'Harrowing' war film with five star rating and incredible A-list cast

Daily Record

22-05-2025

Asa Butterfield stars in 2017 British war film Journey's End, which is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. The movie is based on a play and is set in 1918, during the First World War.
Journey's End is a British war film, adapted from the 1928 play of the same name by playwright RC Sherriff. Having been severely wounded in 1917 during his military service, Sherriff drew upon his personal experiences in the trenches to craft the play.
The film, available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, initially premiered on 8 September 2017, but it was more widely released in cinemas in spring 2018 - marking the centenary of the German Spring Offensive, the attacks that form the basis of the plot.
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Under the direction of Saul Dibb and with a screenplay by Simon Reade - who introduced an array of new characters for the screen adaptation - Journey's End had a disappointing worldwide box-office return of $970,809. However, it was highly praised by critics, earning a 91 per cent score on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.
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The film provides a chilling depiction of the days leading up to Operation Michael, the initial phase of the German Spring Offensive targeted at the British Front. It offers viewers a close-up view of the assaults that ravaged the Western Front and the psychological trauma suffered by those on the frontlines.
Featuring Asa Butterfield, Sam Claflin, Paul Bettany, Toby Jones, Stephen Graham, and Tom Sturridge, Journey's End focuses on a band of British soldiers led by Captain Stanhope (Claflin) - a deeply disturbed young officer grappling with the psychological effects of extended warfare, reports the Express.
The young man's trials intensify when Lieutenant Raleigh (Buterfield) arrives. The enthusiastic yet naïve new recruit also happens to be his fiancée's brother and was once an admirer of Stanhope.
This pushes Stanhope into a confrontation with his own internal struggles, resulting in a deeply affecting onscreen depiction as he grapples with the pressures thrust upon him.
'Journey's End', by casting a critical eye over the pointlessness of war, left critics enchanted, with one describing it as "a powerful and moving tribute to the men who fought in the trenches".
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An additional critic wrote: "War is hell but we've seen that story before. Journey's End manages to reaffirm the message in a tale that is both harrowing and heartbreaking."
One reviewer was particularly impressed with the cast, saying: "The actors are superb at impressing some humanity onto this ugliness."
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Meanwhile, another critic lavished praise on the poignant illustration of warfare: "This taut, emotionally wrenching snapshot of both the mythologies and grim realities of war possesses useful reminders about self-deception and abuse of power, especially at a time when bellicose rhetoric and war cabinets seem to be the order of the day."
Praises were also directed towards the director, with one review noting: "Saul Dibb's World War 1 tale of British soldiers in the trenches is a bleak, sobering experience that puts audiences through a wringer. It's also an emotional powerhouse you will not forget."
Audience reactions were equally positive, with one viewer saying: "Such a tragic end It had a profound effect on me! Making me study operation Micheal in great detail. 5 star film."
Another heartfelt review from an audience member read: "A beautiful film, focuses more on the interactions between the different officers, their psychological state and each one's reaction to their situation. A well crafted homage so the memories of the ones who have suffered so much will not be forgotten, from the writer of the original play as well as to his comrades."
One viewer described Journey's End as a "riveting movie" with "superb acting", going as far as to call it "one of the best antiwar movies that I have seen". Meanwhile, another review stated: "Superb study of PTSD and the massacre and hopelessness of war. Best adaptation of a play I can think of. Much of it relies on the excellent acting and close ups. So hard to see how this could work on stage."