Review of The Hurt Locker (2008) by Peter N — 23 Nov 2012

Easily one of the best war movies I have ever seen. I'm normally not a fan of this genre (with a few exceptions), but The Hurt Locker never manages to turn the viewer off with endless depictions of guts and carnage merely thrown in there for the satisfaction of its bloodthirsty teenage audience.

Rather, it is a smart, expertly paced thriller that builds suspense through clever writing, rich characterization, and haunting themes of sanity and motivation during times of war. This is one of those rare films that stays riveting despite its slow pacing.