This 98%-Rated War Drama Is Guy Ritchie's Most Criminally Overlooked Gem You Must Watch

Guy Ritchie is known for his crime comedies with witty dialogue and stylish fight scenes. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, and The Gentlemen are all his classics.

However, in 2023, Ritchie released a movie that stands out from his usual work: The Covenant is a serious, minimalist, almost documentary-style war drama that eschews his signature dark humor.

What Is 'The Covenant' About?

Sergeant John Kinley is finishing his tour of duty in Afghanistan. On one of his final missions, he is accompanied by his translator, Ahmed. Suddenly, their group is ambushed, and only Kinley and Ahmed survive.

For several days, Ahmed carries Kinley through hostile territory, risking his own life. After the rescue, Kinley is sent home, but he can't forget that his savior remains in Afghanistan, now wanted by terrorists.

John decides to take action – he mortgages his house and returns to the war zone to rescue Ahmed and his family.

'The Covenant' Is Not a Movie About War – It's About Humanity and Mutual Aid

At first, The Covenant seems to be a war drama, but Ritchie veers away from battle scenes and focuses on human relationships instead. The main antagonists aren't terrorists, but rather a bureaucratic machine that exploits and abandons the locals.

John Kinley comes face-to-face with this reality when he realizes that all promises are empty. The movie is reminiscent of the classic Saving Private Ryan in that the idea is that saving even one life justifies everything.

However, while Spielberg's film depicted a military operation, Ritchie's movie portrays one man's personal act against the system. Jake Gyllenhaal delivers a restrained, almost silent performance – his character doesn't give long speeches, he simply does what he must.

Dar Salim, for his part, gives a powerful performance – his Ahmed is a man who doesn't expect a reward but acts according to his conscience.

'The Covenant' Is Guy Ritchie's Most Atypical Film

Ritchie is known for his signature style of fast editing, witty dialogue, and dark humor, but The Covenant has none of that. The dialogue is minimal, and the characters are silent and reserved.

Visually, The Covenant is surprising as well. Ritchie uses unusual techniques, such as showing Gyllenhaal in a rearview mirror to emphasize his detachment. Near the end, Ritchie shoots the escape scene in a single take, making it look like a scene from 1917.

The script is minimalist with just two plot lines, no unexpected twists, and a predictable structure, however, Ritchie keeps the audience on edge through sheer suspense.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Covenant'?

• The Covenant has 82% from critics and 98% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.5/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Covenant scored 3.5/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Covenant'?

The Covenant is available to stream on Netflix.