Diksha Sundriyal
Ever since humans evolved to the point where they realized that they could have territories and since the inception of the idea of civilization, there have always been wars. Take any century or any decade and you’ll find that in some part of the world, there were always two armies killing each other. The war against terrorism, the war against communism, the war against the Nazis, the war against foreign forces, the war against the country on the other side of the hill — no matter how big or small, there has always been a reason for humans to indulge themselves in the bloodbath that never ends well for anyone. And yet, despite the misery of such times, we manage to make stories that inspire strength, heroism, and perseverance, and some of the best in genre are available on Hulu right now.
13. One Shot (2021)
Directed by James Nunn, ‘One Shot’ follows a Navy SEALs squad that is tasked with retrieving a prisoner from a CIA black site for interrogation regarding a potential terrorist attack. The squad is led by Lieutenant Jake Harris and CIA analyst Zoe Anderson, who find it tough to convince site manager Jack Yorke to let them take the detainee. Soon, all of them find themselves targeted by insurgents and have to protect not only themselves but also the prisoner. The film stars Scott Adkins, Ashley Greene Khoury, Ryan Phillippe, and Emmanuel Imani. You can watch ‘One Shot’ here.
12. WarHunt (2022)
Directed by Mauro Borrelli, ‘WarHunt’ brings together war and fantasy horror. The movie stars Mickey Rourke, Robert Knepper, Aglaya Tarasova, and Jackson Rathbone. It is set during World War II, the movie tells the story of Major Johnson and his squad, who spot the crash of an American military cargo plane from their spot in Germany’s Black Forest. Upon making their way towards the wreckage to recover the intel and see if they can find any survivors, they come across something sinister that seems to be hunting them one by one. To find out what that is, you can watch the movie right here.
11. Shadow in the Cloud (2020)
‘Shadow in the Cloud’ is directed by Roseanne Liang and is similar to ‘WarHunt’ in the way it offers a mix of war and fantasy horror. Starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Taylor John Smith, Nick Robinson, and Callan Mulvey, the movie is set during World War II and shows Royal Air Force Pilot Officer Maude Garrett assigned to keep a secret package safe aboard a B-17 bomber with an all-male crew that is traveling from Auckland, New Zealand, to Samoa. A simple mission goes heavily awry when a gremlin attacks the plane. To find out what happens then, you can watch the movie here.
10. Black Site (2022)
‘Black Site’ is directed by Sophia Banks and stars Michelle Monaghan, Pallavi Sharda, Jai Courtney, and Jason Clarke. In the movie, we meet CIA Agent Abby Trent and her team, who manage a high-security military facility that holds the world’s most dangerous criminals. The team’s latest catch is a guy codenamed Hatchet, who is known for his gruesome killing methods. Unfortunately, he escapes from his holding cell, targeting and killing the guards as well as releasing the other inmates. It is only a matter of time before he gets his hands on Abby, and thus, she has to find a way to stop him. The catch is that she has one hour, after which the security protocol, activated by Hatchet, will alert the higher authorities, who will then send a drone to wipe out the entire facility along with those within it. You can stream ‘Black Site’ here and find out what fate awaits Abby and her team.
9. Rogue (2020)
Directed by M. J. Bassett, ‘Rogue’ stars Megan Fox as mercenary Samantha “Sam” O’Hara, who leads a team of mercs (Philip Winchester, Brandon Auret, Greg Kriek, and others) from around the globe on a mission to rescue the teenage daughter of a governor. She was taken by a terrorist cell along with her two classmates. While the rescue mission is successful, the extraction is foiled by the terrorist militia, and what follows is a brutal gunfight/encounter that involves lions as well. To know if they make it out alive, you can stream the movie here.
8. Dog Soldiers (2002)
This must-watch military drama pins a group of soldiers against a pack of hungry werewolves. Directed by Neil Marshall, this movie follows a unit of British soldiers who are in the Scottish Highlands for a nighttime training mission and encounter the only survivor of a Special Ops unit that has been attacked by flesh-eating werewolves. Now accompanied by a local woman, who is a zoologist, they find themselves trapped inside a cabin and waiting for dawn. But the question can they stay alive till then? ‘Dog Soldiers’ stars Emma Cleasby, Sean Pertwee, Darren Morfitt, Kevin McKidd, Thomas Lockyer and Chris Robson. You can stream the movie here.
