★★★★☆

I’m going to give The Trench 4-stars instead of the lower ratings others give it, but not because it is a great movie in its own right. As someone who used to watch a lot of History Channel back when it was worth watching, this movie did an excellent job capturing the desperation and relationships of men in the trenches during World War I, also called “the Great War” by many.

The Trench – The Plot

Daniel Craig‘s character really was the center of the movie for me. Caught between being a Sargent wanting to do his duty for country and one of the men not wanting to be in the first wave over the wall, he really captured the whole story for me. Forming friendships because you had to have them to stay alive and not wanting friendships because so many would die with the next push.

With all of the spin and politics going on among the brass, he is promised if his men do this one task they will be in the third wave out of The Trench when the big attack comes. Relief troops which are supposed to be in the first two waves have leaders a bit smarter than he when it comes to keeping their men alive. They simply “get lost” trying to navigate the patchwork of trenches at night leaving his the only group of men who can go when the first wave is supposed to charge.

Despite its low budget feel I found this a very compelling movie. When you are feeling a bit nostalgic or like scratching your history buff itch, this is a good movie to have in the rental queue.

For more movie rental ideas please see list one and list two.