We open with a group of Army Ranger candidates heading into the wilderness for the final phase of their brutal selection course. What should be a gruelling training exercise quickly spirals into something far worse. Out in the forest, cut off from command and miles from civilisation, the squad encounters a terrifying piece of military technology that clearly was not part of the drill. What begins as survival training becomes a desperate fight against a machine built for one purpose: war.
Hughes, best known for the swaggering chaos of The Hitman’s Bodyguard and The Expendables 3, directs with muscular confidence. Front and centre is Alan Ritchson, continuing his run as modern action cinema’s resident brick wall. If you’ve seen him in Reacher, you already know the energy he brings. Here he plays a Ranger known simply as 81, and Ritchson leans into the role with blunt physical intensity and just enough quiet grit to keep the character grounded.
Around him, the supporting cast including Dennis Quaid, Jai Courtney, Esai Morales and Keiynan Lonsdale help sell the unit dynamic. The film wisely focuses on the group under pressure rather than trying to overcomplicate the story.
Where War Machine really works is in its stripped-down premise. It’s essentially a survival thriller with a sci-fi edge. Hughes keeps the action clear, heavy, and satisfyingly brutal, using the harsh forest environment to build tension as the squad slowly realises what they’re up against. You can almost feel the exhaustion creeping in as the machine closes the distance.
It isn’t flawless. The dialogue sometimes leans into familiar military movie clichés, and the script doesn’t dig as deeply into its themes as it could. Still, if you’re after tense, old-school action with a slick modern finish, this delivers.