An action film that sparked a major divide between professional reviewers and its loyal fanbase is set for a primetime television screening tonight. Hunter Killer, the 2018 submarine thriller starring Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman, will air on Film4 at 6.40pm, giving viewers a chance to judge the contentious movie for themselves.
A Plot to Prevent Global War
Based on the novel Firing Point by Don Keith and George Wallace, the film plunges audiences into a high-stakes geopolitical crisis. The story follows Commander Joe Glass, played by Gerard Butler, as he is tasked with investigating the mysterious disappearance of a US submarine. Simultaneously, a team of Navy SEALS on a covert mission witnesses the kidnapping of the Russian president during a secret military coup.
The narrative unfolds on two fronts: deep underwater in the claustrophobic confines of Glass's submarine and on land with the elite SEALS team. Both crews must race against time, using all their resources and courage to uncover the conspirators behind the coup and rescue the president. Their mission is critical: to prevent the incident from escalating into a full-scale war between global superpowers.
Critical Reception vs Fan Fury
Upon its original release in 2018, Hunter Killer received a decidedly mixed bag of reviews from critics. Some dismissed it as a "muddled, disjointed non-thriller," while a handful of more generous voices praised it as an "old-fashioned action thriller" where the "pace never flags." The film failed to make a significant splash at the box office, but it was far from forgotten.
Where critics saw flaws, a dedicated audience found thrilling entertainment. Fans have taken to platforms like Rotten Tomatoes to vocally defend the film and question the judgement of professional reviewers. One supporter vehemently wrote, "Primo movie. Most of the reviewers obviously have their heads where the sun doesn't shine!"
Another fan elaborated on their positive experience, expressing confusion at the critical drubbing. "This was a superb movie in every way. Suspense, feel-good ending... what's not to like? I'll tell you what - critics who give movies like The Substance a better rating than Hunter Killer.... you & people who respect your terrible opinions on films, are what's wrong with the world..."
The Verdict from the Audience
The consensus among the film's advocates is that it delivers exactly what it promises: solid, unpretentious action. A common theme in fan reviews is the criticism of overly analytical reviewers who they believe miss the point of a straightforward adventure story.
"It is very misleading by the critics to condemn a perfectly good naval adventure by overly critical and tiring rhetoric trying to be 'the most amazing critical analysis'," advised one viewer. "Everyone always forgets.... sometimes it's just an entertaining story. Don't overthink it."
Another posted, "Good movie, better than I expected. Gerard Butler is always good and does a fine job here. I'm not a very big fan of submarine movies, but I found this one to be suspenseful all the way through. Thumbs up."
For those who want to see if the fans or the critics got it right, Hunter Killer airs on Film4 tonight, Thursday, November 13, at 6.40pm.