7. Hot Shots! (1991)
Directed by Jim Abrahams, this ‘Top Gun’ spoof stars Charlie Sheen as Topper Harley, a US Navy aviator suffering from mental health issues. However, he agrees to be a part of a secret mission by his commander Block, who intends to use him as a pawn in the mission that is planned to fail. This will allow Block to replace the Navy’s planes with new ones that will bring him personal profit. Whether Topper can dig up the truth and save the lives of his co-pilot/friends is what we find out in this cult comedy that takes a dig at not only ‘Top Gun’ but also many other films, including ‘Superman,’ ‘Rocky,’ ‘9½ Weeks,’ ‘Dances with Wolves,’ and ‘Gone with the Wind.’ The movie co-stars Valeria Golino, Kevin Dunn, Lloyd Bridges, Cary Elwes, and Jon Cryer. You can watch ‘Hot Shots!’ here.
6. The Good Traitor (2020)
‘The Good Traitor’ is a Danish film directed by Christina Rosendahl and is set during the beginning of World War II and is based on the life of Henrik Kauffmann (Ulrich Thomsen), who was the Danish Ambassador to the United States during the war. When the Nazis start occupying Denmark, he declares himself as the sole force that can free Denmark and makes risky decisions that lead to unforeseen consequences. We also get to see his personal life, including his death at the hands of his wife, Charlotte (Denise Gough). Sounds intriguing? You can stream the film right here.
5. The East (2021)
‘The East’ (‘De Oost’) is a Dutch war film directed by Jim Taihuttu and stars Martijn Lakemeier, Denise Aznam, Marwan Kenzari, and Joenoes Polnaija. Set during the Indonesian National Revolution that took place from 1945 to 1949, it centers on twenty-year-old Dutch soldier Johan de Vries, who struggles with his conscience amid a war where he doesn’t know who is good and who is bad and if he is doing the right thing. As time passes, he sees himself changing for the worse until he is charged with treason and has to flee to avoid death. To find out if he survives, you can stream the film here.
4. Moffie (2020)
Directed by Oliver Hermanus, ‘Moffie’ is based on André Carl van der Merwe’s autobiographical novel of the same name and tells the story of Merwe, who is conscripted into the South African Defence Force at the age of 19. Set during the apartheid in the 1980s, it shows the story of his struggle to cope with the new harsh and hostile environment while trying to keep his feelings for his fellow gay recruit hidden in a surrounding that reeks of machismo. You can stream the film here.
3. The Last Full Measure (2019)
The Todd Robinson directorial is based on true events and showcases how, in 1999, a group of war veterans saw to it that martyred U.S. Air Force Pararescueman William H. Pitsenbarger received the Medal of Honor for his actions by defying direct orders, which saved the lives of many soldiers during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). He died trying to defend the wounded soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division on April 11, 1966. You can stream the film here.
2. Men of Honor (2000)
Directed by George Tillman Jr., ‘Men of Honor’ is based on the life of Carl Brashear, who became the first African American master diver in the United States Navy. Brashear enlisted in the Navy in 1948 and graduated in 1954 from the United States Navy Diving & Salvage School. In the film, Cuba Gooding Jr. plays the role of Carl Brashear. We get to see the racism and discrimination Brashear faced during his training, especially by Master Chief Billy Sunday, played by Robert De Niro, and how he overcame it all to achieve his dream. Then he would go on to become a master diver (the highest warfare qualification in the U.S. Navy diving community), the first African-American to hold the title, in 1970 despite getting his leg amputated in 1966. You can stream ‘Men of Honor’ here.
1. Predator (1987)
Directed by John McTiernan, this cult classic sci-fi action movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Sonny Landham, Shane Black, Bill Duke, Richard Chaves, Jesse Ventura, and Elpidia Carrillo. The movie takes place in an unspecified South American country. It follows a group of highly trained commandos, led by Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer (Schwarzenegger), as they embark on a mission to rescue a foreign cabinet minister. However, they encounter an invisible predator that has nothing to do with the minister but is bent on ruthlessly killing them all one by one for sport. The catch? It is not from this planet. We get to see how the team deals with this extraterrestrial entity in this exciting action flick that kickstarted the ‘Predators’ franchise. You can stream ‘Predator’ here.
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