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Every day, soldiers stationed around the world put their lives at risk for their job. And the war drama The Outpost tells the true story of a group of soldiers whose lives were at risk not every once in a while but on a daily basis.
The Outpost is based on the true story of the men of the US Army Combat Outpost Keating, a small base set up in the middle of a valley in Afghanistan in 2006. Though the base’s purpose was to build strong relationships with the local residents, its location left it wide open to frequent attacks by the Taliban. And the soldiers faced the tension and chaos of war, constantly under the authority of different commanding officers who handled the situation with different approaches, always fearing that a greater, deadlier attack could come at any time.
The vulnerability of the outpost definitely gives the film a natural tension. There are so many places in the areas surrounding the camp where gunmen can hide—and after the first couple of random, out-of-the-blue attacks, viewers will find themselves always on edge, bracing for more chaos. Everything about the lives of these soldiers is chaotic: the constant threat, the frequent attacks, the change of command, the relationships with the locals. Even during the calmest scenes, the film is anxious and uncertain. But when the camp is under attack, it’s loud and explosive and disorienting—an unsettling look at the realities of war.
Unfortunately, though, the chaos doesn’t just come from the explosions and the action; the chaos also comes from the massive cast. There are so many men stationed at the outpost. Each one is introduced, admirably giving credit to the real men who served and fought in this deadly environment. But in introducing so many different characters—many of whom play a very small role (if any) in the story—the film becomes complicated and overwhelming. Viewers will spend so much time trying to keep track of the all of the characters (which, just for the record, simply isn’t possible—even if you’re taking notes) that they won’t really get a feel for any of them or their stories. And that takes away from some of the film’s emotional impact.
The Outpost tells a tense and action-filled story about the men who lived and fought at this ill-fated outpost in Afghanistan. But while the director’s decision to honor all of the men stationed there is certainly commendable, it makes for a muddled story.
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