Watch The Wall -an Amazon Original Movie
- R
- 2017
- 1 hr 29 min
-
6.2 (30,919)
The Wall is an intense war thriller that was released in 2017. It is directed by Doug Liman and written by Dwain Worrell. The movie stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, John Cena and Laith Nakli. The storyline of The Wall takes place in Iraq where two American soldiers, Sergeant Shane Matthews (John Cena) and his spotter Allen Isaac (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) are posted to intercept a high-value target. The mission goes awry when Isaac steps on a landmine and is wounded. Matthews tries to reach him for help but he, too, gets shot by an unseen sniper. Isaac miraculously survives the explosion and the two soldiers are stuck behind a crumbling wall with no back-up, trapped by the unseen sniper who seems to have a personal vendetta against them.
The Wall is a suspenseful game of cat and mouse between the sniper, played by Laith Nakli, and the two stranded soldiers. The sniper has extensive knowledge of these desert terrains, which he uses to his advantage to keep the soldiers pinned down, isolated and brutally tortured. The scope of the movie is limited to the three characters and a nearly barren wasteland that lies before them.
As the movie progresses, it becomes clear that the sniper is more than just a faceless enemy. He seems to have some sort of emotional connection with the soldiers, as he taunts and teases them with personal information that only someone with pre-existing knowledge of the soldiers could know. This relationship between the soldiers and their sniper is what drives the narrative forward, keeping the viewers on edge about whatâs to come.
The strength of The Wall lies in its performances. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is something of a revelation in the film, bringing a sense of vulnerability and determination to his role as Isaac. The transformation Isaac goes through over the course of the movie is impressive, as he morphs from a scared, vulnerable soldier into a determined, smooth-talking negotiator. John Cena delivers a solid performance as well, playing the role of an experienced, by the book sergeant who wants to achieve the mission at any cost.
The movie also does an excellent job of transporting the viewer to the Iraqi desert, capturing the feeling of isolation and hopelessness that a soldier would experience in that type of environment. The cinematography and the sound design of the movie are such that one can almost feel the dry, oppressive heat of the Iraqi desert.
The Wall is a taut, well-made thriller with a strong showing from its cast, especially Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who delivers one of the finest performances of his career. The movie sheds light on the psychological trauma that soldiers endure in the battlefield and is a worthy addition to the genre of war movies.
In conclusion, The Wall is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will have you guessing till the very end. It is a movie about the psychological battle between soldiers and their enemy, bringing home the message that sometimes the deadliest enemies are the ones you can't see.