Based in 2018, during the controversial war in Afghanistan, a local interpreter named Ahmed (Dar Salim), risks his own life to escort Master Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal), across miles of gruelling terrain in a bid for safety, after the pair were earlier ambushed on a routine mission in the desert to uncover explosive making facilities. An under looked film of 2023 and one that deserves all the recognition it receives. It’s worth noting that The Covenant is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Director: Guy Ritchie
Writers:  Guy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson, Marn Davies
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dar Salim, Jonny Lee Miller, Alexander Ludwig, Emily Beecham

When it comes to any feature release dedicated to the subject of war, there’s a certain demographic of people that will be against such dramatisation of the subject, and those that are for it. While The Covenant is not directly based on a true story, instead, it manages to paint a picture for what life must have been like for American soldiers and Afghan interpreters during this torrid period in history.

Throughout the one-hundred and twenty-three minute runtime there were some extremely scenic shots on display, whether they were showcasing the impressive airbase or just general, barbaric, and brutal terrain that the filmmaker decided to explore. Despite being depicted as taking place in various regions of Afghanistan, it surprised me to learn that the entire flick was actually shot on location in Spain, with Alicante responsible for the stunning cinematography used. Along with the stunning visuals, there were of course some well-choreographed action sequences thrown into the mix too, with solid elements of emotion and suspense also prevalent.

Of course, there will be some viewers that may find the story, coupled with the action sequences discussed earlier, a little far-fetched and unrealistic in nature, but I don’t believe the film ventured too far away from the line of realism on this occasion. There are various blockbuster releases that approach the line and exceed it wildly, such as the John Wick 1 (2014), John Wick 2 (2017), John Wick 3 (2019) or more recently Extraction (2020), off the top of my head. This, however, does not do that with such aggression.

In terms of the cast, Jake Gyllenhaal adopted the role of Master Sergeant John Kinley and provided a great performance, as did Dar Salim in his portrayal of Ahmed. The two lead characters were backed up heavily by the likes of Jonny Lee Miller, Alexander Ludwig and Emily Beecham, who featured as Colonel Vokes, Sergeant Declan O’Brady and Caroline Kinley, respectively.

The Covenant not only came across as an impressive war flick, but it also came across as a movie with a deeper purpose, one that saw men become brothers through a bond that only a certain percentage of people will ever be able to understand. As previously stated, The Covenant is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

“It has a hook in me, one that you cannot see, but it is there!”

Master Sergeant John Kinley – The Covenant