Recon

Supposedly based somewhat on true events, Recon is a basic, low budget take about 4 soldiers who having just completed a mentally scarring mission are promptly sent back out to perform recon and report on enemy movements among the snow - capped Italian mountains during World War 2. The overarching theme is of soldiers already struggling with the consequences and psychological toll of previous actions, being thrust into another compromising situation. The movie is Robert Port's (an Oscar winning short filmmaker) feature debut and he is clearly less invested in military minutiae and more interested in seeing where these characters go from the film's harrowing opening scene, which unfortunately is also better than anything that follows.

Port in my opinion, needed to spend a little more of the film's production budget on getting more accurate technical military advice. Because although the acting is of an acceptable standard, the reconnaissance soldiers we see depicted, just behave so incongruously, it's just too much of an ask, that we viewers are expected to believe in and sympathise with them.

I've only had limited military training and experience, but seriously. Soldiers behind enemy lines wandering haphazardly, shouting and arguing constantly amongst themselves, grouping together to make easy targets, not searching people they come across properly, especially considering the aforementioned opening scenes? Absolutely nothing rings true. I mean I literally wanted to reach through the screen and throttle Private Asch myself. He just never shut up and was seemingly oblivious to the fact that a noisy, careless soldier such as himself would likely attract enemy attention to either himself, or his fellow soldiers. Simply confounding all around!

Recon looks good, for a small scale production. It's just a pity that after a compelling opening stanza, bizarre narrative set - ups and script decisions make the finished film so ineffective in conveying its worthy themes concerning post traumatic stress disorders among front line military personnel.

This was simply a long and boring story about pretty much nothing, with terrible directing and ridiculous faded dizzying flashbacks. The 95 minute runtime felt like 3 hours. There were so many plot and technical issues, a Cub Scout would have better evasive measures knowledge when someone is shooting at you. This film needed to be a short - no more than 30-40 mins, to make any impact. What little impact it had, was absorbed by the boredom and highly predictable story-line. The score was too much for this film, but thankfully not as overbearing and out of place than most B-grade films. Acting was decent, especially from Viking's Alexander Ludwig. The cinematography and colors were very impressive, and the only redeeming qualities of this film. It's a generous 4/10 from me.

As a veteran I can honestly say that I have never seen a group of more undisciplined soldiers in my life.. They're in enemy territory, and they are screaming at each other, fist fighting, and comducting themselves like they were at a HS foot ball game.

It's a wonder any of then made it out alive!

It was hard to watch. I wasted $7.99 on Direct TV to watch this violation of military norms

Lots of people got killed in WWII. You don't have missions of 4 people going off like random goats scurrying through the tundra for no reason. It's bloody stupid. What's it got to do with WWII? Absolutely Nothing, Huh, say it again. War, good god ya'll.

It's Italy in WW2. Four American soldiers witness their Sergeant killing a seemingly innocent civilian. The group encounters an old man pulling a cart who tells them about a group of nearby German soldiers. As they head off to recon their enemy, they fight among themselves and grow suspicious of the old man. It's a small war indie and it remains a small war indie. The characters feel small. The actors are small. The production is small. It's all very small.