Greyhound (2020) Review: A Lean and Mean Naval War Film

There are so many untold stories of real-life bravery from World War II that one is likely to come across several no matter what field of battle they dig their hands into. Add to that, a lot of these documented accounts are still waiting to be adapted on the screen. And so, it is in this aspect that something about Greyhound; a fictional story that’s much more focused on its fictional character instead of providing a bigger picture of the Battle of the Atlantic, doesn’t feel or sit right with me.

Still, for what its worth, Greyhound makes for a lean, mean & fast-moving naval warfare machine that utilizes its 91-mins runtime efficiently & effectively, and keeps the viewers’ heart rate elevated for the most part with its nonstop barrage of mid-Atlantic carnage. The plot takes place in early-1942 and follows a US Navy captain on his first war-time assignment who has to lead an Allied convoy through the North Atlantic passage while being stalked and relentlessly attacked by Nazi U-boat wolfpacks.

Written by Tom Hanks and directed by Aaron Schneider, the film doesn’t waste much time setting up the premise or creating a backstory for our protagonist and gets on with the main plot soon enough. The palpable tension of a Nazi submarine just lurking below the ocean surface and the danger it implies is omnipresent, plus the escalation keeps coming which in turn makes the journey all the more tense, gripping & unrelenting. But there are a few needless choices it makes that diminish the film’s overall impact.

The decision to make the protagonist an inexperienced Navy Commander is to give Greyhound an everyman struggle vibe and the opening scene of his love life is stacked into the film for this reason only. Countless novices with completely different lives back home served during the Second World War so this serves no purpose at all. And it surely doesn’t make our protagonist any special. Also, the German U-boats mocking the Allied destroyers over the radio is another scene that’s uncalled for. It is a cheap device that doesn’t add any dramatic tension whatsoever.

Tom Hanks plays the leader of the Allied convoy crossing the North Atlantic and he is as good as one expects him to be. His assured performance aptly captures the fear, anxiety, conflict & struggle as well as the exhausting nature of the mission & responsibilities that rest on his character’s inexperienced shoulders, and Hanks articulates it all with emotional authenticity. The combat sequences are downright thrilling & operatic, and they are further elevated by the frenzied camerawork, gloomy palette, taut editing, impressive visual effects, bombastic sound design & Blake Neely’s restless score.

Greyhound is a taut, well-paced war film that delivers on its promise of intense action. While it competently captures the claustrophobic tension of a naval battle, it ultimately lacks the depth and originality to truly distinguish itself from its genre counterparts.

Director Aaron Schneider crafts a visceral experience, immersing the audience in the perilous world of convoy warfare. The film’s brevity is its strength, as it maintains a relentless pace without succumbing to unnecessary padding. However, despite its strengths, Greyhound remains a largely conventional war film, lacking the thematic resonance or character development to elevate it beyond competent entertainment.

Nevertheless, for those seeking a pulse-pounding 90 minutes of wartime drama, Greyhound is a satisfying watch.

Watch the Trailer Here

Greyhound Links – IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes

Where to watch Greyhound