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Through the years, the look and feel of warfare has definitely changed—from close-range weapons like swords and muskets to long-range sniper rifles and drones controlled by pilots stationed thousands of miles away. But Netflix’s Outside the Wire takes the technology of war another step further.
Outside the Wire takes place in the not-so-distant future, as the US military attempts to intervene in a war in Eastern Europe. After drone pilot Lt. Thomas Harp (Damson Idris) disobeys direct orders and launches a strike that kills two Marines, he’s sent into the war zone to work with Capt. Leo (Anthony Mackie), a ruthless officer who’s actually fully robotic. As soon as Harp arrives at the base, they leave on a deadly mission that could prevent nuclear war—but Harp soon discovers that there’s more to the mission than he first thought.
Though he’s used to engaging in war from a distance, controlling a drone from his computer screen half a world away, Harp suddenly finds himself in the middle of the action. What once looked like a lifelike video game is now very real. And as he leaves the safety of the base, he and Leo are in constant danger—more danger than he’s ever faced before.
Unfortunately, viewers may struggle to root for this insubordinate pilot. Harp is young and arrogant, and he thinks he knows better than everyone else—even his superiors. Yet when he arrives at the base and experiences the dangers firsthand, his first instinct is always to run and hide instead of helping. He’s a coward with a big mouth—and while he does sometimes make the right decisions, it’s not enough to make him nearly as likable as his bionic superior.
As the duo makes their way through the war zone, tracking down information on the man who’s planning to buy nuclear codes that could destroy the world, Harp learns a lot about what collateral damage looks like from the ground—instead of on a computer screen. He struggles to keep up with Leo’s plan—and viewers will, too. Though it does come together in the end, it takes an especially complicated path to its destination.
With its intriguing setup and messy story, Outside the Wire is a pretty typical January release—even if this one isn’t opening in theaters. If you’re just looking for some action, you’ll find that here, but it’s best if you don’t think about it too much.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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