of the battle’s attacks,the soldiers dealt with many psychological stressors, such as racism among soldiers and the anti-war sentiment expressed by people at home.
1Come And See (1985)
Directed By Elem Klimov
Regarded as one ofthe best war movies of all time,Come and Seehas influenced a variety of harrowing war films in the years after its 1985 release.The violence and suffering seen throughout the film is tough to stomach, but it remains important for audiences to watch as it paints an honest portrait of the realities of war.
10 Best Foreign War Movies Ever Made
While they may not be as well known as the biggest blockbuster war movies, these foreign films all address conflict and warfare with incredible power.
Come and Seeis certainlya war movie audiences can only watch once, and walk away from being forever changed by its message and brutal nature. The film highlights the inhumanity and intense day-to-day during the Nazi occupation of Belarus.
Come And See
Come and See is a 1985 Soviet war drama directed by Elem Klimov. The film follows a young Belarusian boy named Flyora as he witnesses and experiences the horrors of World War II. Through his eyes, viewers are exposed to the brutal realities of war and its devastating impact on humanity. Renowned for its stark portrayal of violence and suffering, the film is considered a powerful anti-war statement.
Teenager Flyora (Aleksei Kravchenko) joins a group of resistance fighters, and the film is told from his perspective ashe witnesses unspeakable inhumane acts.Come and Seecombines existential, political, and apocalyptic themes with both hyperreal and surrealist imagery and has earned praise for its storytelling alone, in addition to its powerful performance from Kravchenko.
